Experimental Condensed Matter Physics – Weak Superconductivity – Materials Science – Graphene and Carbon Nanotubes – Nanocomposites – Physical Property Measurements – Electron Microscopy

Research Summary
Dmitriy Dikin specializes in experimental physics, electron microscopy, and nanomaterials, focusing on graphene-based materials, nanocomposites, superconducting systems, and functional coatings. His research integrates microscopy, spectroscopy, physical property measurements, and mechanical testing to explore structure-property relationships at the nano- and micro-scale, with applications in polymer composites, ballistic protection, battery materials, and advanced manufacturing. He has led and contributed to multiple funded projects with NSF, DARPA, Army Research Lab, and industry partners, driving innovation in materials science. With over 40,000 citations and an h-index of 39, his work is widely recognized in Nature, Advanced Materials, Nano Letters, and other leading journals, contributing to both fundamental science and technological advancements while bridging academia and industry.

Dr. Dikin manages the Electron Microscopy Facility (link) at the Temple Materials Institute, overseeing instrumentation, training, and research support for over 35 faculty research groups. He plays a pivotal role in core facility development, research infrastructure, and graduate education, advancing materials characterization methodologies and fostering interdisciplinary collaborations across engineering and science. 

Education

• Ph.D. Physics, Institute for Low Temperature Physics and Engineering, Ukraine (1992)

• M.S. Physics, Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute, Ukraine (1982)

Selected Publications

• Damage Resistance of Kevlar® Fabric, UHMWPE, PVB Multilayers Subjected to Concentrated Drop-Weight Impact. Polymers, 16(12), 1693 (2024). https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16121693

• Improving Interlayer Adhesion of Poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide)(PPTA)/Ultra-high-molecular-weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) Laminates Prepared by Plasma Treatment and Hot Pressing Technique. Polymers, 13, 2600 (2021). https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13162600

• Structure-Mechanical Property Relations of Skin-Core Regions of Poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide) Single Fiber. Scientific Reports, 9, 740 (2019). https://rdcu.be/d9Emr

• Electrical and Mechanical Properties of Poly (dopamine) Modified Copper/Reduced Graphene Oxide Composites. J. of Materials Science, 52(19), 11620 (2017). https://rdcu.be/d9Em

• Drop Casted Self Assembling Graphene Oxide Membranes for Scanning Electron Microscopy on Wet and Dense Gaseous Samples. ACS Nano, 5(12), 10047 (2011). https://pubs-acs-org.libproxy.temple.edu/doi/10.1021/nn204287g

• Coexistence of superconductivity and ferromagnetism in two dimensions.  Phys. Rev. Lett., 107, 056802 (2011). https://doi-org.libproxy.temple.edu/10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.05680

• Functionalized graphene sheets for polymer nanocomposites. Nature Nanotechnology, 3(6), 327 (2008). https://rdcu.be/d9En4

• Preparation and characterization of graphene oxide-based paper. Nature, 448, 457 (2007). https://rdcu.be/d9Eoi

• Graphene− silica composite thin films as transparent conductors. Nano Letters, 7 (7), 1888 (2007). https://pubs-acs-org.libproxy.temple.edu/doi/10.1021/nl070477%2B

• Graphene-based composite materials. Nature, 442(7100), 282 (2006). https://rdcu.be/d9EoJ

• Low temperature thermal properties of mesoscopic normal metal/superconductor heterostructures. Phys. Rev. B, 65(1), 012511 (2002).

• Influence of mechanisms of nonequilibrium quasiparticle scattering on the properties of phase-slip centers. Low Temp. Phys. 24, 555 (1998).

• Multiple Andreev reflection in YBCO break-junctions. Physica B, 218(1-4), 205 (1996).

• Subharmonics of energy gap in superconducting channels under non-Josephson generation. Sov. J. Low Temp. Phys., 17(2), 96 (1991).

• Non-Josephson generation in superconducting aluminum films. Sov. J. Low Temp. Phys., 14(2), 113 (1988).

Nano Instrumentation Center (electron microscopy facility) - LINK