Research interests in Prof. Craig's group bridge physical organic and materials chemistry. Many of these interests are guided by the vision that important challenges in materials science might be better tackled not from the traditional perspective of an engineer, but rather from the molecular perspective of an organic chemist. Current interests include the design and synthesis of self-healing polymers and the use of modern mechanochemistry in new stress-responsive polymers, catalysis, and the study of transition states and reactive intermediates. These areas require an interdisciplinary and nontraditional mix of synthetic organic and polymer chemistry, single-molecule spectroscopy, supramolecular chemistry, and materials characterization. Research interests are complemented by numerous teaching and outreach activities, including: (1) hosting intensive undergraduate and high school research experiences for a diverse group of both Duke and non-Duke students; (2) exploiting effective, scalable, and low-cost mechanisms for content dissemination; (3) team-based and active learning content in the undergraduate and graduate classroom.
Ph.D., Stanford University 1997
M.Phil., University of Cambridge (UK) 1992
B.S., Duke University 1991
Park, Jonghwa, et al. “A Hierarchical Nanoparticle-in-Micropore Architecture for Enhanced Mechanosensitivity and Stretchability in Mechanochromic Electronic Skins..” Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.), vol. 31, no. 25, June 2019. Epmc, doi:10.1002/adma.201808148. Full Text
Sha, Ye, et al. “Generalizing metallocene mechanochemistry to ruthenocene mechanophores..” Chemical Science, vol. 10, no. 19, May 2019, pp. 4959–65. Epmc, doi:10.1039/c9sc01347d. Full Text
Wang, S., et al. “Quantitative Adjustment to the Molecular Energy Parameter in the Lake-Thomas Theory of Polymer Fracture Energy.” Macromolecules, vol. 52, no. 7, Apr. 2019, pp. 2772–77. Scopus, doi:10.1021/acs.macromol.8b02341. Full Text
Lin, Y., et al. “Mechanical generation of isocyanate by mechanically induced retro [2 + 2] cycloaddition of a 1,2-diazetidinone mechanophore.” Organic Chemistry Frontiers, vol. 6, no. 7, Apr. 2019, pp. 1052–57. Scopus, doi:10.1039/c9qo00262f. Full Text
Xia, Zhiyong, et al. “'Seeing' Strain in Soft Materials..” Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), vol. 24, no. 3, Feb. 2019. Epmc, doi:10.3390/molecules24030542. Full Text
Craig, Stephen. “Hydrogels muscle their way into new territory..” Science (New York, N.Y.), vol. 363, no. 6426, Feb. 2019, pp. 451–52. Epmc, doi:10.1126/science.aaw2242. Full Text
Sha, Y., et al. “Ring-Closing Metathesis and Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization toward Main-Chain Ferrocene-Containing Polymers.” Macromolecules, vol. 51, no. 22, Nov. 2018, pp. 9131–39. Scopus, doi:10.1021/acs.macromol.8b02064. Full Text
Lin, Yangju, et al. “Regiochemical Effects on Mechanophore Activation in Bulk Materials..” Journal of the American Chemical Society, vol. 140, no. 46, Nov. 2018, pp. 15969–75. Epmc, doi:10.1021/jacs.8b10376. Full Text
Barbee, Meredith H., et al. “Substituent Effects and Mechanism in a Mechanochemical Reaction..” Journal of the American Chemical Society, vol. 140, no. 40, Oct. 2018, pp. 12746–50. Epmc, doi:10.1021/jacs.8b09263. Full Text
Sha, Ye, et al. “Quantitative and Mechanistic Mechanochemistry in Ferrocene Dissociation..” Acs Macro Letters, vol. 7, no. 10, Oct. 2018, pp. 1174–79. Epmc, doi:10.1021/acsmacrolett.8b00625. Full Text
Hawk, J. L., and S. L. Craig. Physical and materials applications of pincer complexes. Vol. 40, 2013, pp. 319–52. Scopus, doi:10.1007/978-3-642-31081-2-11. Full Text
Craig, S. L., and D. Xu. “Physical Organic Chemistry of Supramolecular Polymers.” Supramolecular Polymer Chemistry, 2012, pp. 269–91. Scopus, doi:10.1002/9783527639786.ch12. Full Text
Loveless, D. M., et al. “Supramolecular Control of Mechanical Properties in Single Molecules, Interfaces, and Macroscopic Materials.” Molecular Recognition and Polymers: Control of Polymer Structure and Self-Assembly, 2008, pp. 37–62. Scopus, doi:10.1002/9780470384053.ch3. Full Text
