Joseph Tracy
University Faculty Scholar
Professor
University Faculty Scholar
Professor

- 919-513-2623
- jbtracy@ncsu.edu
- Engineering Building I (EB1) 3074D
- Visit My Website
Many kinds of nanoscale materials have size- and shape-tunable physical properties arising from their reduced dimensions and high surface-area-to-volume ratio. We synthesize magnetic and noble metal nanoparticles using a “bottom-up” approach starting from molecular precursors. Surface modification of nanoparticles with organic molecules and inorganic overcoatings imparts additional chemical, physical, and biological functionality. The surface plasmon resonance of gold nanoparticles depends on their shape and is sensitive to interparticle coupling. Magnetic nanoparticles have size-dependent magnetic properties and can be manipulated with magnetic fields, for example to direct assembly into chains. Incorporating magnetic and plasmonic nanoparticles into soft polymers makes possible remote actuation with magnetic fields and light.
Dr. Tracy’s research interests include the synthesis, characterization, and self-assembly of noble metal, magnetic, and multifunctional nanoparticles and their applications in soft robotics, sensors, and medicine.
Education
Physical Chemistry
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Chemistry
University of California, Santa Barbara
Publications
- Size control of cobalt nanoparticles by adjusting the linear carboxylic acid ligand chain length
- Johnston-Peck, A. C. C., & Tracy, J. B. B. (2022), JOURNAL OF MAGNETISM AND MAGNETIC MATERIALS. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmmm.2022.169036
- Controlled Organization of Inorganic Materials Using Biological Molecules for Activating Therapeutic Functionalities
- Chandler, M., Minevich, B., Roark, B., Viard, M., Johnson, M. B., Rizvi, M. H., … Afonin, K. A. (2021), ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES, 8. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.1c09230
- Plasmon-Coupled Gold Nanoparticles in Stretched Shape-Memory Polymers for Mechanical/Thermal Sensing
- Yadav, P. R., Rizvi, M. H., Kuttich, B., Mishra, S. R., Chapman, B. S., Lynch, B. B., … Tracy, J. B. (2021), ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS, 4(4), 3911–3921. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.1c00309
- Reconfigurable Magnetic Origami Actuators with On-Board Sensing for Guided Assembly
- Ha, M., Canon Bermudez, G. S., Liu, J. A.-C., Oliveros Mata, E. S., Evans, B. A., Tracy, J. B., & Makarov, D. (2021), ADVANCED MATERIALS, Vol. 5, p. 2008751. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202008751
- Sulfidation and selenidation of nickel nanoparticles
- Lynch, B. B., Kelliher, A. P., Anderson, B. D., Japit, A., Spencer, M. A., Rizvi, M. H., … Tracy, J. B. (2021), CARBON ENERGY, 10. https://doi.org/10.1002/cey2.83
- Flexible Cyclic-Poly(phthalaldehyde)/Poly(epsilon-caprolactone) Blend Fibers with Fast Daylight-Triggered Transience
- Li, S., Rizvi, M. H., Lynch, B. B., Tracy, J. B., & Ford, E. (2020), MACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS, Vol. 42, p. 2000657. https://doi.org/10.1002/marc.202000657
- Photothermally Reconfigurable Shape Memory Magnetic Cilia
- Liu, J. A.-C., Evans, B. A., & Tracy, J. B. (2020), ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES, Vol. 5, p. 2000147. https://doi.org/10.1002/admt.202000147
- Programmable Anisotropy and Percolation in Supramolecular Patchy Particle Gels
- Song, J., Rizvi, M. H., Lynch, B. B., Ilavsky, J., Mankus, D., Tracy, J. B., … Holten-Andersen, N. (2020), ACS Nano, 14(12), 17018–17027. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.0c06389
- 3D-Printed Silicone Soft Architectures with Programmed Magneto-Capillary Reconfiguration
- Roh, S., Okello, L. B., Golbasi, N., Hankwitz, J. P., Liu, J. A.-C., Tracy, J. B., & Velev, O. D. (2019), ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES, 4(4), 1800528. https://doi.org/10.1002/admt.201800528
- Direct electrospinning of titania nanofibers with ethanol
- Chapman, B. S., Mishra, S. R., & Tracy, J. B. (2019), DALTON TRANSACTIONS, 48(34), 12822–12827. https://doi.org/10.1039/c9dt01872g