Joseph J. BelBruno
Appointments
Professor of Chemistry Emeritus
Research Professor of Chemistry
Area of Expertise
Experimental and Computational Study of Clusters,
Sensors,
Nanomaterials
Biography
Research interests include studies of clusters, nanoparticles (including nanometer-dimensioned imprinted polymers) and the interactions of particles with surfaces. Both experimental and computational techniques are explored. The research is focused on the materials as well as the chemistry of the production process. Active research involves the development and commercialization of sensors We have developed a novel thin film technique for the production of molecularly imprinted polymers and applied the technique to imprinting a range of templates. These artificial binding receptors become components of nanosensors. In addition, we study the nanomechnical properties of both imprinted and non-imprinted polymeric materials. Our application of imprinted polymer technology led to the development of sensors for biological molecules (amino acids, proteins and disease markers), environmental contaminants (nicotone, CO, mold, etc.) and diagnostic tests. FreshAir Sensor commercializes these polymeric sensors and makes them available to relevant industries. Currently, sensing devices to detect tobacco and marijuana smoking as well as vaping are available.
Education
B.S. Seton Hall University
Ph.D. Rutgers University
Publications
M. Sundhoro, S. R. Agnihotra, B. Amberger, K. Augustus, N. D. Khan, A. Barnes, J. BelBruno, L. Mendecki, "An electrochemical molecularly imprinted polymer sensor for rapid and selective food allergen detection". Food Chemistry, 344, 128648 (2021)
Z.R. Greenhill and J.J. BelBruno, "Gradient nanoparticle-carbon allotrope-polymer composite material". U.S. Patent No. 10,926,513 (February 23, 2021)
J.J. BelBruno, "Molecularly imprinted polymer sensors". U.S. Patent No. 10,809,215 (October 20, 2020)
J.J. BelBruno and S. Tanski, "Devices for detecting airborne contaminants, and associated methods". U.S. Patent No. 10,451,598 (October 22, 2019)
J.J. BelBruno, "Methods for preparation of molecularly imprinted polymers for wine extraction". U.S. Patent No. 10,000,598 (June 19, 2018)
J.J. BelBruno, "Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Sensors". Chemical Reviews, 119, 94-119 (2019)
J.J. BelBruno, "Clusters and Nanoparticles: The Experimental-Computational Connection to Understanding". Invited chapter in the monograph: "Computational Modelling of Nanoparticles", edited by S. Bromley and S. Woodley. 171-188, (2018) Elsevier.
Z.R. Greenhill and J.J. BelBruno, "Gradient nanoparticle-carbon allotrope polymer composite". U.S. Patent No. 9,982,736B2 (May 29, 2018).
J.J. BelBruno, "Molecularly imprinted polymer sensors". U.S. Patent No. 10,451,598 (July 17, 2018)
E.A. Karhu, C.R. Ildstad, S. Poggio, V. Furtula, N. Tolstik, I.T. Sorokina, J.J. BelBruno, and U.J. Gibson, "Vapor deposited Cr-doped ZnS thin films: towards optically pumped mid-infrared waveguide lasers" Optics Materials Express, 6, 2947-2955 (2016).
A. Burnin, S. Poggio, J. King and J.J. BelBruno, "Direct growth by arc discharge and computational study of zinc sulfide nanotubes" Journal of Materials Science, 51, 9716-9722 (2016).
A. Burnin, S. Poggio, J. King and J.J. BelBruno, "Direct growth by arc discharge and computational study of zinc sulfide nanotubes" Journal of Materials Science, 51, 9716-9722 (2016)
J.J. BelBruno, "Conducting Polymeric Materials for Sensing", Science Advances Today, 2, 25251-25262 (2016)
E.A. Karhu, C.R. Ildstad, S. Poggio, V. Furtula, N. Tolstik, I.T. Sorokina, J.J. BelBruno, and U.J. Gibson, "Vapor deposited Cr-doped ZnS thin films: towards optically pumped mid-infrared waveguide lasers" Optics Materials Express, 6, 2947-2955 (2016)
A. Burnin, J.J. BelBruno and U.J. Gibson, "Evidence of chromium-cobalt binary cluster formation by pulsed laser evaporation", Int. J. Mass Spectrom. 380, 7-11 (2015).
"Properties of transition metal substituted zinc sulfide hexamers and dodecamers", Stefano Poggio, Brendan Wang, Ursula J. Gibson and Joseph J. BelBruno, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., (2015) 17, 14208-14214
"Thermochemical study of amino acid imprinted polymer films" Ziyi Chai and Joseph J. BelBruno, Journal of Molecular Recognition (2015) 28 651-655.
"Evidence of chromium-cobalt binary cluster formation by pulsed laser evaporation", Andrei Burnin, Joseph J. BelBruno and Ursula Gibson, International Journal of Mass Spectrometry (2015) 380 7-11.
N.A. Molland, Z. Ghadyani, E.A. Karhu, S. Poggio, M. Nematollahi, M. Kildemo, T.W. Reenaas, J. J. BelBruno and U. J. Gibson, "Band-edge modification and mid-infrared absorption of co-deposited FexZn1-xS thin films", Optics Materials Express, 5, 1613-1620 (2015)
Z. Chai and J.J. BelBruno, "Thermochemical study of amino acid imprinted polymer films", J. Molecular Recognition, 28, 651-655 (2015)
"Band-edge modification and mid-infrared absorption of co-deposited FexZn1-xS thin films", Nelly-Ann Molland, Zahra Ghadyani, Eric A. Karhu, Stefano Poggio, Mohammadreza Nematollahi, Morten Kildemo, Turid W. Reenaas, Joseph J. BelBruno, and Ursula J. Gibson, Optical Materials Express (2015) 7 1613-1620.
S. Poggio, B. Wang, U.J. Gibson and J.J. BelBruno. "Properties of transition metal substituted zinc sulfide hexamers and dodecamers", Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 17, 14208-14214 (2015)
S. Antwi-Boampong, J.S. Peng, J. Carlan and J.J. BelBruno, "A molecularly imprinted fluoral-p/polyaniline double layer sensor system for selective sensing of formaldehyde", Sensors Journal, IEEE 14, 1490-1498 (2014).
S. Antwi-Boampong, J.S. Peng, J. Carlan and J.J. BelBruno, "A molecularly imprinted fluoral-p/polyaniline double layer sensor system for selective sensing of formaldehyde", Sensors Journal, IEEE 14, 1490-1498 (2014)
Sadik Antwi-Boampong, Kristina Mani, Jean Carlan and Joseph J. BelBruno, "A selective molecularly imprinted polymer-carbon nanotube sensor for cotinine sensing."Journal of Molecular Recognition 27, 57-63 (2014).
Yuan Liu, Sadik Antwi-Boampong, Joseph J. BelBruno, Mardi A. Crane, and Susanne E. Tanski. "Detection of secondhand cigarette smoke via nicotine using conductive polymer films."Nicotine & Tobacco Research (2013). doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntt007
Jinpeng Lv, Chundong Li, and J. J. BelBruno. "Defect evolution on the optical properties of H+-implanted ZnO whiskers."CrystEngComm 15, 5620-5625 (2013).
Jinpeng Lv, Chundong Li, and J. J. BelBruno. "Characteristics of point defects on the optical properties of ZnO: revealed by Al–H co-doping and post-annealing."RSC Adv. 3, 8652-8656 (2013).
Sadik Antwi‐Boampong, Yuan Liu, Asta Richter, and Joseph J. BelBruno. "Effect of the host polymer on the nanomechanical and morphological properties of templated polymer films."Journal of Applied Polymer Science 130, 877-883 (2013).
April D. Lewoczko, Joseph J. BelBruno, and Stefan T. Bromley. "Effect of spin ordering on structure and structural transitions in the (MnS)6 magic cluster."Chemical Physics Letters 556, 207-210 (2013).
Sadik Antwi-Boampong and Joseph J. BelBruno. "Detection of formaldehyde vapor using conductive polymer films."Sensors and Actuators B 182, 300-306 (2013).
J.J. BelBruno, "Nanomaterials in Sensors", Nanomaterials 3, 572 (2013).
April D. Lewoczko and Joseph J. BelBruno. "Impact of surface steps and oxygen pre-coverage on the adsorption of methylamine on gold."Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 15, 4707-4714 (2013).
Gian Giacomo Asara, April D. Lewoczko, Andrei Burnin, Joseph J. BelBruno, and Stefan T. Bromley. "Interplay between Magnetism and Magicness in Nanoclusters."The Journal of Physical Chemistry C 116, 20625-20632 (2012).
Asta Richter and Joseph J. BelBruno. "Characterization of functional states in nicotine and cotinine imprinted poly (vinylphenol) films by nanoindentation."Journal of Applied Polymer Science 124, 2798-2806 (2012).
S.W.R. Dunbar and J.J. BelBruno, "Molecularly imprinted polymer-carbon nanotube sensor targeted to cotinine",Chemical Sensors, 2, 14 (2012).
A. Daigle and J.J. BelBruno, "Density Functional Theory Study of the Adsorption of Nitrogen and Sulfur Atoms on Gold (111), (100), and (211) Surfaces",J. Physical Chemistry C 115, 22987-22997 (2011).
A. Daigle and J.J. BelBruno, "Density functional theory study of the adsorption of oxygen atoms on gold (111), (100) and (211) surfaces",Surface Science 605, 1313 (2011).
J.J. BelBruno, G. Zhang and U.J. Gibson, "Capacitive sensing of amino acids in molecularly imprinted nylon films",Sensors and Actuators B 155, 915 (2011).
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