Paul F. Barbara

p.barbara@mail.utexas.edu
Analytical Chemistry, Physical Chemistry
Professor, Faculty
Director, Center for Nano- and Molecular Science and Technology
Richard J. V. Johnson-Welch Regents Chair
Paul F. Barbara

Contact Information

Office
NST 1.206
Office Phone
471-2053
Lab
NST 1.200
Fax
471-3389

Research Group

Barbara Group

Education

BA, Hofstra University (1974);   PhD, Brown University (1978)

Awards

Member, National Academy of Sciences (2006)

Analytical, Materials, and Physical Chemistry

The primary focus in our research is the use of single molecule spectroscopy to investigate the chemical and photophysical dynamics of important chemical and biological systems that are too complex to adequately investigate by non-single molecule spectroscopy methods. The complex chemical and physical processes of heterogeneous systems are often obscured in ordinary ensemble measurements. These processes, however, have become accessible in recent years through the development and application of single-molecule (single-particle) experimental tools for materials and biological research.

For example by investigating the spectroscopy of conjugated polymers, one molecule at a time, we have unraveled several central issues in how conjugated polymers materials function in critical applications such as organic light emitting displays (OLEDS) and photovoltaic devices for solar energy conversion. We have also used these techniques to study poorly understood, but very important biological processes, for example the reverse transcription mechanisms of the HIV-1, the infectious agent in AIDS. We plan to continue to develop and apply new single molecule tools to important problems in chemistry, materials science and biophysics.

Representative Publications

  • Hsiao-Wei Liu, Yining Zeng, Christy F. Landes, Yoen Joo Kim, Yongjin Zhu, Xiaojing Ma, My-Nuong Vo, Karin Musier-Forsyth, and Paul F. Barbara  "Insights on the role of nucleic acid/protein interactions in chaperoned nucleic acid rearrangements of HIV-1 reverse transcription" PNAS 104 (2007): 5261.

  • Paul F. Barbara, Wei-Shun Chang, Stephan Link, Gregory D. Scholes, Arun Yethiraj  "Structure and dynamics of conjugated polymers in liquid crystalline solvents" Annu. Rev. Phys. Chem.  58 (2007): 565.

  • Yining Zeng, Hsiao-Wei Liu, Christy F. Landes, Yoen Joo Kim, Xiaojing Ma, Yongjin Zhu, Karin Musier-Forsyth, and Paul F. Barbara  "Probing nucleation, reverse annealing, and chaperone function along the reaction path of HIV-1 single-strand transfer" PNAS 104 (2007): 12651.

  • Rodrigo E. Palacios, Fu-Ren Fan, John K. Grey, Jungdon Suk, Allen J. Bard and Paul F. Barbara  "Charging and discharging of single conjugated-polymer nanoparticles" Nature Materials 6(9) (2007): 680.

  • Christy F. Landes, Yining Aeng, Hsiao-Wei Liu, Karin Musier-Forsyth, Paul F. Barbara  "Single-molecule study of the inhibition of HIV-1 transactivation response region DNA/DNA annealing by argininamide" J. Am. Chem. Soc.  129 (2007): 10181.