Faculty Profiles

Michael Rubinstein
Michael Rubinstein
Professor of Chemistry
Office: 
Hudson Hall, Rm. 144, Box 90300, Durham, NC 27708
Phone: 
(919) 660-5365
michael.rubinstein@duke.edu
Rubinstein Lab
Research Interests: 

The research of the Rubinstein group is in the field of polymer theory and computer simulations. The unique properties of polymeric systems are due to the size, topology and interactions of the molecules they are made of. Our goal is to understand the properties of various polymeric systems and to design new systems with even more interesting and useful properties.

Our approach is based upon building and solving simple molecular models of different polymeric systems. The models we develop are simple enough to be solved either analytically or numerically, but contain the main features leading to unique properties of real polymers. Computer simulations of our models serve as an important bridge between analytical calculations and experiments.

Overview

Education:

Ph.D., Harvard University 1983

Sheiko, Sergei S., et al. “Adsorption-induced scission of carbon–carbon bonds.” Nature, vol. 440, no. 7081, Springer Science and Business Media LLC, Mar. 2006, pp. 191–94. Crossref, doi:10.1038/nature04576. Full Text

Liao, Qi, et al. “Counterion-Correlation-Induced Attraction and Necklace Formation in Polyelectrolyte Solutions:  Theory and Simulations.” Macromolecules, vol. 39, no. 5, American Chemical Society (ACS), Mar. 2006, pp. 1920–38. Crossref, doi:10.1021/ma052086s. Full Text

Xu, Hui, et al. “Flow-Enhanced Epitaxial Ordering of Brush-Like Macromolecules on Graphite.” Langmuir, vol. 22, no. 3, American Chemical Society (ACS), Jan. 2006, pp. 1254–59. Crossref, doi:10.1021/la052163c. Full Text

LaRue, Isaac, et al. “Reversible Morphological Transitions of Polystyrene-b-polyisoprene Micelles.” Macromolecules, vol. 39, no. 1, American Chemical Society (ACS), Jan. 2006, pp. 309–14. Crossref, doi:10.1021/ma051548z. Full Text

DOBRYNIN, A., and M. RUBINSTEIN. “Theory of polyelectrolytes in solutions and at surfaces.” Progress in Polymer Science, vol. 30, no. 11, Elsevier BV, Nov. 2005, pp. 1049–118. Crossref, doi:10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2005.07.006. Full Text

Shusharina, N. P., et al. “Scaling Theory of Diblock Polyampholyte Solutions.” Macromolecules, vol. 38, no. 21, American Chemical Society (ACS), Oct. 2005, pp. 8870–81. Crossref, doi:10.1021/ma051324g. Full Text

Zhulina, Ekaterina B., et al. “Diblock Copolymer Micelles in a Dilute Solution.” Macromolecules, vol. 38, no. 12, American Chemical Society (ACS), June 2005, pp. 5330–51. Crossref, doi:10.1021/ma048102n. Full Text

Panyukov, Sergey, and Michael Rubinstein. “Explanation of Anomalous Scaling of Swollen Entangled Chains.” Macromolecules, vol. 38, no. 8, American Chemical Society (ACS), Apr. 2005, pp. 3511–14. Crossref, doi:10.1021/ma047860a. Full Text

André, Pascal, et al. “Light Scattering Study of Polydimethyl Siloxane in Liquid and Supercritical Carbon Dioxide†.” The Journal of Physical Chemistry A, vol. 108, no. 45, American Chemical Society (ACS), Nov. 2004, pp. 9901–07. Crossref, doi:10.1021/jp0481308. Full Text

Dobrynin, Andrey V., et al. “Polyampholytes.” Journal of Polymer Science Part B: Polymer Physics, vol. 42, no. 19, Wiley, Oct. 2004, pp. 3513–38. Crossref, doi:10.1002/polb.20207. Full Text

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