Carlos R. Cabrera

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Nanotechnologist

University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus

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Biography

Cabrera is a Professor at the Department of Chemistry of the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus. Cabrera's main research area is on the development of nanocatalysts for clean energy technology such as Fuel Cell Systems. This energy system is of importance for the development of environmentally friendly energy conversion and storage based on alcohols. Fuel Cells are becoming a promising clean energy system for vehicles, portable devices, and power generators. This area of research is part of the Institute for Functional Nanomaterials (IFN). Through the institute, Cabrera will develop catalytic nanomaterials for fuel cell testbeds and prototypes that will be evaluated at the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. The creation of the IFN is creating a unique opportunity for the further development of Cabrera's nanotechnology research since new state-of-the-art instrumentations and unique partnerships with Nanotechnology Centers will be established. These centers are located at Purdue University, University of Massachusetts, Northwestern University, Cornell University and the Argonne National Laboratory.

Cabrera, from Naranjito, Puerto Rico, is a product of the public educational system. In 1982 he obtained a B.Sc. in Chemistry at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus and continued towards a Ph.D. in Chemistry at Cornell University and a Postdoctoral Research Associate position at the University of Texas at Austin. In 1989, Cabrera joined the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus as an Assistant Professor. In the last 18 years, his energy and nanotechnology related research has been done with undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral research associates. In 2000, Cabrera worked at the NASA Glenn Research Center in the Electrochemistry with Fuel Cells and Li Battery Systems. Currently, he is the Director of the Center for Nanoscale Materials, which is sponsored by NASA. Through the years, the Department of Energy, Department of Defense, NASA, and the National Science Foundation have funded his research.

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Atomic form microscopy (AFM) image of carbon nanotubes chemically attached to platinum electrodes surfaces for Fuel Cell Applications.

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Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of PtRu nanocatalyst prepared in Cabrera's research laboratory. The nanoparticles (black dots) are in the 5 nanometer (5 x 10^-9 meter) in diameter size.

Teams

Cluster II: Functional Nanostructures at the Interface

Phone

787-764-0000 ext. 4807#

Direct phone

None

E-mail

ccabrera uprrp edu

Education

Publications

  1. C. R. Cabrera, G. Sanchez-Pomales, L. Santiago-Rodriguez, and N. M. Vargas-Barbosa, "Biosensing Based on Single Stranded Deoxyribonucleotide Acid-Carbon Nanotubes Covalently Attached on Gold Electrodes", J. Nanoscience and Nanotechnology , (2008)
  2. C. R. Cabrera and J. Rivera-Gandia, "Capacitive-Based Detection of M. Tuberculosis Hairpin Hybridization using a Self-Assembled DNA Hairpin Modified Gold Electrode", Anal. Chem., (2008)
  3. C. R. Cabrera, G. Sanchez-Pomales, and L. Santiago-Rodriguez, "DNA-Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes for Biosensing Applications", J. Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, (2008)
  4. C. R. Cabrera, R. M. Georgiadis, and J. Rivera-Gandia, "In-situ fluorescence spectroscopy of self-assembled monlayers of HS-(CH2)n-fluorescein and HS-(CH2)6-poly(dT)18-fluorescein at gold electrodes under cyclic voltammetric conditions", J. Electroanal. Chem., (2008)
  5. R. Brito-Gomez, C. R. Cabrera, J. Castillo-Ramirez, T. L. Díaz-Ortiz, M. Malavé-León, M. Rivera-Claudio, and R. J. Tremont, "Modification of Au surfaces using new ferrocene derivatives", J. Electroanal. Chem., 254, 1587 (2008)
  6. C. R. Cabrera, Y. Ishikawa, and T. Morante, "Sequential Electrodeposition of Mo at Pt and PtRu Methanol Oxidation Catalysts on HOPG", J. Electroanal. Chem., (2008)
  7. C. R. Cabrera, E. J. Contes, D. R. Hull, M. Lebron, L. McKorkle, M. Meador, M. E. Perez-Davis, and B. Rosario-Castro, "Surface Spectroscopy and Microscopy Characterization of As-received, Acid Purified, and Oxidized Single-wall Carbon Nanotubes: A Chemical Transformation Analysis", Surface Science, (2008)
  8. C. R. Cabrera, Y. Ishikawa, J. J. Mateo, and D. A. Tryk, "Underpotential deposition of hydrogen on Pt(111): A combined direct molecular dynamics/density-functional theoretical study", J. Electroanal. Chem., (2008)
  9. C. R. Cabrera, N. Rivera-Velez, G. Sanchez-Pomales, and L. Santiago-Rodriguez, "Characterization of the DNA-assisted purification of single-walled carbon nanotubes", Physica of Status Solidi A , 204, 1791 (2007)
  10. C. R. Cabrera, N. Rivera-Velez, and G. Sanchez-Pomales, "Control of DNA Self-Assembled Monolayers Surface Coverage by Electrochemical Desorption", J. Electroanal. Chem., 611, 80 (2007)
  11. C. R. Cabrera, Y. Ishikawa, J. J. Mateo, and D. A. Tryk, "Direct molecular dynamics and density-functional theoretical study of electrochemical hydrogen oxidation reaction and underpotential deposition of H on Pt(111)", J. Electroanal. Chem., 607, 37 (2007)
  12. C. R. Cabrera, N. Rivera-Velez, G. Sanchez-Pomales, and L. Santiago-Rodriguez, "DNA-mediated self-assembly of carbon nanotubes on gold", J. of Physics: Conference Series, 61, 1017 (2007)
  13. C. R. Cabrera, A. Rios-Pagan, G. Sanchez-Pomales, and L. Santiago-Rodriguez, "Electrochemical Study and Preparation of Gold Substrates Functionalized with Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes for DNA Biosensor Applications", ECS Transactions, 3, 15 (2007)
  14. C. R. Cabrera, L. La Torre-Riveros, K. Soto, and D. A. Tryk, "Electrophoretic preparation and characterization of porous electrodes from diamond nanoparticles", J. of Physics: Conference Series, 61, 1022 (2007)
  15. C. R. Cabrera, M. Cruz-Quiñonez, D. Santiago-Rodriguez, and D. A. Tryk, "Preparation of Pt/C Catalysts Using a Rotating Disk-Slurry Electrode (RoDSE) Technique", ECS Transactions, 3, 35 (2007)
  16. C. R. Cabrera and J. Rivera-Gandia, "Self-assembled monolayersof 6-mercapto-1-hexanol and mercapto-n-hexyl-poly(dT)18-fluoresceinonpolycrystalline gold surfaces: An electrochemical impedance spectroscopy study", J. Electroanal. Chem., 605, 145 (2007)
  17. C. R. Cabrera, E. R. Fachini, F. A. Miranda, and A. L. Morales-Cruz, "Surface Analysis Monitoring of Polyelectrolyte Deposition on Ba0.5Sr0.5TiO3 Thin Films", Applied Surface Science, 253, 8846 (2007)
  18. C. R. Cabrera and G. Sanchez-Pomales, "Vertical Attachment of DNA-CNT Hybryds on Gold", J. Electroanal. Chem., 606, 47 (2007)

Grants

  1. C. R. Cabrera. Rotating Disk Slurry Electrode Technique for Catalysts Preparation, National Science Foundation, Energy , 3 years, October 2008, Single PI, Pending, $1,050,000.
  2. C. R. Cabrera, Y. Ishikawa, R. S. Katiyar, and R. Thomas. Nanostructured Materials and Interfaces for Li Ion Batteries, United States Department of Defense, DPSCoR, 3 years, June 2008, Multiple PIs, Pending, $1,050,000.
  3. C. R. Cabrera, Y. Ishikawa, G. Morell, and R. G. Raptis. Fundamental Science of Nanostructured Electrocatalysts/Diamond Support for Fuel Cell Applications, Other, DOE Hydrogen Initiative, 3 years, April 2008, Multiple PIs, Pending, $1,800,000.
  4. C. R. Cabrera, Y. Ishikawa, R. S. Katiyar, G. Morell, and R. G. Raptis. Space Exploration Enabling Power Systems: Partnership to Develop the Fundamental Science at UPR and Perform the Corresponding Proof-of-Concept at NASA GRC, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, EPSCoR, 3 years, October 2007, Multiple PIs, Approved, $1,350,000.
  5. F. M. Aliev, C. R. Cabrera, L. F. Fonseca, Y. Ishikawa, R. S. Katiyar, G. Morell, R. G. Raptis, and B. R. Weiner. Center for Nanoscale Materials, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA, 6 years, January 2003, Multiple PIs, Approved, $6,000,000.

Presentations

  1. C. R. Cabrera (April 2008) "Electrodeposition of Platinum nanoparticles supported on single wall carbon nanotubes for methanol oxidation" in Turabo"s 10th Aerospace Education.
  2. C. R. Cabrera (April 2008) "DNA-coated single-walled carbon nanotubes self-assembled on gold surfaces" in 5th Marie Curie Cutting-Edge Conference.
  3. C. R. Cabrera (April 2008) "Chemical reduction of platinum and ruthenium on diamond nanoparticles for fuel cell applications" in 2008 EPSCoR Annual Meeting.
  4. C. R. Cabrera (April 2008) "Electrodeposition of Platinum nanoparticles supported on single wall carbon nanotubes for methanol oxidation" in EPSCoR IFN Annual Meeting.
  5. C. R. Cabrera (March 2008) "Nanostruturing Electrochemical Interfaces: Li Ion Batteries, Fuel Cells, and DNA Sensors" in National Science Foundation.
  6. C. R. Cabrera (March 2008) "Chemical Reduction of Platinum on Diamond Nanoparticles for Fuel Cell Applications" in 43rd ACS Junior Technical Meeting.
  7. C. R. Cabrera (March 2008) "Deposition of carbon nanotubes on DNA and mercaptohexanol self-assembled monolayers" in 43rd Junior Technical Meeting.
  8. C. R. Cabrera (March 2008) "Electrochemical, Chemical and Physical Characterization of Pt/C Nano-Catalysts" in 43rd Junior Technical Meeting and 28th Puerto Rico Interdisciplinary Scientific Meeting.
  9. C. R. Cabrera (March 2008) "Non-covalently functionalized carbon nanotubes assembled on gold surfaces" in 43rd Junior Technical Meeting.
  10. C. R. Cabrera (March 2008) "Platinum Surface Decorated with Ruthenium a Model for Methanol Oxidation" in 28th Puerto Rico Interdisciplinary Science Meeting (PRISM), .
  11. C. R. Cabrera (March 2008) "Pt catalyst electrodeposited on carbon nanotubes " in ACS-Junior Technical Meeting.
  12. C. R. Cabrera (March 2008) "Pt/GC, Pt/CeO2/GC, Pt/Ru/GC and Pt/Ru/CeO2/GC Electrode Preparation in Order to Understand Role of CeO2 in Methanol Oxidation: An Electrochemical Study" in JTM-PRISM.
  13. C. R. Cabrera (March 2008) "Self-formation of Nanostructures from Palladium-Cobalt Precursor on HOPG" in 28th Puerto Rico Interdisciplinary Scientific Meeting (PRISM 2008).
  14. C. R. Cabrera (March 2008) "Study of the Ionic Strength Effect on Non-Covalent DNA-CNT Composite Formation" in JTM-PRISM.
  15. C. R. Cabrera (March 2008) "Covalent Immobilization of Alcohol Dehydrogenase in L-Cysteine SAM over Pd Surface" in Junior Technical Meeting, Puerto Rico Interdisciplinary Scientific Meeting (PRISM).
  16. C. R. Cabrera (January 2008) "Covalent Immobilization of Alcohol Dehydrogenase in L-Cysteine Self Assembled Monolayer over Palladium Surface" in Annual Puerto Rico NASA Meeting.
  17. C. R. Cabrera (January 2008) "Preparation and Characterization of Pt/C Nano-Catalysts for Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Application" in Annual Puerto Rico NASA Meeting.
  18. C. R. Cabrera (January 2008) "Composite GC/Pt/Ru and GC/Pt/Ru/CeO2 electrode preparation for methanol oxidation. Electrochemical characterization" in 2008 PR NASA Meeting.
  19. C. R. Cabrera (January 2008) "Platinum Surface Decorated with Ruthenium a Model for Methanol Oxidation." in Puerto Rico Space Grant Consortium Annual Meeting, Celebrating NASA’s 50th Anniversary.
  20. C. R. Cabrera (January 2008) "Pt catalyst electrodeposited on carbon nanotubes " in PRSGC_Annual_Meeting_2008.
  21. C. R. Cabrera (January 2008) "Self-formation of Nanostructures from Palladium-Cobalt Precursor on HOPG" in Annual Puerto Rico NASA Meeting 2008.
  22. C. R. Cabrera (December 2007) "DNA Sensing Using Carbon Nanotubes Attached on Gold" in ICMS-ICMR Winter School on Chemistry and Physics of Materials.
  23. C. R. Cabrera (December 2007) "Non-covalently functionalized DNA-CNT complexes; purification and self-assembly" in ICMR-JNCASR Winter School on the Chemistry and Physics of Materials.
  24. C. R. Cabrera (November 2007) "Self-Assembly of DNA and DNA-Wrapped Carbon Nanotubes on Gold Substrates" in ABRCMS.
  25. C. R. Cabrera (November 2007) "Immobilization of L-Cysteine Self Assembled Monolayer on Palladium Surface" in Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students.
  26. C. R. Cabrera and Y. Ishikawa (November 2007) "A combined direct molecular dynamics/density-functional theory study of the electrochemical hydrogen oxidation reaction and underpotential deposition of H on Pt(111)" in Current Trends in Computational Chemistry.
  27. C. R. Cabrera (November 2007) "Carbon Nanotubes Covalently Attached on Gold as a Substrate for DNA Sensing" in ACS Senior Technical Meeting.
  28. C. R. Cabrera (November 2007) "DNA-wrapped carbon nanotubes: synthesis, characterization and alignment" in ACS Senior Technical Meeting.
  29. C. R. Cabrera (November 2007) "Pt/C Nano-Catalysts for Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Prepared Using the Novel Rotating Disk-Slurry Electrode Technique" in Senior Technical Meeting.
  30. C. R. Cabrera (November 2007) "The use of Rotating Disk-Slurry Electrode Technique for the Electrodeposition of Platinum Catalyst supported on Carbon Nanotubes for Methanol Oxidation" in ACS Senior Technical Meeting.
  31. C. R. Cabrera (October 2007) "The use of Rotating Disk-Slurry Electrode Technique for the Electrodeposition of Platinum Catalyst supported on Carbon Nanotubes for Methanol Oxidation" in Best Practice Conference.
  32. C. R. Cabrera (October 2007) "DNA-wrapped CNTs: synthesis, characterization and alignment" in American Association for the Advancement in Science, Puerto Rico Section Conference.
  33. C. R. Cabrera (October 2007) "Pt catalyst electrodeposited on carbon nanotubes " in AAAS Meeting- Caribbean Division .
  34. C. R. Cabrera (October 2007) "DNA-assisted purification and assembly of single-walled carbon nanotubes" in Federation of Analytical Chemistry and Spectroscopy Societies Conference.
  35. C. R. Cabrera (October 2007) "31. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy Detection of Single-Stranded DNA Self-Assembled Monolayers onGold Electrode Surfaces" in 212th Meeting, The Electrochemical Society.
  36. C. R. Cabrera (October 2007) "30. Rotating Disk-Slurry Electrode Technique: Electrochemical Preparation of Pt and PtRu Nanoparticles for Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Applications" in 212th Meeting, The Electrochemical Society.
  37. C. R. Cabrera (October 2007) "Electrochemical Studies of Disulfide-Modified Single Stranded DNA Self-Assembly on Gold Substrates" in SACNAS.
  38. C. R. Cabrera (October 2007) "29. Lithium Intercalation at Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes Chemically Attached at Platinum Electrode Surfaces" in 212th Meeting, The Electrochemical Society.
  39. C. R. Cabrera (October 2007) "Carbon Nanotubes Covalently Attached on Gold as a Substrate foe Electrochemical DNA Sensing" in SACNAS National Conference .
  40. C. R. Cabrera (October 2007) "Characterization of the DNA-mediated purification and assembly of single-walled carbon nanotubes" in SACNAS National Conference.
  41. C. R. Cabrera (October 2007) "Pt/C Nano-Catalysts for Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Prepared Using the Novel Rotating Disk-Slurry Electrode Technique" in 212th ECS Transactions Conference.
  42. C. R. Cabrera (October 2007) "Preparation and characterization of large surface area electrodes from diamond nanoparticles by electrophoretic deposition method." in 212th Electrochemiclal Society Meeting.
  43. C. R. Cabrera (October 2007) "Immobilization of Alcohol Dehydrogenase in L-Cysteine Self Assembled Monolayer on Palladium Substrate" in 212th Meeting, The Electrochemical Society.
  44. C. R. Cabrera (September 2007) "The use of Rotating Disk-Slurry Electrode Technique for the Electrodeposition of Platinum Catalyst supported on Carbon Nanotubes for Methanol Oxidation" in University of Massachussets, Amherst.
  45. C. R. Cabrera (September 2007) "Nanostruturing Electrochemical Interfaces: Li Ion Batteries, Fuel Cells, and DNA Sensors" in Department of Chemistry, Cornell University.
  46. C. R. Cabrera (September 2007) "Immobilization of alcohol dehydrogenase on platinum surface by using self-assembly monolayer technique for biofuel cell applications" in 13th European Congress on Biotechnology.
  47. C. R. Cabrera (September 2007) "Nanostruturing Electrochemical Interfaces: Li Ion Batteries, Fuel Cells, and DNA Sensors" in Department of Chemistry.
  48. C. R. Cabrera (September 2007) "Nanostructures Formation from Palladium-Cobalt Precursor on Highly Ordered Pyrolytic Graphite Surfaces" in Trends in Nanotechnology (TNT 2007).
  49. C. R. Cabrera (August 2007) "Preparation of Pt/C Nanocatalyst for Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Using RoDSE Technique and Calibration of the Ink-Paste for the Electrochemical Analysis" in Simposio de Investigación Científica Futuros Maestros de Ciencias y Matemáticas.
  50. C. R. Cabrera (July 2007) "Single-walled Carbon Nanotubes Assembled Over Gold Substrate for DNA Sensing" in ICYS-ICMR Summer School on Nanomaterials 2007.
  51. C. R. Cabrera (July 2007) "Non-covalent functionalization and self-assembly of carbon nanotubes" in ICYS-ICMR Summer School on Nanomaterials.
  52. C. R. Cabrera (July 2007) "Comparative Analysis of Pt/C Nano-Catalysts Prepared Using the Novel Rotating Disk-Slurry Electrode Technique" in 5th Poster Presentation of Graduate Research at the University of Puerto Rico.
  53. C. R. Cabrera (July 2007) "Immobilization of alcohol dehydrogenase on platinum surface by using self-assembly monolayer technique for biofuel cell applications" in 5th Poster Presentaron for Natural Science Graduate Students.
  54. C. R. Cabrera (July 2007) "Study of Palladium-Cobalt Precursor on Highly Ordered Pyrolytic Graphite Surface" in 5th Poster Presentation of Graduate Research Natural Sciences.
  55. C. R. Cabrera (May 2007) "Comparative Analysis of Pt/C Nano-Catalysts Prepared Using the Novel Rotating Disk-Slurry Electrode Technique" in 2007 EPSCoR Puerto Rico Annual Meeting.
  56. C. R. Cabrera (May 2007) "Electrodeposition of Platinum nanoparticles supported on single wall carbon nanotubes for methanol oxidation" in 2007 Puerto Rico EPSCOR Meeting.
  57. C. R. Cabrera (May 2007) "Study of L-Cysteine Self Assembled Monolayer on Palladium Surface" in 211th Meeting, The Electrochemical Society.
  58. C. R. Cabrera (April 2007) "Surface and Electrochemical Characterization of L-Cysteine Self Assembled Monolayer on PalladiumSubstrate" in 7th Annual MGE@MSA/WAESO Student Research Conference.
  59. C. R. Cabrera (March 2007) "Carbon Nanotubes Covalently Attached on Gold as a Substrate for DNA Sensing" in 4th RISE Area Conference.
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