Gennady Gor
Associate Professor, Chemical & Materials Engineering
357 Tiernan Hall (TIER)
About Me
I am an associate professor and the head of the Laboratory for Materials Interfaces at NJIT. The primary focus of my group's research is porous, nanostructured and polymer materials, and their interactions with fluids. More specifically, I work on stimuli-responsive materials, electrochemical energy storage, atmospheric aerosols, material characterization methods based on gas adsorption and ultrasound propagation, and more. My main tool is molecular simulations, which I use in strong connection with experimental work. Over the course of eight years at NJIT, I secured funds from 15 grants, including the NSF CAREER award. I have served as a primary advisor to 8 PhD students, 4 of whom already defended their dissertations. My scholarly contributions have been reported in 77 papers in peer-reviewed journals, including PNAS.
Education
Ph.D.
; St Petersburg State University
; Theoretical Physics
; 2009
M.S. ; St Petersburg State University ; Theoretical And Mathematical Physics ; 2006
B.S. ; St Petersburg State University ; Physics ; 2003
M.S. ; St Petersburg State University ; Theoretical And Mathematical Physics ; 2006
B.S. ; St Petersburg State University ; Physics ; 2003
Experience
Naval Research Lab
NRC Research Associate,
August 2014 -
August 2016
Princeton University
Postdoctoral Research Associate,
August 2011 -
August 2014
Rutgers University
Postdoctoral Research Associate,
August 2009 -
August 2011
Awards & Honors
2020 NSF CAREER Award,
2014 National Research Council Associateship,
Website
2025 Fall Courses
CHE 492 - RESEARCH & INDEP STUDY
MTEN 792 - PRE-DOCTORAL RESEARCH
CHE 792 - PRE-DOCTORAL RESEARCH
MTEN 492 - RESRCH AND INDPENDENT STUDY II
MTEN 726 - INDEPENDENT STUDY II
CHE 230 - CHEM ENGINEER THERMODYNAMICS I
CHE 701B - MASTERS THESIS
MTEN 491 - RESEARCH & INDEPENDENT STUDY I
CHE 491 - RESEARCH & INDEP STUDY
CHE 706 - INDEPENDENT STUDY II
CHE 790A - DOCT DISSERTATION & RES
MTEN 725 - INDEPENDENT STUDY I
MTEN 701B - MASTERS THESIS
CHE 705 - INDEPENDENT STUDY I
CHE 700B - MASTERS PROJECT
CHE 701C - MASTERS THESIS
MTEN 700B - MASTER'S PROJECT
MTEN 790A - DOCT DISSERTATION & RES
MTEN 792 - PRE-DOCTORAL RESEARCH
CHE 792 - PRE-DOCTORAL RESEARCH
MTEN 492 - RESRCH AND INDPENDENT STUDY II
MTEN 726 - INDEPENDENT STUDY II
CHE 230 - CHEM ENGINEER THERMODYNAMICS I
CHE 701B - MASTERS THESIS
MTEN 491 - RESEARCH & INDEPENDENT STUDY I
CHE 491 - RESEARCH & INDEP STUDY
CHE 706 - INDEPENDENT STUDY II
CHE 790A - DOCT DISSERTATION & RES
MTEN 725 - INDEPENDENT STUDY I
MTEN 701B - MASTERS THESIS
CHE 705 - INDEPENDENT STUDY I
CHE 700B - MASTERS PROJECT
CHE 701C - MASTERS THESIS
MTEN 700B - MASTER'S PROJECT
MTEN 790A - DOCT DISSERTATION & RES
Teaching Interests
Thermodynamics
Statistical Mechanics
Transport
Modeling Techniques
Statistical Mechanics
Transport
Modeling Techniques
Past Courses
CHE 342: CHEM ENG THERMODYNAM II
CHE 342: CHEMICAL ENGINEERING THERMODYNAMICS II
CHE 365: CHEMICAL ENGINEERING COMPUTING
CHE 490: SPECIAL TOPICS IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
CHE 490: ST: SPECIAL TOPICS
CHE 490: ST:SPECIAL TOPICS
CHE 702: ST: STAT THERMO & MOLECUL MODEL
CHE 775: MOLECULAR SIMULATIONS IN CHE
CHE 791: GRADUATE SEMINAR
MTEN 201: INTRODUCTORY PRINCIPLES OF MATERIALS ENGINEERING
MTEN 702: NANOPOROUS MATERIALS
CHE 342: CHEMICAL ENGINEERING THERMODYNAMICS II
CHE 365: CHEMICAL ENGINEERING COMPUTING
CHE 490: SPECIAL TOPICS IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
CHE 490: ST: SPECIAL TOPICS
CHE 490: ST:SPECIAL TOPICS
CHE 702: ST: STAT THERMO & MOLECUL MODEL
CHE 775: MOLECULAR SIMULATIONS IN CHE
CHE 791: GRADUATE SEMINAR
MTEN 201: INTRODUCTORY PRINCIPLES OF MATERIALS ENGINEERING
MTEN 702: NANOPOROUS MATERIALS
Research Interests
Adsorption
Porous Materials
Molecular Simulation
Porous Materials
Molecular Simulation
In Progress
Compressibility of nanopore-confined liquids probed by ultrasonic experiments
This project explores the effects of confinement on compressibility of fluids by means of adsorption-ultrasonic experiments. When fluids are confined in nanopores, many of their physico-chemical properties (e.g. density, freezing point, diffusivity) change as compared to bulk. Some experimental studies suggested that compressibility of confined fluids might also deviate from that in bulk. A series of recent molecular simulation studies, including the work by Gennady Gor, confirmed these observations for nitrogen and argon, and predicted that the departure of compressibility progressively increases with the decrease of the pore size. This let us hypothesize that confinement will change the elastic properties of all fluids when the pore size is comparable to the molecular size, and the extent of this change is determined by the pore size and strength of the solid-fluid interactions. Here we are testing this hypothesis experimentally, as well as explore the effects of other parameters, such as the properties of pore surface, molecular shapes, etc. We also investigate whether confinement can lead to appearance of the shear modulus absent in bulk fluids. We expect that the results of these experiments will complement the current and future molecular simulation studies by Gennady Gor’s group.
Coupling Adsorption and Mechanics: Towards the Development of Smart Porous Materials
Adsorption of gases and liquids in porous materials plays a significant role in separation processes. This project focuses on understanding the relationship between fluid adsorption and the mechanical properties of adsorbent materials. Specifically, novel theoretical approaches will be developed to predict how adsorbent materials deform during fluid adsorption and how this mechanical response affects the adsorption behavior of porous materials. Addressing these open questions will guide the development of smart porous materials, advance membrane separations processes and the design of soft robotics, and aid in engineering the next-generation of sensing devices. The ability to design advanced adsorbent and membrane materials may dramatically improve the efficiency of separation technologies, ultimately improving access to clean water and providing new strategies for carbon sequestration.
Molecular Modeling of Organophosphorous Compounds
Several organophosphorus compounds, such as G-agents sarin and soman have been synthesized during the World War II to be used as chemical warfare agents (CWA). Despite the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention, that outlaws the production and use of chemical weapons and their precursors, the use of CWA by terrorists still remain a threat. Thus there is a need to develop processes for chemical protection, capture and decontamination of CWAs. These studies require knowledge of thermodynamic properties of CWAs, in particular quantitative predictions of phase equilibrium of CWA in the presence of adsorbents. Due to the extreme toxicity of CWAs, experiments with them are very limited, and many of the experiments are made with their less toxic simulants. We employ molecular simulations for both CWAs and simulants. Modeling data for simulants can be readily verified experimentally, and justify the use of modeling data for CWAs for predictions as an alternative to experiments.
Molecular Simulation of Solvation and Softening of Polypropylene Battery Separators in Carbonate Solvents
Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is the leading solution for electrical energy storage, which provide the highest energy and power per unit mass. Although it is already a well-developed technology, it still has one weak point – safety. A lithium-ion battery failure may cause thermal runaway; and the battery can catch on fire. While the performance characteristics of the batteries (e.g. specific power or specific energy) are determined by the electrode materials, the battery safety relies on the separator. LIB separators are typically made of porous semicrystalline polypropylene. Recent experiments showed that, when polypropylene separators are immersed in carbonate solvents used in LIBs, the separators mechanical properties are significantly reduced. The extent of the observed reduction is unexpected, and the physical mechanism is unclear. We aim to elucidate this mechanism on the molecular level to provide a path towards the development of porous polymeric membranes with improved mechanical properties.
Multiscale Modeling of Restructuring of Atmospheric Soot
Soot is a major environmental pollutant with impacts ranging from air quality and human health to climate. The extent of these impacts depends on the microstructure of soot nanoparticles and their surface properties. The soot microstructure is complex, with nanoparticles being fractal aggregates of graphitic spherules mixed with organic and inorganic combustion products or other atmospheric chemicals. On top of it, soot nanoparticles often change structure when interacting with chemicals adsorbed on their surface. The main goal of this project is to develop a molecular-based model for soot nanoparticles restructuring (Gor's group) and verify it against experimental measurements (Khalizov's group).
This project explores the effects of confinement on compressibility of fluids by means of adsorption-ultrasonic experiments. When fluids are confined in nanopores, many of their physico-chemical properties (e.g. density, freezing point, diffusivity) change as compared to bulk. Some experimental studies suggested that compressibility of confined fluids might also deviate from that in bulk. A series of recent molecular simulation studies, including the work by Gennady Gor, confirmed these observations for nitrogen and argon, and predicted that the departure of compressibility progressively increases with the decrease of the pore size. This let us hypothesize that confinement will change the elastic properties of all fluids when the pore size is comparable to the molecular size, and the extent of this change is determined by the pore size and strength of the solid-fluid interactions. Here we are testing this hypothesis experimentally, as well as explore the effects of other parameters, such as the properties of pore surface, molecular shapes, etc. We also investigate whether confinement can lead to appearance of the shear modulus absent in bulk fluids. We expect that the results of these experiments will complement the current and future molecular simulation studies by Gennady Gor’s group.
Coupling Adsorption and Mechanics: Towards the Development of Smart Porous Materials
Adsorption of gases and liquids in porous materials plays a significant role in separation processes. This project focuses on understanding the relationship between fluid adsorption and the mechanical properties of adsorbent materials. Specifically, novel theoretical approaches will be developed to predict how adsorbent materials deform during fluid adsorption and how this mechanical response affects the adsorption behavior of porous materials. Addressing these open questions will guide the development of smart porous materials, advance membrane separations processes and the design of soft robotics, and aid in engineering the next-generation of sensing devices. The ability to design advanced adsorbent and membrane materials may dramatically improve the efficiency of separation technologies, ultimately improving access to clean water and providing new strategies for carbon sequestration.
Molecular Modeling of Organophosphorous Compounds
Several organophosphorus compounds, such as G-agents sarin and soman have been synthesized during the World War II to be used as chemical warfare agents (CWA). Despite the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention, that outlaws the production and use of chemical weapons and their precursors, the use of CWA by terrorists still remain a threat. Thus there is a need to develop processes for chemical protection, capture and decontamination of CWAs. These studies require knowledge of thermodynamic properties of CWAs, in particular quantitative predictions of phase equilibrium of CWA in the presence of adsorbents. Due to the extreme toxicity of CWAs, experiments with them are very limited, and many of the experiments are made with their less toxic simulants. We employ molecular simulations for both CWAs and simulants. Modeling data for simulants can be readily verified experimentally, and justify the use of modeling data for CWAs for predictions as an alternative to experiments.
Molecular Simulation of Solvation and Softening of Polypropylene Battery Separators in Carbonate Solvents
Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is the leading solution for electrical energy storage, which provide the highest energy and power per unit mass. Although it is already a well-developed technology, it still has one weak point – safety. A lithium-ion battery failure may cause thermal runaway; and the battery can catch on fire. While the performance characteristics of the batteries (e.g. specific power or specific energy) are determined by the electrode materials, the battery safety relies on the separator. LIB separators are typically made of porous semicrystalline polypropylene. Recent experiments showed that, when polypropylene separators are immersed in carbonate solvents used in LIBs, the separators mechanical properties are significantly reduced. The extent of the observed reduction is unexpected, and the physical mechanism is unclear. We aim to elucidate this mechanism on the molecular level to provide a path towards the development of porous polymeric membranes with improved mechanical properties.
Multiscale Modeling of Restructuring of Atmospheric Soot
Soot is a major environmental pollutant with impacts ranging from air quality and human health to climate. The extent of these impacts depends on the microstructure of soot nanoparticles and their surface properties. The soot microstructure is complex, with nanoparticles being fractal aggregates of graphitic spherules mixed with organic and inorganic combustion products or other atmospheric chemicals. On top of it, soot nanoparticles often change structure when interacting with chemicals adsorbed on their surface. The main goal of this project is to develop a molecular-based model for soot nanoparticles restructuring (Gor's group) and verify it against experimental measurements (Khalizov's group).
Journal Article
Ashoka Karunarathne, Stephan Braxmeier, Boris Gurevich, Alexei Khalizov, Gudrun Reichenauer, Gennady Gor.
2025. "Ultrasound propagation in water-sorbing carbon xerogel."
npj Acoustics , vol. 1 , no. 1 .
Alexei Khalizov, E V Ivanova, E V Demidov, A Hasani, J H Curtis, N Riemer, Gennady Gor. 2025. "Capillary Condensation: An Unaccounted Pathway for Rapid Aging of Atmospheric Soot.." Environmental science & technology .
Gennady Gor, George W Scherer, Howard A Stone. 2024. "Bacterial spores respond to humidity similarly to hydrogels." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , vol. 121 , no. 10 , pp. e2320763121.
Yuliya A Kenzhebayeva, Nikita K Kulachenkov, Sergey S Rzhevskiy, Pavel A Slepukhin, Vladimir V Shilovskikh, Anastasiia Efimova, Pavel Alekseevskiy, Gennady Gor, Alina Emelianova, Sergei Shipilovskikh, others. 2024. "Light-driven anisotropy of 2D metal-organic framework single crystal for repeatable optical modulation." Communications Materials , vol. 5 , no. 1 , pp. 48.
Boris Gurevich, Michel M Nzikou, Gennady Gor. 2024. "Modeling patchy saturation of fluids in nanoporous media probed by ultrasound and optics." Physical Review E , vol. 109 , no. 6 , pp. 064801.
Alexei Khalizov, E V Ivanova, E V Demidov, A Hasani, J H Curtis, N Riemer, Gennady Gor. 2025. "Capillary Condensation: An Unaccounted Pathway for Rapid Aging of Atmospheric Soot.." Environmental science & technology .
Gennady Gor, George W Scherer, Howard A Stone. 2024. "Bacterial spores respond to humidity similarly to hydrogels." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , vol. 121 , no. 10 , pp. e2320763121.
Yuliya A Kenzhebayeva, Nikita K Kulachenkov, Sergey S Rzhevskiy, Pavel A Slepukhin, Vladimir V Shilovskikh, Anastasiia Efimova, Pavel Alekseevskiy, Gennady Gor, Alina Emelianova, Sergei Shipilovskikh, others. 2024. "Light-driven anisotropy of 2D metal-organic framework single crystal for repeatable optical modulation." Communications Materials , vol. 5 , no. 1 , pp. 48.
Boris Gurevich, Michel M Nzikou, Gennady Gor. 2024. "Modeling patchy saturation of fluids in nanoporous media probed by ultrasound and optics." Physical Review E , vol. 109 , no. 6 , pp. 064801.
SHOW MORE
Chapter
Gennady Gor, Christopher D Dobrzanski, A Emelianova.
"Thermodynamic Fingerprints of Nanoporous Materials on the Fluids Confined in Their Pores."
"Soft Matter and Biomaterials on the Nanoscale,"
pp. 227--258. World Scientific, 2020.
Gennady Gor. "Bulk Modulus of Not-So-Bulk Fluid." pp. 465–472. 2017.
Gennady Gor. "Bulk Modulus of Not-So-Bulk Fluid." pp. 465–472. 2017.