Institute for Functional Nanomaterials

Nanoscientist

University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus

Biography

Marín holds a doctoral degree in Physics of Materials from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain) and a doctoral degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Marín joined the faculty at the Department of Physics of the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus in 2003 where he established the Nanomaterials Processing Laboratory to design and mass produce novel one-dimensional nanostructures with optimum properties needed for efficient and clean energy conversion from hot sources, solar panels, production of light and strong fibers, superior quality photocopiers and laser printers, and nuclear radiation detectors. The laboratory research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy and the EPSCoR IFN project. Marin's research team uses physics models requiring massive calculations executed by the super computers at the High Performance Computing Facility of the University of Puerto Rico to determine the regimes of stability, properties and the appropriate synthesis methods of certain novel nanostructures with the best properties required by specific applications. Then, they design and build up the experimental equipment needed to produce the nanomaterials applying fundamentals theories of nucleation and heat and mass transport at the nanoscale that they have developed. Finally, they test the material properties, compare to their theoretical predictions and improve the manufacturing process. The materials fabricated in the Nanomaterials Processing Laboratory are tested in specific devices developed by partners in other research centers and industries.

Teams

Educational Team, Cluster I: Functional Dispersed Nanostructures

Phone

787-764-0000 ext. 4773

E-mail

cjmarin uprrp edu

Education

• Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• Ph.D. in Physics of Materials, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid

Appointments

2003–present

Assistant Professor, UPR - Rio Piedras, Department of Physics, Puerto Rico

Honors and awards

• Group Achievement Award — Participation in one experiment successfully conducted in the International Space Station, NASA ()

Publications

1. T. Duffar, C. Marín, A. G. Ostrogorsky, and M. Volz, "Initial transient in Zn-doped InSb grown in Microgravity", Journal of Crystal Growth, (2009)
2. W. Farfan, S. Krishnan, C. Marín, E. Mosquera, and R. Vadapoo, "Synthesis and Characterization of Antimony Selenide Nanowires", Jounal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, (2009)
3. W. Farfan, S. Krishnan, C. Marín, E. Mosquera, and R. Vadapoo, "Vapor-Liquid-Solid Synthesis and Characterization of Alpha-Monoclinic Seleniun Nanowires", Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotecnology, (2009)

Grants

1. C. Marín. Research on Mass Production of Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes of Controlled Diameter within the Nanotechnology Educational Initiative at UPR, National Science Foundation, Nanomanufacturing, 3 years, August 2009, Single PI, Pending, $359,163.
2. C. Marín. Synthesis and Study of Metallic Properties of Atomic Chains of Selenium: The Thinnest Possible Nanowires, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Division of Materials Research, 3 years, June 2009, Single PI, Pending, $360,501.
3. C. Marín. Fabrication of Solid-state X- and Gamma-Ray Detectors of Polycarbonate/Mercuric Iodide Nanocomposites for Space Exploration, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, PR-IDEAS, 1 year, April 2008, Single PI, Approved, $29,850.