Christopher Cornelius

Christopher Cornelius.

Adjunct Professor

College of Engineering

(402) 472-2750
ccornelius2@unl.edu
Faculty Profile

Education
  • Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, Virginia Tech, 2000
  • M.Eng., Chemical Engineering, Virginia Tech, 1998
  • B.S., Chemical Engineering, Montana State University, 1994

Research Interests
  • Fundamental material interrelationships between structure, property, and function of natural and synthetic polymers, ionomers, hybrid organic-inorganic materials, and sol-gel glasses
  • Transport of molecule, ion, and electrons in complex structures and interfaces
  • Structured and functional surfaces and materials

Patents
  • Hibbs, M.R.; Fujimoto, C.H.; Cornelius, C.J. “Poly(phenylene)-based Anion Exchange Membrane,” U.S. Patent 7,888,397 B1.
  • Cornelius, C.J.; Staiger, C.L.; Miller, K.A.; Vaughn, M.R., “Hybrid Membrane-PSA System for Separating Oxygen from Air,” U.S. Patent 7,875,101.
  • Cornelius, C.J.; Fujimoto, C.H.; Hickner, M.A., “Sulfonated Polyphenylene Polymers Useful for Polymer Electrolyte Membranes and Nanocomposites,” U.S. Patent 7,186,790.
  • Cornelius, C.J., “Hybrid organic-inorganic Proton-Exchange Membrane Materials Based on Sulfonated Polyimide Block Copolymers Useful for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells,” U.S. Patent 7,022,810.

Honors and Awards
  • First Place, National Collegiate Education Awards Winner, Montana State University, 1993
  • Southern Region Education Board Doctoral Fellowship VPI&SU, 1997-1999
  • Eastman Chemical Fellowship in Polymer Chemistry VPI&SU, 1999-2000
  • Pratt Presidential Scholarship,VPI&SU, 1998-99
  • GE Academic Fellowship VPI&SU, 1996-1997
  • Hearst Scholarship Montana State University, 1994
  • Dow Native American Scholarship in Chemical Engineering, 1992-1994
  • DOE/NORCUS Scholarship, 1990-1993
  • A.T. Anderson Memorial Scholarship, 1989-1994
Selected Publications
  • Fan, Y.; Lee, H-S.; Staiger, C.L.; McGrath, J.E.; and Cornelius,* C.J. “The Effect of Block Length upon Structure, Physical Properties, and Transport within a Series of Sulfonated Poly(arylene ether sulfone)s,” Journal of Membrane Science, 430, 106-112, (2013).
  • Fan, Y. and Cornelius,* C.J. “Raman Spectroscopic and Gas Transport Study of a Pentablock Ionomer Complexed with Metal Ions and its Relationship to Physical Properties,” Journal of Materials Science, 48(3), 1153-1161, (2013).
  • Hibbs, H. and Cornelius,* C.J. “Ion Transport in Random and Block Sulfonated Polyimides,” Journal of Materials Science, 48(3), 1303-1309, (2013).
  • Fan, Y.; Zhang, M; Lee, HS; Moore, RB; McGrath, J.E.; Cornelius,* C.J. “Viscoelastic and Gas Transport Properties of a Series of Multiblock Copolymer Ionomers,” Polymer, 52(18), 3963-3969, (2011).
  • Switzer, E.E.; Olson, T.S.; Datye, A.K.; Atanassov,* P.; Hibbs, M.R.; Fujimoto, C.; Cornelius, C.J. “Novel KOH-free Anion-exchange Membrane Fuel Cell: Performance Comparison of Alternative Anion-exchange Ionomers in Catalyst Ink,” Electrochimica Acta, 55(9), 3404-3408, (2010).
  • Stanis,* R.J.; Yaklin, M.A.; Cornelius, C.J.; Takatera, T.; Umemoto, A.; Ambrosini, A.; Fujimoto, C.H. “Evaluation of Hydrogen and Methanol Fuel Cell Performance of Sulfonated Diels Alder Polyphenylene Membranes,” Journal of Power Sources, 195(1), 104-110, (2010).
  • Hibbs, M.R.; Fujimoto, C.H.; Cornelius,* C.J. “Poly(phenylene)-based Anion Exchange Membranes for Alkaline Fuel Cells,” ECS Transactions,19(30), 89-97, (2009).
  • Hibbs,* M.R.; Fujimoto, C.H.; Cornelius, C.J. “Synthesis and Characterization of Poly(phenylene) Based Anion Exchange Membranes for Alkaline Fuel Cells,” Macromolecules, 42(21), 8316-8321, (2009).
  • Lilin H.; Smith, H.L.; Majewski, J.; Cornelius, C.J.; Fujimoto, C.H.; Perahia,* D. “From Solutions to Membranes: Structure Studies of Rigid Sulfonated Ionomers,” Macromolecules, 42(18), 7084-7090, (2009).
  • Switzer, E.E.; Olson, T.S.; Datye, A.K.; Atanassov,* P.; Hibbs, M.R.; Cornelius, C.J. “Templated Pt-Sn Electrocatalysts for Ethanol, Methanol, and CO Oxidation in Alkaline Media,” Electrochimica Acta, 54(3), 989-995, (2009).
  • James, C.W.; Marand,* E.; Fujimoto, C.H.; Cornelius,* C.J. “The Effect of Temperature and Humidity on the O2 Sorption in Sulfonated Polyphenylenes,” Polymer, 50(14), 3220-3224, (2009).
  • Lilin H.; Smith, H.L.; Majewski, J.; Cornelius, C.J.; Fujimoto, C.H.; Perahia,* D. “Interfacial Effects on Water penetration into Ultrathin Ionomer Films: An in-situ Study Using Neutron Reflectometry” Macromolecules, 42(15), 5745-5751, (2009).
  • Hibbs, M.R.; Hickner, M.A.; Alam, T.M.; McIntyre, S.K.; Fujimoto, C.H.; Cornelius,* C.J. “Transport Properties of Hydroxide and Proton Conducting Membranes,” Chemistry of Materials, 20(7), 2566-2573, (2008).
  • Staiger, C.L.; Pas, S.; Hill, A.J.; Cornelius,* C.J.“Gas Separation, Free Volume Distribution, and Physical Aging of a Highly Microporous Spirobisindane Polymer,” Chemistry of Materials, 20(8), 2606-2608, (2008).