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Michael J. Bedzyk

Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and (by courtesy) Physics and Astronomy

Ph.D. in Physics, State University of New York, Albany; B.S. in Physics and Mathematics, State University of New York, Brockport

Co-Director of Synchrotron Research Center

Research Interests

Bedzyk's research group develops and uses X-ray scattering and spectroscopy for atomic-scale characterization of surfaces, interfaces, ultra-thin-films and nanostructures. In addition to using a well-stocked in-house X-ray lab, they make extensive use of synchrotron X-ray facilities, where there is greatly enhanced chemical and structural sensitivity.
In the realm of biomaterials they use in situ X-ray scattering to study (in an electrolyte solution) the electrostatic interactions between like-charged colloids, consisting of DNA-functionalized proteins. They also work to understand how amphiphilic molecules in controlled electrolytic solutions assemble to form bilayer membranes with various topological configurations.
Using surface science methods, such as scanning probe microscopy and low-energy electron diffraction, the group studies the growth, structure, and chemistry of 2D materials and oxide supported catalysts. These standard characterization methods are then followed up by the group’s unique use of X-ray standing waves to excite X-ray fluorescence or X-ray photoelectron emission from surface atoms to pinpoint and follow their lattice locations during surface chemical reactions.

Selected Publications

  • Chen, Y. N.;  Jones, L. O.;  Lee, T. L.;  Das, A.;  Mosquera, M. A.;  Keane, D. T.;  Schatz, G. C.; Bedzyk, M. J., Atomic-Site-Specific Surface Valence-Band Structure from X-Ray Standing-Wave Excited Photoemission. Phys Rev Lett 2022, 128 (20).
  • Das, A.;  Jones, L. O.;  Chen, Y. N.;  Choudhury, D.;  Keane, D. T.;  Elam, J. W.;  Schatz, G. C.; Bedzyk, M. J., Atomic-Scale View of Redox Induced Changes for Monolayer MoOX on alpha-TiO2(110) with Chemical-State Sensitivity. J Phys Chem Lett 2022, 13 (23), 5304-5309.
  • "Resolving the Chemically Discrete Structure of Synthetic Borophene Polymorphs", G.P. Campbell, A.J. Mannix, J.D. Emery, T.L. Lee, N.P. Guisinger, M.C. Hersam, M.J. Bedzyk, Nano Letters 18,2816-2821 (2018).<Go to ISI>://WOS:000432093200011
  • "Defining the Structure of a Protein-Spherical Nucleic Acid Conjugate and Its Counterionic Cloud", K. Krishnamoorthy, K. Hoffmann, S. Kewalramani, J.D. Brodin, L.M. Moreau, C.A. Mirkin, M. Olvera de la Cruz, M.J. Bedzyk, ACS Central Sci 4,378-386 (2018). <Go to ISI>://WOS:000428801200013
  • "Electrostatic Control of Polymorphism in Charged Amphiphile Assemblies", C.R. Gao, H.H. Li, Y. Li, S. Kewalramani, L.C. Palmer, V.P. Dravid, S.I. Stupp, M. Olvera de la Cruz, M.J. Bedzyk, J Phys Chem B 121,1623-1628 (2017).<Go to ISI>://WOS:000394925700016
  • "X-ray standing wave analysis of nanostructures using partially coherent radiation", M.K. Tiwari, G. Das, M.J. Bedzyk, Appl Phys Lett 107,(2015).<Go to ISI>://WOS:000361640200039
  • "Electrolyte-Mediated Assembly of Charged Nanoparticles", S. Kewalramani, G.I. Guerrero-Garcia, L.M. Moreau, J.W. Zwanikken, C.A. Mirkin, M.Olvera de la Cruz, M.J. Bedzyk, ACS Central Sci 2,219-224 (2016).<Go to ISI>://WOS:000377825100008
  • "Chemically-Resolved Interface Structure of Epitaxial Graphene on SiC(0001)", J. D. Emery, B. Detlefs, H. J. Karmel, L. O. Nyakiti, D. K. Gaskill, M. C. Hersam, J. Zegenhagen, M. J. Bedzyk, Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 21550 (2013). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.215501
  • "Atomic Imaging of Oxide-Supported Metallic Nanocrystals", Z. Feng, A. Kazimirov, M. J. Bedzyk, ACS Nano 5, 9755-9760 (2011).