Center for Lignocellulose Structure and Formation (CLSF)

Director

Daniel Cosgrove

Lead Institution

Pennsylvania State University

Class

2009-2022

Mission

To develop a nano- to meso-scale understanding of cellulosic cell walls, the energy-rich structural material in plants, and the physical mechanisms of wall assembly, forming the foundation for new technologies in sustainable energy and novel biomaterials.

Research Topics

catalysis (heterogeneous), biomass and biofuels, bio-inspired, mechanical behavior, water, mesoscale science, materials and chemistry by design, mesostructured materials, synthesis (novel materials), synthesis (self-assembly), synthesis (predictive)

Materials Studied

Materials: polymer, cellulose, biological, porous

Interfaces: organic/organic, liquid/solid

Nanostructured Materials: 2D, 3D

Experimental and Theoretical Methods

X-ray diffraction and scattering, X-ray spectroscopy, neutron diffraction and scattering, neutron spectroscopy, electron microscopy, scanning probe microscopy, near-field microscopy, surface science, molecular dynamics (MD), density functional theory (DFT), finite element methods, continuum modeling, mesoscale modeling, multiscale modeling