Education

Biography

Dr. Mihaela Jitianu earned her Ph. D degree from University of Bucharest, 2001, for her research in the layered compounds field, thesis entitled: “Layered compounds with a hydrotalcite-like structure and their derived oxidic compounds”. She is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry at William Paterson University, Wayne, New Jersey, US. Her expertise is in the inorganic chemistry field, as follows: layered compounds, metal complexes, and materials chemistry, photocatalysis and rheology of suspensions, gels and solids. During her career, Dr. Jitianu synthesized complex compounds with biological applications, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors – study being a part of a larger one and dealing with the influence of the metal ion upon biological activity of complexes. This research resulted in a peer-reviewed publication in European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry.

One of Dr. Jitianu’s current research fields is synthesis and characterization of composite materials with applications as photocatalysts. Photocatalysis has become a field of increasing interest because of its large potential for environment protection since it deals with decomposition of both water and atmospheric pollutants. The composite materials are very good photocatalysts in degradation of vanillin. Vanillin has been broadly used in flavorings, pharmaceuticals, perfumes and fragrances, yet has been found toxic to fish and causes odor in water, and what's more, it inhibits the growth of algae.

Most recently, Dr. Jitianu’s main research is on rheology of materials, more specifically rotational and oscillatory rheometry. Rotational rheometry is a powerful technique for the measurement of complex shear rheology across all material types.  It is ideal for discerning structural and compositional changes of materials, therefore material stability and performance.

Dr. Jitianu is a member of the American Chemical Society, adviser in the ACS Student chapter program in the Department of Chemistry at William Paterson University. She has mentored over 30 undergraduate students and 5 graduate students over her career. Students under her supervision have presented their research at ACS meetings, regional and also international symposia. Dr. Jitianu and her research students have published 21 peer-reviewed articles along with over 40 conference presentations, as invited and contributed works.

One of Dr. Jitianu’s main interests nowadays is to promote women in science. She is the program coordinator for Women in Science and Engineering Program – WISE – at William Paterson University. The main goal in this program is to build science women who will take leadership positions, directing the field by continuously work towards expanding the pool of talented women, helping them find appropriate career goals that match their skill set.

Research Interest

1. Rheology of gels, polymers, suspensions and solids

Dr. Jitianu’s research challenge has been to comprehend the link between the micro-structure and the rheology of a system. Most systems contain irregularly shaped particles with size distribution, droplets in case of emulsions, or branched or highly entangled long chain polymeric molecules in solutions, or loosely formed aggregates of particles in suspensions. At rest, these structures are oriented arbitrarily corresponding to their minimum energy state. As the level of shearing increases steadily, the structural units may respond to stress by aligning themselves in the direction of flow, or by deforming or by means of decomposition of the aggregates into primary particles.

2. Controlled processing of nanoparticulate aggregates

The micro-structural changes in aggregates depend upon the relative magnitudes of inter-particle forces. In suspensions of fine particles, the van der Waals attraction forces cause the particles to join with each other on touching, this effect being rather significant in colloidal suspensions, leading to coagulation. Our studies on rheology of suspensions made of Titanium dioxide with different levels of residual sulfate have found that the aggregation characteristics of titanium dioxide are strongly dependent on the electrokinetic properties of the powder.

3. Preparation and fundamental studies on anionic clays (LDHs)

The large class of anionic clays, natural and synthetic layered double hydroxides LDHs is less spread in nature with respect to the cationic clays, but they can be synthesized in a wide range of compositions. The anionic clays, mainly after calcination, have interesting properties that lead to applications in the field of heterogeneous catalysis (hydrogenation, reforming, basic catalysts and as catalyst supports).

4. TiO₂-based composites with layered compounds as photocatalysts

TiO₂ is an n-type semiconductor and the reactive species in photocatalysis is the hole cogenerated with an electron upon absorption of a photon. Many organic compounds can be decomposed in aqueous solution under irradiation with near ultraviolet light into carbon dioxide and water on the surface of TiO₂ particles. Nitrogen doping and also layered double hydroxides, LDHs, are both hypothesized to eliminate the rapid recombination of excited electrons/holes during the photoreaction. Composite materials using a standard commercially available TiO₂ and LDH were successfully prepared, characterized and tested against vanillin, a phenol-model compound. The catalytic results confirmed the hypothesis that a synergistic effect between nitrogen doping of TiO₂ and the presence of LDH occurs and contributes to a high overall photocatalytic activity.

Scientific Activities

• Member of American Chemical Society
• Reviewer for: Journal of American Ceramic Society, Journal of Heterocyclic Chemistry, Chemistry Letters.
• Coordinator of Women in Science Program – WISE - at William Paterson University
• Center for Research at WP - Summer grant awards 2012-2014, 2016, 2017

Publications

1. M. Aparicio, A. Jitianu, G. Rodriguez, K. Al-Marzoki, Mihaela Jitianu, J.Mosa, L.C. Klein, “Thickness-properties synergy in organic–inorganic consolidated melting-gel coatings for protection of 304 stainless steel in NaCl solutions”, Surface & Coatings Technology, Volume 315, 2017, pages 426–435, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.surfcoat.2017.02.059.
2. Jonathan Gabriel, Aarti Patel, Ewul Ebenezer, Andrei Jitianu, and Mihaela Jitianu, "Investigation of Pyroaurite-Type Anionic Clay-Derived Mixed Oxides with Various Compositions", Processing, Properties, and Design of Advanced Ceramics and Composites: Ceramic Transactions, 2016, Volume 259, page 17.
3.  Amanda Muraca, Naphtali O’Connor, Ravnit Kaur-Bhatia, Nicoleta Apostol, Andrei Jitianu, Mihaela Jitianu, “Titanium dioxide nanocomposites – Synthesis and photocatalysis”, Processing and Properties of Advanced Ceramics and Composites VI: Ceramic Transactions, 2014, Volume 249, pages 123-135.
4. Mihaela Jitianu, Andrei Jitianu, Michael Stamper, Doreen E. Aboagye, Lisa C. Klein,“Melting Gel Films for Low Temperature Seals”, Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. Volume 1547, 2013, pages 81-86. DOI:10.1557/opl.2013.506.
5. Mihaela Jitianu, Darren C. Gunness, Doreen E. Aboagye, Maria Zaharescu, Andrei Jitianu,“Nanosized Ni-Al layered double hydroxides - Structural characterization”, Materials Research Bulletin 48, 2013, pages 1864–1873.
6. Maria Crisan, Maria Zaharescu, ValluriDurgaKumari, MachirajuSubrahmanyam , Dorel Crisan, Nicolae Dragan, Malina Raileanu, Mihaela Jitianu, Adriana Rusu, GullapelliSadanandam, Jakkidi Krishna Reddy, Sol–gel based alumina powders with catalytic applications, Applied Surface Science, Volume 258, 2011, pages 448– 455.
7. Mihaela Jitianu, J. Ko, S. Miller, C. Rohn, R.A. Haber, “Controlled Processing of Bulk Assembling of Nanoparticle of Titania”, Processing of Nanoparticle Materials and Nanostructured Films: Ceramic Transactions, Volume 223, 2010, pages 87-101.
8. Mihaela Jitianu, C. Rohn, R.A. Haber, “The structure of nanoparticulate aggregates of Titania as a function of shear”, Processing of Nanoparticle Structures and Composites: Ceramic transactions, Volume 208, 2009, pages 111-122.
9. C. August, Mihaela Jitianu, R.A. Haber, “Effect of Variations in Process Shear on the Mixedness of an Alumina – Titania System”, Processing and Properties of Advanced Ceramics and Composites: Ceramic Transactions, Volume 203, 2009, pages 215-228.
10. Mihaela Jitianu, R. Kleisinger, M. Lopez, D. V. Goia, “Preparation of Carbon supported alloyed PtCo nanoparticles for PEM Fuel Cells applications”, Journal of New Materials for Electrochemical Systems,Volume 10, 2007, pages 67-74.
11. Mihaela Jitianu and Dan V. Goia, “Zinc Oxide Colloids with Controlled Size, Shape, and Structure”, Journal of Colloids and Interface Science,Volume 309, 2007, pages 76-85.
12. A. Jitianu, M. Raileanu, M. Crisan, D. Predoi, Mihaela Jitianu, L. Stanciu, M. Zaharescu, “Fe3O4 - SiO2 Nanocomposites obtained via Alkoxide and Colloidal route”, J. Sol-Gel Sci. & Technol. Volume 40, 2006, pages 317-323.
13. V. Fruth, M. Popa, D. Berger, C. Ionica, Mihaela Jitianu, "Phase investigation in the Antimony doped Bi2O3 system", Journal of the European Ceramic Society,Volume 24, 2004, pages 1295-1299.
14. Mihaela Jitianu, M. Zaharescu, M. Bãlãsoiu, A. Jitianu, “The Sol-Gel Route in Synthesis of Cr(III)-Containing clays. Comparison between Mg(II) and Ni(II)”, J. Sol-Gel. Sci & Technol. Volume 26, 2003, pages 217-221.
15.  Mihaela Jitianu, M. Zaharescu, A. Jitianu, “Influence of the obtaining agents in sol-gel synthesis of anionic clays. Structural properties of the obtained materials”, Rev. Roum. Chim., Volume 47 (8-9), 2002, pages 715-721.
16. Mihaela Jitianu and V. Fruth, “Structural aspects of Antimony Doped Bi2O3”, Rev. Roum. Chim. Volume 47 (10-11), 2002, pages 1171-1176.
17. V. Fruth, D. Berger, M. Bãlãsoiu, Mihaela Jitianu, G. Tanase, I. Teoreanu, “Effect of the Sb2O3 addition on the Bi2O3 polymorphism”, Key Engineering Materials,Volume 206-213, 2002, pages 1357-1360.
18. Mihaela Jitianu, A. Jitianu, M. Zaharescu, D. Crisan, R. Marchidan, “IR structural evidence of hydrotalcites derived oxidic forms”, Vibrational Spectroscopy,Volume 22, 2000, pages 75-86.
19. Mihaela Jitianu, M. Bãlãsoiu, M. Zaharescu, R. Marchidan, D. Crisan, M. Craiu, “Thermal Behaviour of Hydrotalcite-like Compounds. Study of the resulting oxidic forms.” Int. J. Inorg. Mater. Volume 2, 2000, pages 287-300.
20. Mihaela Jitianu, M. Bãlãsoiu, M. Zaharescu, A. Jitianu, Al. Ivanov “Comparative study of sol-gel and coprecipitated hydrotalcites”, J. Sol-Gel Sci. & Technol. Volume 19, 2000, pages 453-457.
21. C.T. Supuran, A. Scozzafava, F. Mincione, L. Menabuoni, F. Briganti, G. Mincione, Mihaela Jitianu, “Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors. Part 57. The topical Intraocular Pressure-lowering Properties of Metal Complexes of a heterocyclic Sulfonamide: Influence of the Metal Ion upon biological Activity”, European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, Volume 34 1999, pages 585-595.

Papers published in Conference Proceedings

1. . Mercurio, Mihaela Jitianu, R.A. Haber, “Grain Boundary engineering of Silicon Carbide by means of coprecipitation”, Ceramic Engineering and Science Proceedings, Volume 29, Issue 6, 2009, pages 141-152.
2. M. Gabrovska, R. Edreva-Kardjieva, G. Kadinov, M. Shopska, B. Kunev, Mihaela Jitianu, “Coprecipitation Ni-Cr-Al methanation catalysts. Part II. Characterization of Ni-Cr-Al mixed oxides”, 9th Int. Symp. on Heterogeneous Catalysis, 23-27 September 2000, Varna, pages 429-434.
3. Mihaela Jitianu, M. Zaharescu, A. Jitianu, Al. Ivanov, D. Crisan, R. Marchidan, “Spectroscopic studies on MO-M2O3 oxidic forms”, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Glass and Ceramics, Varna, Bulgaria, Ed. by Publishing House “Science Invest” Sofia, 1999, vol.2, pages 66-71.