Michael A. Matthews

Professor and Chair
Adjunct Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery

The Matthews research group works on understanding thermodynamic, transport, and kinetic behavior of solvents and materials that may promote more green and sustainable methods of chemical and material manufacturing.

With funding from the National Institutes of Health ( National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering ), Matthews directs a Bioengineering Research Partnership team of three universities that is investigating the mechanisms by which supercritical carbon dioxide-based solvents sterilize bacterial spores. The potential application is low temperature, non-toxic methods for sterilizing and cleaning novel temperature sensitive biomaterials.

Professor Matthews and Professor Weidner [ website ] are supported by the National Science Foundation to investigate novel, low-temperature electro-organic synthesis of specialty chemicals using ionic liquids as the solvent and electrolyte. This may provide means to eliminate environmentally-harmful solvents and decrease the energy required for chemical manufacturing.

The Department of Energy and Department of Defense are funding research on the low-temperature gas / solid hydrolysis of chemical hydrides to produce hydrogen for fuel cell applications.

Matthews also leads a large NSF educational project ( the Research Communications Studio ) on behalf of the department and college, investigating the cognitive development of undergraduate and graduate students who work in collaborative teams. Matthews and collaborators in engineering and liberal arts are developing effective tools for mentoring education and cognitive development by focusing on the various kinds of communications required in a research team.

Education:

• Ph. D., Texas A & M University ( 1986 )
• M. S., Texas A & M University ( 1984 )
• B. S., Texas A & M University ( 1979 )

Selected Publications:

8. "Hydrogen Generation from Chemical Hydrides: A Review." Eyma Y. Marrero-Alfonso, Amy Beaird, Michael A. Matthews and Thomas A. Davis. I&EC Research, accepted, Feb. 2009.
7. "Evaluation of CO₂- Based Cold Sterilization of a Model Hydrogel." A. Jimenez, J. Zhang, and M.A. Matthews. Biotech Bioeng., 101( 6 ), 1344 - 1352, 2008.
6. "Hydrolysis of Sodium Borohydride with Steam." Eyma Y. Marrero-Alfonso, Joshua R. Gray, Michael A. Matthews, and Thomas A. Davis. Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 32( 18 ), 4717 - 4722, 2007
5. "Minimizing Water Utilization in Hydrolysis of Sodium Borohydride: The Role of Sodium Metaborate Hydrates." Eyma Y. Marrero-Alfonso, Joshua R. Gray, Michael A. Matthews, and Thomas A. Davis. Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 32( 18 ), 4723 - 4730, 2007.
4. "Supercritical carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide cause mild changes in spore structures associated with high killing rate of Bacillus anthracis." Jian Zhang, Nishita Dalal, Michael A. Matthews, Lashanda N. Waller, Clint Saunders, Karen F. Fox, and Alvin Fox. J. Microbiological Methods, 70, 442 - 451, 2007. PMCID: 2084089
3. "Compatibility of Medical-Grade Polymers with Dense CO₂." Jiménez A, Thompson G L, Matthews M A, Davis T A, Crocker K, Lyons J S Trapotsis A. J. Supercritical Fluids, 42, 366 - 372, 2007. PMCID:
2. "Sterilization of bacterial spores using supercritical carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide." J.D. Hemmer, M.D. Drews, M. LaBerge, and M.A. Matthews, J. Biomed. Mater. Res. B: Applied Biomaterials, 80B( 2 ), 511 - 518, 2007. PMC Journal-In-Progress
1. "Fostering an Active Learning Environment for Undergraduates: Peer-to-Peer Interactions in a Research Group." Christopher E. Long, Michael A. Matthews, and Nancy S. Thompson. Chem. Eng. Education, 2007. Winner of the 2007 ASEE / AIChE Division William Corcoran Award for Best Paper in Chemical Engineering Education.