Dr. Zhorro Nikolov (Nickolov)

Profile

Physicist specialized in materials and surface characterization, vibrational spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, lasers and optics, nanoindentation, analytical chemistry, colloid and surface chemistry.

Education

• M.Sc. , Ph.D.  Physics (Laser Spectroscopy), Sofia University

Professional Experience

Research Experience and Skills

• Vibrational Spectroscopy
  • Raman: visible and FT Raman, Raman microprobe, UV Raman, Raman mapping and imaging, Surface Enhanced Raman (SERS), Tip-Enhanced Raman (TERS)
  • FTIR: far-IR, mid-IR and NIR, FTIR microscope, external reflection, attenuated total reflection (ATR), diffuse reflectance (DRIFTS), step-scan, IR mapping
• X-Ray Photoelectron and Auger Spectroscopy
• Non-linear Optics and Spectroscopy for Interfacial Characterization
• Sum-Frequency Spectroscopy (SFS)
• Second Harmonic Generation (SHG)
• X-ray diffractometry
• Mechanical testing of materials: nanoindentation, microhardness
• Scanning electron microscopy with energy and wavelength dispersive spectroscopy analysis
• Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Near Field Scanning Optical Microscopy (NSOM)
• Surface characterization methods: zeta potential, surface tension, contact angle, surface plasmon resonance
• Optical characterization techniques: optical microscopy, elipsometry, static and dynamic light scattering, particle size measurements, optical interference methods

Courses Taught

• Introduction to Nanocharacterization– Drexel University
• Raman and Infrared Spectroscopy in Materials Science – Drexel University
• Surface Vibrational Spectroscopy – University of Utah
• Principles of Lasers, Fourier Optics, Laser Techniques, Electronics, Optics Lab – Sofia University

Awards and Recognitions

• 2010 - Nominated for President's Award, Drexel University
• 2007 - Outstanding Research Faculty Award, Drexel College of Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia
• 2007 - present  – Listed in "Who’s Who in America"
• 1998 - Visiting Professor Scholarship, Venture Business Laboratory, Hiroshima University, Japan
• 1997 – 1998 - Invited Senior Scholar Fellowship, Japanese Society for Promotion of Science, Department of Chemistry, Hiroshima University, Japan
• 1993 - Honorary Research Fellowship, Commission of the European Community Fellowship, Department of Physics, Queen’s University, Belfast, UK
• 1991 – 1992 - Research Fellowship, NSERC, Department of Physics, Queen's University, Belfast, UK

Awarded Projects

• National Science Foundation (Senior Personnel)
  MRI-R2: Acquisition of an X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) Surface Analysis Instrumentation for Enabling Research and Education in Greater Philadelphia, K. Lau (PI), Drexel University, 2010-2013
  Award Amount: $1,125,000
• National Science Foundation (Senior Investigator)
  MRI: Acquisition of a High Resolution X-Ray Microdiffractometer System for Advanced Materials Research and Education at Drexel, C. Li (PI), Drexel University, 2011-2012
  Award Amount: $419,300
• DURIP (Co-PI)
  Acquisition of a Fast Raman Mapping System , S. Kalidindi (PI), Drexel University, 2010-2012
  Award Amount: $116,105
• National Science Foundation (Senior Personnel)
  MRI: Acquisition of an Ultrafast Laser System for Sub-Picosecond Dynamics and Terahertz Spectroscopy, J. Baxter (PI), Drexel University, 2009-2011
  Award Amount: $332,300
• National Science Foundation (Co-PI)
  MRI: Acquisition of System for the Integration of Raman Scattering, Luminescence and Scanning Electron Microscopies, J. Spanier (PI), Drexel University, 2007-2008
  Award Amount: $498,073
• Department of Energy (Co-PI)
  The Flotation Chemistry of Non-Sulfide Minerals, J.D.Miller (PI), University of Utah, 2005-2008,
  Award Amount: $400,000

Synergistic Activities

• Organized and developed Picosecond Nonlinear Optics Laboratory with Sum-Frequency Spectroscopy and Second Harmonic Generation capabilities to study interfaces - University of Utah, (2002 – 2003), NSF  funding, Award Amounts: $250,000 (NSF-IMR) and $90,000 (NSF-Nanoscale Exploratory Research).
• Member of the American Chemical Society
• Member of the Society for Applied Spectroscopy
• Referee of papers submitted to J. Phys. Chem., J. Am. Chem. Soc., Appl. Phys. Lett., Langmuir, J. Raman Spectrosc., Colloids and Surfaces A, Minerals Engineering, and Appl. Spectrosc.
• Reviewer of proposals submitted to the DOE Basic Sciences Program

Selected Publications

Full lists: Publications (69); Meetings (62)

1. Z. S. Nickolov, S. Ahmed, S. L. Wunder, Raman Techniques to Study Lipid Bilayers on Silica Nanoparticles, Spectroscopy, Raman Technology for Today's Spectroscopists, (Special Supplement), June 2011, (Invited, Cover figure).
2. A. S. Prabhu, K. J. Freedman, J.W. F. Robertson, Z. Nikolov, J. J. Kasianowicz and MinJun Kim, SEM-induced Shrinking of Solid-State Nanopores for Single Molecule Detection, Nanotechnology, 22 (2011), 425302
3. K. Liu, Z. S. Nickolov, J. Oh, H. Shin, and H. Noh, KrF Excimer Laser Micromachining of MEMS Materials: Characterization and Applications, J. Micromech. Microeng., 22 (2012), 015012
4. K. M. McPeak, T. P. Le, N. G. Britton, Z. S. Nickolov, Y. A. Elabd, J. B. Baxter, Chemical Bath Deposition of ZnO Nanowires at Near-Neutral pH Conditions without Hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA): Understanding the Role of HMTA in ZnO Nanowire Growth, Langmuir, 27, (2011), 3672–3677
5. S. Ahmed, Z. S. Nickolov, S. L. Wunder, Effect of Curvature on Nanoparticle Supported Lipid Bilayers Investigated by Raman Spectroscopy, J. Phys. Chem. B, 115 (2011), 13181-13190.
6. Z. S. Nickolov, D. W. Britt and J. D. Miller, Sum-Frequency Spectroscopy Analysis of Two-Component Langmuir Monolayers and the Associated Interfacial Water Structure, J. Phys. Chem. B, 110, (2006), 15506-15513.
7. O. Ozdemir, M. S. Çelik, Z. S. Nickolov, and J. D. Miller, Water Structure and its Influence on the Flotation of Carbonate and Bicarbonate Salts, J. Coll. Int. Sci., 314 (2007), 545-551.
8. Z.S. Nickolov and J.D. Miller, Water Structure in Aqueous Solutions of Alkali Halide Salts: FTIR Spectroscopy of the OD Stretching Band, J. Coll. Int. Sci., 287, (2005), 572-580.
9. Z.S. Nickolov, X. Wang, J.D. Miller, Liquid/Air Interfacial Structure of Alcohol - Octyl Hydroxamic Acid Mixtures: A Study by Sum-Frequency Spectroscopy, Spectrochim. Acta Part A, 60 (2004), 2711-2717.
10. Z.S. Nickolov, N. Goutev, and H. Matsuura, Hydrogen Bonding in Concentrated Aqueous Solutions of 1,2-Dimethoxyethane: Formation of Water Clusters, J. Phys. Chem. A, 105 (2001), 10884-10889.
11. V.S. Marinov, Z.S. Nickolov, and H. Matsuura, Raman Spectroscopic Study of Hydration Behavior in Aqueous Nonionic Amphiphile Solutions, J. Phys. Chem. B, 105, (2001), 9953-9959.
12. Z.S. Nickolov, K. Ohno and H. Matsuura, FTIR-ATR Studies of the Hydration of 15-Crown-5 and 18-Crown-6 in Aqueous Solutions, J. Phys. Chem. A, 103, (1999), 7544-7551.
13. N. Goutev, Z.S. Nickolov and J.J. Ramsden, Waveguide Raman Spectroscopy of Si(Ti)O2 Thin Films with Grating Coupling, J. Raman Spectrosc., 27 (1996), 897-900.
14. N. Goutev and Z.S. Nickolov, Raman Studies of Three-Dimensional Foam, Phys. Rev. E, 54 (1996), 1725-1733.
15. Z.S. Nickolov, J.C. Earnshaw, F. Mallamace, N. Micali and C. Vasi, A Light Scattering Study of Phase Transitions in Aqueous Solutions of Nonionic Amphiphiles, Phys. Rev. E, 52 (1995), 5241-5249.