Education

B.S., 2007, University of Science and Technology of China
Ph.D., 2013, Johns Hopkins University

Research

Polymer conformation, dynamics, rheology, and mechanics; molecular simulations; multi-scale modeling of polymers

Ge group perform computational and theoretical research on polymer and soft materials. 
 
Polymer Nanocomposites
 
Blending nanoparticles and matrix polymers yields polymer nanocomposites that often possess improved material properties with respect to pure polymeric materials. Ge group aim to systematically examine the effects of various molecular aspects, such as the features of polymer chains grafted to nanoparticle surfaces, the interactions between particles and surrounding matrix polymers, and the architectures and network structures of matrix polymers, on the dynamics, mechanics, and thermal properties of polymer nanocomposites. On the computational side, Ge group use molecular simulations that have precise control of the molecular parameters and unparalleled access to the information on the positions and dynamics of the nanoparticles and polymer chains. With the aid of molecular simulations, and on the basis of molecular theories in polymer and colloid sciences, Ge group develop theoretical models to link the macroscopic material properties to the molecular parameters. The computational and theoretical work is integrated into the experimental studies, both chemical synthesis and material characterization, at U of SC. 
 
Polymer Mechanics
 
Mechanical integrity is the foundation of the performance of any polymeric material. Ge group study the large deformation and fracture mechanics of polymeric materials. The goal is to elucidate the mechanical response across multiple length scales that range from single bonds and network strands on the microscopic level to damage zone and the entire sample on the macroscopic level. Ge group develop molecular models for the mechanics of both a single polymer network and multiple interpenetrating networks, bridging single-chain mechanics and macroscopic mechanics in the continuum limit. To numerically capture the multi-scale nature, Ge group aim to design a computation method that combines the computer simulations of molecular mechanics and the finite element analysis in continuum mechanics. The multi-scale framework for the modeling of polymer network mechanics will be evaluated experimentally at U of SC and applied to guide the design of polymeric materials with superior mechanical properties. 
 
Polymer Rheology
 
Everything flows. The branch of science that deals with how matter flows is termed rheology. Ge group study the rheology of polymers in various states including polymer melts, solutions, and blends. Ge group perform computational and theoretical research to understand polymer rheology on the microscopic level. One particular focus is the role of polymer architecture, such as non-concatenation of ring polymers. Deep physical insight from the research by Ge group is combined with synthetic ingenuity and experimental precision offered by peer scientists to foster the development of polymer rheology. 

Selected Publications

T. Ge and M. Rubinstein, Mobility of Polymer-Tethered Nanoparticles in Unentangled Polymer Melts, Macromolecules, 2019, 52, 1536.  DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.8b02138

T. Ge, G. S. Grest, and M. Rubinstein, Nanorheology of Entangled Polymer melts, Phys. Rev. Lett, 2018, 120, 057801. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.057801

T. Ge, S. Anogiannakis, C. Tzoumanekas, R. S. Hoy, and M. O. Robbins, Entanglements in glassy polymer crazing: crosslinks or tubes?, Macromolecules, 2017, 50, 459. DOI: 10.1021/acs.macomol.6b02125

T. Ge, S. Panyukov, and M. Rubinstein, Self-Similar Conformations and Dynamics in Entangled Melts and Solutions of Nonconcatenated Ring Polymers, Macromolecules, 2016, 49, 708. DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.5b02319

T. Ge, F. Pierce, D. Perahia, G. S. Grest, and M. O. Robbins, Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Polymer Welding: Strength From Entanglements, Phys. Rev. Lett, 2013, 110, 098301. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.110.098301