Alexandros G. Vanakaras

March 15th, 2020

Alexandros G. Vanakaras

Alexandros G. Vanakaras,

Department of Materials Science, University of Patras, Patras 26504, Greece

E-maill: a.g.vanakaras@upatras.gr

Web: http://softmat.upatras.com/

http://scholar.google.com

CV in PDF

 

Alexandros G. Vanakaras, born in 1970, is Professor of computational/theoretical materials science of self assembly and self organization in soft mater at the department of Materials Science of University of Patras, Greece. He is a member of the administration board of the interdepartmental MSc and PhD programme “Polymer Science and Technology” of University of Patras and Chair of the MSc programme of the Department of Materials Science. Is author/co-author of over 45 publications in peer reviewed journals, and his work has received more than 1200 citations. He has given more than 20 plenary and invited talks at national and international meetings.

He obtained his Ph.D. in Physics (thesis title: Specific Interactions and Molecular Organization in Liquid Crystals) in 1997, at university of Patras, under the academic supervision of Prof. D. J. Photinos. As PhD researcher he spent several months at the university of North Carolina, Dept. of Chemistry (E. T. Samulski‘s group), Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, (US). After his 18 months military service he worked as post doctoral researcher at the Department of Physical Chemistry (C. Zannoni’s group), University of Bologna (Italy).

Participation in funded research projects:

  • Nanoparticles dispersed in Liquid crystals: theoretical and experimental study towards new functional materials. (ESF, Education and Life Long Learning Operational Programme). Role in the project: PI (2020-2021).
  • Effects of chirality, polarity and anisotropy in molecular self-assembly in two dimensions, Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT, Mexico), Role in the project: PI of the Greek Participation. (2018-2020).
  • Nanoparticles Dispersed In Liquid-Crystalline Media: Organization And Complexity In Novel Soft Matter Systems (NANOLICR), THALES Programme, European Social Fund – ESF and National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF), Role in the project: Team Leader for University of Patras, (2012-2015).
  • Self–organized Nanomaterials for tailored optical and electrical propserties (NANOGOLD), EU-FP7-NMP-2008-2.2-2 (Nanosciences, nanotechnologies, materials & new production technologies: Nanostructured Metamaterials). (10/2009-2013).
  • Functional LC Dendrimers: Synthesis of New Materials, Resource for New Applications (DENDREAMERS), Marie Curie Actions, EU-FP7-PEOPLE-ITN. (10/2008-10/2012)
  • Biaxial Nematic Devices (BIND), EU-FP7 / ICT-1-3.2 / STREP-CP-FP-I. (2008-2012)

 

Research Interests

Soft matter molecular theory & simulations. Statistical Mechanics of complex fluids and their self-organization. Liquid Crystals: molecular organization, domain structure and alignment. Dendrimers and dendronised polymers: massive molecular flexibility, mesomorphism, structure and nanomechanics. Fullerene containing liquid crystals. Pattern formation via molecular self-assembly. Colloidal self-organization and stability. Metamaterials through molecular self-assembly.

Education, Research and Academic Employment

  • 1996       Research scholar at CINECA (Italy) super computing center.
  • 1996/97   PhD researcher, Dept. of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC.
  • 1999        Postdoc researcher, Dept. of Physics, University of Patras (Greece).
  • 2000        Postdoc researcher, Dept. of Physical Chemistry, University of Bologna (Italy).
  • 2001/02   Postdoc researcher, Dept. of Materials Science, University of Patras (Greece).
  • 2002-06   Lecturer, Department of Materials Science, University of Patras (Greece)
  • 2007-12   Assistant Professor, Department of Materials Science, University of Patras (Greece)
  • 2012-18   Associate Professor, Department of Materials Science, University of Patras (Greece)
  • 2018-       Professor, Department of Materials Science, University of Patras (Greece)

Teaching Activity

Undergraduate courses: Statistical Mechanics. Computational Materials Science. Probability and Stochastic Processes. Science and Technology of Liquid Crystals. Scientific Computing.

Graduate courses: Physical Chemistry and Statistical Thermodynamics of Materials. Statistical Mechanics of Macromolecules. Molecular Materials. Computer Simulations of Polymers. Physical Chemistry of Polymers. Advanced Polymers.

Research Supervision

Postdoctoral trainees: Dr. S. Droulias (2009-2012), Dr. N. Fytas (2009-2010), Dr. Th.Kalos (2010-2012), Dr. S. Peroukidis (2012-2014), Dr. Z. G. Workineh (2014-2015).

Graduate students: G. Tritsaris (MSc, 2007), Eva Karatairi (PhD, 2012), I. Chatziaadi (MSc, 2013), F. Priftis (MsC 2015), Zerihun G. Workineh (PhD 2015), Anant Kumar (Co-Supervisor, PhD, 2017), A. Kontarini (Co-supervisor, MSc, 2017), K. Papageorgiou (MSc, 2018). D. Lymperopoulos (MSc, 2019 (Computer Modelling and Simulation of Aerogels).

Ongoing Research Supervision: Fotios Priftis (PhD student with IKY scholarship, 2015-today, (Entropy driven chiral pattern formation in two dimensional systems of achiral particles.); Barbaki Aimilia (MSc student, 2019-today, elecrooptics of novel liquid crystals), Supervision of 5 undergraduate students doing their research projects (2019-2020).

International conference organization and research editorship activities

  • Member of the International Advisory Board (IAB) of the 28th International Liquid Crystal Conference (ILCC2020) to be held in Lisbon, Portugal, 2020.
  • Scientific Secretary of the 12th European Conference on Liquid Crystals, Rhodes, Greece (2013).
  • Organizer of the International School on Modeling and Computer Simulation Methods for Dendrimers, Patras, 2011
  • Guest Editor of Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals, Cordon & Breach, 2015.
  • Editorial board of:
    • Annals of Materials Science & Engineering, Austin Publishing Group (2014 -  )
    • Crystlas, MDPI, (2011-)
    • Member of the “International Liquid Crystal Society: ILCS”,  (2015  – )

 

List of Publications in peer reviewed journals

Plasmonic response of ordered arrays of gold nanorods immersed within a nematic liquid crystal
S.D. Peroukidis, V. Yannopapas, A.G. Vanakaras, S. Droulias, D.J. Photinos, Liquid Crystals, in press (2014). http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02678292.2014.923538.

Surface Induced Ordering on Model Liquid Crystalline Dendrimers
Z.G. Workineh, A.G. Vanakaras, Polymers 6(8), 2082-2099 (2014). doi:10.3390/polym6082082

On the structure of the Nx phase of symmetric dimers
A. Hoffmann, A.G. Vanakaras, A. Kohlmeier, G.H. Mehl, D.J. Photinos, arXiv:1401.5445 [cond-Mat]. (2014). http://arxiv.org/abs/1401.5445 .

Supramolecular nature of the nematic-nematic phase transitions of hard boardlike molecules
S. D. Peroukidis, A G. Vanakaras and D. J. Photinos, Phys. Rev. E, 88, 062508 (2013). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevE.88.062508

Phase diagram of hard board like colloids from computer simulations
S. D. Peroukidis, A G. Vanakaras, Soft Mater, 9, 7419-7423 (2013).  DOI: 10.1039/C3SM51165K

“Light scattering by a metallic nanoparticle coated with a nematic liquid crystal”
V. Yannopapas, N. Fytas, V. Kyrimi, E. Kallos, A.G. Vanakaras, D.J. Photinos
Physica Status Solidi A, 210(2), 335-340 (2013).

“Layer-multiple-scattering theory for metamaterials made from clusters of nanoparticles”
V. Yannopapas and A. G. Vanakaras, Phys. Rev. B, 84, 085119 (2011).

“Dirac point in the photon dispersion relation of a negative/zero/positive-index plasmonic metamaterial”
Vassilios Yannopapas and Alexandros Vanakaras, Phys. Rev. B, 84, 045128, (2011).

“Molecular simulation of hierarchical structures in the nematic phases of bent-core mesogens”
S. D. Peroukidis, A. G. Vanakaras and D. J. Photinos, Phys. Rev. E,  84, 010702(R) (2011).

+ supl. inf.

“Liquid Crystalline Mixtures and Demixing in Binary Mixtures of Shape Anisometric Colloids” (INVITED)
S. D. Peroukidis, A. G. Vanakaras and D. J. Photinos, J. Mat. Chem. 20(46), 10495-10502, (2010). DOI:10.1039/c0jm01692f.

“Extending the Maier-Saupe theory to cybotactic nematics” (INVITED)
S. Droulias, A. G. Vanakaras and D. J. Photinos, Liq. Cryst., 37(6-7), 969-976 (2010). DOI:10.1080/02678292.2010.488819

“Two dimensional ordered porous patterns by molecular design”
G. Tritsaris and A. G. Vanakaras, Langmuir, 26(11), 7808-7812 (2010). (

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“Symmetries and Alignment of Biaxial Nematic Liquid Crystals”
P.K. Karahaliou, A.G. Vanakaras and D.J. Photinos, J. Chem. Phys., 131 124516 (2009).

“Biaxial nematics: symmetries, order domains and field-induced phase transitions”
(Invited)
S.D. Peroukidis, P.K. Karahaliou, A.G. Vanakaras and D.J. Photinos, Liq. Cryst. 36 (6), 727-737 (2009).

“Polymer Brushes on Periodically Nanopatterned Surfaces”
A. Koutsioubas and A. G. Vanakaras, Langmuir, 24 (23), 13717–13722 (2008).

“Molecular Modeling of Liquid Crystalline Self-Organisation of Fullerodendrimers: Columnar to Lamellar Phase Transitions Driven by Temperature and/or Concentration Changes”
S. D. Peroukidis, A.G. Vanakaras and D.J. Photinos, J. Phys. Chem. B, 112, 12761-12767 (2008).

“Thermotropic Biaxial Liquid Crystals: Spontaneous or Field Stabilized?”
A. G. Vanakaras and D. J. Photinos, J. Chem. Phys., 128, 154512 (2008).

“Self-Organisation of Fullerene-Containing Conical Supermesogens”
S. D. Peroukidis, A.G. Vanakaras and D.J. Photinos, Soft Matter, 4, 493-499 (2008).

“Helix Formation in Linear Achiral Dendronized Polymers. A Computer Simulation Study”
D.K. Christopoulos, A.F. Terzis, A.G. Vanakaras and D.J. Photinos, J. Chem. Phys, 125, 204907 (2006).

“Self Organization and Pattern Formation of Janus Particles in Two Dimensions by Computer Simulations”

A.G. Vanakaras, Langmuir, 22, 88-93 (2006).

“A Simple Theory of Molecular Organization in Fullerene Containing Liquid Crystals”
S. D. Peroukidis, A.G. Vanakaras and D. J. Photinos, J. Chem. Phys., 123, 164904 (2005).


(Selected for the November 7, 2005 issue of Virtual Journal of Nanoscale Science & Technology.)

“Molecular Theory of Dendritic Liquid Crystals: Self-Organization And Phase Transitions”

A. G. Vanakaras and D.J. Photinos, J. of Mater. Chem., 15, 2002-2012 (2005).

“On the Molecular Theory of Dimer Liquid Crystals”
P. K. Karahaliou, A. G. Vanakaras and D.J. Photinos, Liquid Crystals, 32, 1397-1407 (2005).

“Structure and Nanomechanics of Linear Dendronised Polymers: A Molecular Simulation Study” (Invited).
D. K. Christopoulos, D. J. Photinos, L. M. Stimson, A. F. Terzis and A. G. Vanakaras,. J. Mater. Chem., 13, 2756-2764 (2003).

“The Phase Behaviour of a Binary Mixture of Rod-Like and Disc-Like Mesogens: Monte Carlo Simulation, Theory and Experiment”
A. Galindo, A. J. Haslam, S. Varga, G. Jackson, A. G. Vanakaras, D. J. Photinos and D. A. Dunmur, J. Chem. Phys., 119(10), 5216 (2003).

“Theory and Simulation of Biaxial Nematic and Orthogonal Smectic Phases Formed by Mixtures of Board-Like Molecules”
A. G. Vanakaras, M.A. Bates and D. J. Photinos, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 5, 3700 – 3706 (2003).

“Polar Molecular Organisation in Liquid Crystals” (Invited).
A. G. Vanakaras and D.J. Photinos, Molec.Cryst. Liq. Cryst., 395, 213-231 (2003).

“Dipole Strength Effects on the Polymorphism in Smectic-A Mesophases”
,
R. Berardi, S. Orlandi, D. J. Photinos, A. G. Vanakaras and C. Zannoni, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 4(5), 770 (2002).

“Tilt Order Parameters, Polarity and Inversion Phenomena in Smectic Liquid Crystals”,
P. K. Karahaliou, A. G. Vanakaras and D.J. Photinos, Phys. Rev. E, 65, 031712 (2002).

“Ordered Fluids of Globular Supermolecules” (Invited).
A. G. Vanakaras and D.J. Photinos, J. Mater. Chem., 11, 2832 (2001).

“The Smectic Phase of Spherical-Fan Shaped Molecules. A Computer Simulation Study”
A. G. Vanakaras and D. J. Photinos, Chem. Phys. Lett., 341, 129 (2001).

“On the Molecular Requirements for the Stabilization of Thermotropic Biaxial Ordering in Rod-Plate Nematics” (Invited).
A. G. Vanakaras, A. F. Terzis and D. J. Photinos, Molec. Cryst. Liq. Cryst., 362, 67 (2001).

“Conformational Phase Transitions and Re-Entrance Phenomena in Dendromesogens”
A. F. Terzis, A. G. Vanakaras and D. J. Photinos, Molec.Cryst. Liq. Cryst., 352, 265 (2000).

“Theory of Molecular Deformations and Mesomorphic Behaviour of Dendrimers”
A. F. Terzis, A. G. Vanakaras and D. J. Photinos, Molec. Cryst. Liq. Cryst., 330, 1761 (1999).

“Tilt, Polarity and Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking in Liquid Crystals”
A.G. Vanakaras, D.J. Photinos and E.T. Samulski, Phys. Rev E, 57, R4875 (1998).

“Hydrogen Bonding and Phase Biaxiality in Nematic Rod-Plate Mixtures”,
A. G. Vanakaras, S. C. McGrother, G. Jackson and D. J. Photinos, Molec. Cryst. Liq. Cryst., 323, 199 (1998).

“Theory of Biaxial Nematic Ordering in Rod-Disc Mixtures Revisited”,
A. G. Vanakaras and D. J. Photinos, Molec. Cryst. Liq. Cryst., 299, 65 (1997).

“Electric Dipoles and Phase Stability in Nematic Liquid Crystals”,
A. G. Vanakaras and D. J. Photinos, Molec. Phys., 85, 1089 (1995).

“The Interactions of Small Chain Solutes in Nematic Solvents”,
A. G. Vanakaras and D. J. Photinos, Molec. Cryst. Liq. Cryst., 262, 463 (1995).

Effects of chirality, polarity and anisotropy in molecular self-assembly in two dimensions, Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT, Mexico)

Role in the project: PI of the Greek Participation.

Total Budget: ~80 k€

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