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Lei Kerr
Professor
Assistive Technology Center, Chemical, Paper, and Biomedical Engineering

Lei Kerr, Ph.D.

Contact Info

513-529-0768
Engineering Building 64K

Education

  • Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, University of Florida, 2004
  • B.S., Chemical Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Chemical Technology, China, 1997

Research Interests

  • Advanced electronic material growth and charaterization
  • Transparent conducting oxides (TCOs)
  • Solar Cells
  • Nanotechnology

Research Bio

Lei L. Kerr received her Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from University of Florida in May 2004. She received her B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Wuhan Institute of Technology, China in 1997. She joined Miami in 2004. Dr. Kerr is currently Professor in the Department of Chemical, Paper and Biomedical Engineering.

Her research interest are nanomaterials and nanotechnologies in the fields of photovoltaics, drug delivery, biosensors and nanomaterial toxicology. She has published 22 peer-reviewed journals and seven peer-reviewed conference papers with her 黑料社区s based on her work at Miami. Her work is cited numerous times in published literature.

Dr. Kerr has received individual research grants from Department of Energy, Wright Patterson Air Force Research Lab, NASA, American Canine Foundation, and California Energy Commission, and others. Total funding of internal and external grants exceeds $2M (external 1.85M).

A recipient of the 2013 and 2015 SOT Colgate-Palmolive Grant for Alternative Research Award and 2015 Alternative Research Grant award from the Alternatives Research and Development Foundation and Beagle Freedom Innovation Prize, Dr. Kerr was also awarded the prestigious Dennis & Bridgette Orwig Family Outstanding Research Award in 2008 and 2018 in the College of Engineering and Computing (CEC). A dedicated professor, Dr. Kerr was nominated to be an outstanding professor by 黑料社区s in 2007.

Research Projects

  • Nanoparticle toxicity
  • Solar cells
  • Drug delivery

Academic Experience

  • Maryloo Spooner Schallek Endowed Professor, 2016–2021
  • Professor, 黑料社区, 2014–present
  • Associate Professor, 黑料社区, 2010–2014
  • Assistant Professor, 黑料社区, 2004–2010
  • Graduate Research Internship, National Renewable Energy Lab, 2002
  • Graduate Research Assistant, University of Florida, 1998-2003

Honors and Awards

  • Award of Colgate-Palmolive Grant for Alternative Research, Society of Toxicology, (2013, 2015)
  • Women’s Institute for Leadership Development Program, Higher Education Collaborative of Greater Cincinnati (2014–2015)
  • The Dennis & Bridgette Orwig Family Outstanding Research Award, 黑料社区, 2008
  • Outstanding poster paper award by the 2003 American Institute of Chemical Engineering (AICHE) annual meeting Materials Science and Engineering Division, 2003
  • Special Student Award by the 29th Photovoltaic Specialist Conference (PVSC), 2002

Principal Publications

Papers

  • Huiying Jia and Lei L. Kerr, “Kinetics of drug release from drug carrier of polymer/TiO2 nanotubes composite—pH dependent study”, Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol. 132, No. 7, 2015
  • A. M. Alsmadi, N. Masmali, H. Jia, J. Guenther, H. Abu Jeib, Lei L. Kerr, and K.F. Eid, “Hot probe measurements of ntype conduction in Sb-doped ZnO microwires, Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 117, Article# 155703, 2015.
  • Trevor Tilly, Lei L Kerr, Laura Stolle, Saber Hussain, “Dispersions of Geometric TiO₂ Nanomaterials and their Toxicity to RPMI 2650 Nasal Epithelial Cells” Journal of Nanoparticle Research, Vol 16, No. 11, Article#2695, Nov, 2014.
  • Huiying Jia and Lei L. Kerr, “Sustained Ibuprofen Release Using Composite Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) PLGA/Titanium DioxideTiO2 Nanotubes from Ti Implant Surface”, Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Volume: 102 Issue: 7 Pages: 2341- 2348, 2013.
  • Jingbo Li and Lei L. Kerr, “Thermodynamic Modeling of Native Defects in ZnO”, Optical Materials, 2013, Volume: 35 Issue: 6 Pages: 1213-1217, 2013.
  • Prakash Swarnakar, Sushil R. Kanel, Dhriti Nepal, Yuntong Jiang, Huiying Jia, Lei L. Kerr, Mark N. Goltz, Jonathan Levy, John Rakovan, "Silver deposited titanium dioxide thin film for photocatalysis of organic compounds using natural light", Solar Energy, Vol. 88, pp. 242-249, 2013.
  • Rohit Deshpande, Bo Wang, Lin Dai, Lin Jiang, C. Scott Hartley, Shouzhong Zou, Hong Wang and Lei L. Kerr, “OppDibenzoporphyrins as Light Harvester for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells,” Chemistry, An Asian Journal, Vol. 7, No. 11, 2662- 2669, 2012.
  • Bo Wang and Lei L. Kerr, “Stability of CdS Coated TiO2 Solar Cells”, Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry, Vol. 16 Issue: 3 Pages: 1091-1097, 2012 
  • Bo Wang and Lei L. Kerr, “Dye Sensitized Solar Cell on Paper Substrates”, Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, Vol. 95, No. 8 pp. 2531-2535, 2011.
  • Wei Mu and  Lei L. Kerr, "Enhanced p-type Conductivity of Nitrogen Doped ZnO via Nano/Micro Structured rods and Zn-rich Co-Doping Process" Electronic Materials Letters, Vol. 7 No. 2 pp. 115-119, 2011.
  • Lei Guo and  Lei L. Kerr, "Growth and Atimony doped ZnO fibers and Its Application in Dye Sensitized Solar Cell", Functional Materials Letters, Vol. 3, No. 4, pp. 1-5, 2010.
  • Lei Kerr, Yun-Long Pan, Ralph B. Dinwiddie, Hsin Wang and Robert C. Peterson “Thermal Conductivity of Coated Paper”, International Journal of Thermophysics, Vol. 30 No. 2 Pages: 572-579, 2009.
  • Wei Mu,  Lei L. Kerr, and Nadia Leyarovska, “Extended X-Ray Absorption Fine Structure Study of p-type Nitrogen Doped ZnO,” Chemical Physics Letters, Vol. 469, issue 4~6, pp.318-320, 2009.
  • Rong Zhang, Sachin Kumar, Shouzhong Zou, and  Lei Kerr, “High Density Vertically-Aligned ZnO Rods with A Multi-stage Terrace Structure and Their Improved Solar Cell Efficiency,” Crystal Growth & Design, Vol. 8, pp. 381-383, 2008.
  • Rong Zhang, Jie Pan, Bragg Evans, Marvin Thrash, and  Lei L. Kerr, “Studies on the Adsorption of RuN3 Dye on Nanostructured ZnO Films,” Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, Vol. 92, pp. 425-431, 2008.
  • Rong Zhang, and  Lei L. Kerr, “Controlling of ZnO morphologies by adjusting Cd concentration via Chemical Bath Deposition,” Vol. 180, pp. 998–1004, Journal of Solid State Chemistry, 2007. 
  • Lei L. Kerr, Xiaonan Li, Maria Canepa and Andre Sommer, “Raman Analysis of Nitrogen doped ZnO,” Thin Solid films, Vol. 515, No. 13, pp. 5282-5286, 2007. 
  • Zhaoqiang Fang, B. Claflin, D.C. Look,  Lei L. Kerr, and Xiaonan Li “Electron and hole traps in N-doped ZnO grown on p-type Si substrate by MOCVD,” Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 102, article number 023714, 2007.
  • Zhaoqiang Fang, B. Claflin, D. C. Look,  Lei L. Kerr, and Ziaonan Li " Electron and hole traps in N-doped ZnO grown on p-type Si substrate by MOCVD", submitted to Journal of Applied Physics, 2007.
  • Rong Zhang, Marvin Thrash, and  Lei Kerr, "Studies on the Absorption of N3 Dye on Nanostructured ZnO Films" Preparative/Process Chromatography, (Abstract accepted in 2006 and to be presented in June 2007).
  • Liqiang Zheng,  Lei Kerr, and Marvin Thrash "Protein Adsorption on Nanostructured ZnO", Preparative/Process Chromatography, ( Abstract accepted in 2006 and to be presented in June 2007).
  • Xuege Wang, Jeffery Lu, John Wax, Ken Lemanski, Jie Pan and  Lei L. Kerr, "Investigation of MgF 2 Amtirefelective Coating on CIGS Thin Film Solar Cells" submitted to proceeding of the 22nd European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition, 2007.
  • Rong Zhang, and  Lei L. Kerr, "Controlling of ZnO morphologies by adjusting Cd concentration via Chemical Bath Deposition," Vol. 180, pp.998-1004,  Journal of The Solid State Chemistry, 2007.
  • Lei L. Kerr, Xiaonan Li, Maria Caepa and Andre Sommer, "Raman Analysis of Nitrogen doped ZnO,"  Thin Solid Films, Vol. 515, No. 13, pp. 5282-5286, 2007.
  • Rong Zhang,  Lei L. Kerr, Richard E. Edelmann, Marina Canepa, and Andre J. Sommer, "Flower-like Nano-structured ZnO for Dye-sensitized Solar Cells," Proceeding of the 2006 IEEE 4th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, pp. 267-270, 2006.
  • L. Repins, B. J. Stanbery, D. L. Young, S. s. Li, W. K. Metzger, C. L. Perkins, W. N. Shafaman, M. E. Beck, L. Chen, V. K. Kapur, D. Tarrant, M. D. Gonzalez. D. G. Jensen, T. J. Anderson, X. Wang,  Lei L. Kerr, B. Keyes, S. Asher, A. Delahoy, B. Von Roedern, "Comparison of device performance and measured transport paprameters in widely-varying Cu(In,GA) (Se,S) solar cells,"  Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications, Vol. 14, Issue 1, Pages 25-43, 2006.
  • Kerr, L. L., Li, S. S., Johnston, S. W., Anderson, T. J., Crisalle, O. D., Kim, W., Abushama, J., and Nourfi, R. N., (September, 2004) "Investigation and defect properties in Cu(In, Ga)Se 2 solar cells by deep-level transient spectroscopy", Sold State Electronics, 48, 579-1586.
  • Kerr, Lei L, S.S. Li, S. W. Johnston, K. Kim, T. J. Anderson, O.D. Crisalle, R.N. Noufi "Investigation of Deep Level Defects Study in CIGS-Based Solar cells", Published in  Solid State Electronics (2004). 
  • Kerr, Lei L, SS Li, S.W. Johnston, K. Kim, T.J. Anderson, OD Crisalle, RN Noufi . "Characterization of Deep-Level Defects in Cu(In,Ga)Se2 Solar Cells by Deep-Level Transient Spectroscopy", Published in the  19th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference proceedings, Paris, France (2004). 
  • Kerr, Lei L, X. Li, T. J. Anderson, R. Noufi, T. Coutts, OD Crisalle, and S. Li "Thermodynamic Modeling of F doping in SnO2", published in the  30th World Photovoltaic Specialist Conference Proceedings, Japan, (2003).
  • Kerr, Lei L, SS Li, S. Johnston, OD Crisalle, R. Noufi and T. Anderson, "Deep Level Transient Spectroscopy (DLTS) Characterization of Team CIGS Cells", published in the  20th NCPV Photovoltaics Program Review Proceedings, Golden, CO, (2003).
  • Wong, X, SS Li,  Lei L. Kerr, and T. J. Anderson "Laser Annealing Study of CuInxGa1-xSe2 Based Solar Cells", published in the  30th World Photovoltaic Specialist Conference proceedings, Japan, (2003).
  • Kerr, Lei L, S. Kim, S. Kincal, M. Ider, S. Yoon, and T.J. Anderson. "Rapid Thermal Processing of CIS Precursors", published in the  29th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialist Conference Proceedings, New Orleans, L.A., (2002). 
  • Ider, M, C-H Chang, B.J. Billy, W. Zhuang,  Lei L. Kerr, and T.J. Anderson. "CuSe defect structure by Coulometric Titration and EMF measurements on Cu-In-Se system", published in the  29th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialist Conference Proceedings, New Orleans, L.A., (2002). 
  • Stanbery, B.J., C.-H. Chang, S. Kim, S. Kincal, G. Lippold, S.P. Ahrenkiel,  Lei L. Kerr, T.J. Anderson, M.M. Al-Jassim. "Epitaxial Growth of CuAu-Ordered CuInSe2 Structural Polytypes by Migration Enhanced Epitaxy in Self Organized Processes in Semiconductor Alloys," published in the  MRS Symposium Proceedings, (2000). 

Refereed Proceedings

  • Bo Wang and Lei L. Kerr, “Nanostructured TiO2 and ZnO Solar Cells using CdS as sensitizer: stability investigation”, proceeding of the IEEE 35th Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, pp. 001819-001822, (2010).
  • Wei Mu, Lei L. Kerr, David Look, Lei Guo, “P-type Nitrogen Doped ZnO Grown by thermal Evaporation,” Proceeding of Materials Research Society (MRS) conference, Vol. 1201, pp.H02-08, 2010
  • Wei Mu,  Lei Kerr, David Look, and Lei Guo, “P-type Nitrogen Doped ZnO Grown by thermal Evaporation,” Proceeding of Materials Research Society (MRS) conference, Vol. 1201, pp.H02-08, (2009). 
  • Jie Pan,  Lei Kerr, and Xiaonan Li, “Investigation of Aluminum Induced Degradation in Sputtered Al:ZnO for CuInGaSe2 Solar Cells,” proceeding of the IEEE 34th Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, pp. 345-349, (2009).
  • Jie Pan and  Lei Kerr, “CdS Sensitized TiO2 and ZnO Solar Cells”, proceeding of the IEEE 34th Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, pp. 350-354, (2009).
  • Douglas Troy, D. Steven Keller, James Kiper and  Lei Kerr, “First Year Engineering: Exploring Engineering through the Engineering Design Loop,” pp. T1A1-T1A6, 38th ASEE/IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference, Saratoga Springs, NY, October 22 – 25, 2008. 
  • Amandeep Saluja, Jie Pan,  Lei Kerr, Eunjung Cho, Seth Hubbard , “Gas Sensing Properties of Porous ZnO Nano-Platelet Films”, Paper No. 1035-L11-07, MRS Proceedings, Fall 

Presentations

  • Lei L. Kerr, Invited Lecturer for the advanced continuation education course on the Society of Toxicology 54th Annual Conference (Course- Is Synthetic Biology the Future of Toxicology?), 2015.
  • Lei L. Kerr, Keynote Speaker, “Anodized TiO2 Nanotube Film for Controllable Drug Delivery”, Orthopedic Research and Innovation Symposium, Dayton, Ohio, 2015
  • Huiying Jia and Lei Kerr “Sustained Drug Release Using Composite PLGA/TiO2 Nanotube From Ti Implant Surface”, 3rd Conference on Innovation in Drug Delivery – Advances in Local Drug Delivery”, Sept 2013
  • Trevor Tilly, Lei L. Kerr, Saber Hussain, Laura Stolle, “Evaluating the toxicity of titanium dioxide nanotubes and nanorods in human nasal cells: Microfluidic dispersion” the 245th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, April 2013
  • Huiying Jia and Lei L. Kerr “Sustained Drug Release Using Composite PLGA/TiO2 Nanotube from Ti Implant Surface”, the 16th Drug Delivery Symposium, Salt Lake City, USA, Feb 2013
  • Prakash Swarnakar, Sushil R. Kanel, Jonathan Levy, John Rakovan, Lei L. Kerr, Development of silvermodified nanotitanium dioxide thin film for photocatalysis of methyl orange using solar light , ACS meeting, March 2012
  • Huiying Jia and Lei Kerr, “Anodized TiO2 nanotube for Controlled Drug Delivery in implants”, Ohio Orthopedic Research and Innovation Day, Dayton, OH. June, 2011
  • Bo Wang and Lei Kerr, “Dye Sensitized Solar Cells on Paper Substrate”, AICHE, Minneapolis, MN. Nov. 2011
  • Huiying Jia and Lei Kerr, “TiO2 nanotube for Dye Sensitized Solar Cells” the 5th UCEAO annual conference, Columbus, OH April 2011
  • Bo Wang and Lei Kerr, “Dye Sensitized Solar Cells on Paper Substrates’ the 5th UCEAO annual conference, Columbus, OH. April, 2011
  • Bo Wang and Lei L. Kerr, “Nanostructured TiO2 and ZnO Solar Cells using CdS as sensitizer: stability investigation”, the IEEE 35th Photovoltaic Specialist Conference. June, 2010
  • Wei Mu, Lei L. Kerr, David Look, Lei Guo, “P-type Nitrogen Doped ZnO Grown by thermal Evaporation,” Materials Research Society (MRS) conference Nov. 2009
  • Lei Kerr, Jingbo Li and Xiaonan Li, “Thermodynamic Modeling of Pseudo-binary InN-GaN”, US Air, Trade, and Technology Conference, 2009. 
  • Lei Kerr and Jie Pan, “Using CdS as a dye for Dye Sensitized Solar Cells”, Ohio Innovation Summit, 2009.
  • Lei Kerr, Wei Mu, Nadia Leyarovska, “Extended x-Ray absorption Fine structure study of nitrogen doped ZnO,” University Clean Energy Alliance of Ohio (UCEAO), 3rd Annual Meeting and Workshop, April, 2009. 
  • Lei Kerr, Jie Pan and Xiaonan Li, “Investigation of Aluminum induced degradation in sputtered Al:ZnO for CIGS solar cell applications,” University Clean Energy Alliance of Ohio (UCEAO), 3rd Annual Meeting and Workshop, April, 2009. 
  • Lei Kerr and Jie Pan, “CdS sensitized nanostructured TiO2 and ZnO solar cells,” University Clean Energy Alliance of Ohio (UCEAO), 3rd Annual Meeting and Workshop, April, 2009.
  • Lei Kerr, “Dye-sensitized Solar Cell Research at 黑料社区”, Invited talk at Rochester Institute of Technology, December, 2007.
  • Lei Kerr, “Photovoltaic Research”, CFR poster, 黑料社区, Sept, 2007.
  • Lei Kerr, “Solar Cell Materials Research”, Ohio Energy Summit, April, 2007.
  • Rong Zhang, Marvin Thrash, and  Lei Kerr, “Studies on the Absorption of N3 Dye on Nanostructured ZnO Films” Preparative/Process Chromatography, June 2007.
  • Liqiang Zheng,  Lei Kerr, and Marvin Thrash, “Protein Adsorption on Nanostructured ZnO”, Preparative/Process Chromatography, June 2007. 
  • Liqiang Zheng,  Lei L. Kerr and Marvin E. Thrash Jr., “An Investigation of Protein Adsorption on Zinc Oxide”, 2007 Spring AICHE meeting Houston Texas. 
  • Kerr, Lei L, T. J. Anderson, S. Yoon, O.D. Crisalle, C-H Chang and S. Li "Rapid Thermal Processing of CIS Precursors",  The 2003 AICHE annual meeting, Nov 16-21, 2003, San Francisco, CA (2003).
  • Kerr, Lei L, S.S. Li, S.W. Johnston, T.J. Anderson, O.D. Crisalle, R.N. Noufi . "Characterization of Deep-Level Defects in Cu(In,Ga)Se2 Solar Cells by Deep-Level Transient Spectroscopy",  The 19th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference, Paris, France (2003). 
  • Kerr, Lei L, X. Li, T. J. Anderson, R. Noufi, T. Coutts, O.D. Crisalle, and S. Li "Thermodynamic Modeling of F doping in SnO2",  The 30th World Photovoltaic Specialist Conference Proceedings, Japan, (2003).
  • Kerr, Lei L, S.S. Li, S. Johnston, R. Noufi and T. Anderson, "Deep Level Transient Spectroscopy (DLTS) Characterization of Team CIGS Cells",  National CIS Meeting, Golden, CO, (2003).
  • Kerr, Lei L, S. Kim, S. Kincal, M. Ider, S. Yoon and T.J. Anderson. "Rapid Thermal Processing of CIS Precursors."  The 29th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, New Orleans, L.A., (2002).
  • Anderson, T. J, Q. Zhuang, M. Ider, A. Chang, B.S. Stanbery,  Lei L. Kerr, and J. Shen. "Using Computational Thermodynamics to Design CuInSe2 Thin Film Solar Cells."  The 130th Ann. TMS Meeting, New Orleans, L.A., (2001).
  • C-H Chang, S. Serkan, S. Kim, B. Stanbery,  Lei L Kerr, S.S. Li, O.D. Crisalle, T.J. Anderson, O.D. Crisalle, R.N. Noufi . "Progress Towards Next Generation CIGS Solar Cells",  The 16th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference, Taiwan (2001). 
  • Kerr, Lei L, J. Shen and T. J. Anderson. "Assessment of Cu2Se-Ga2Se3 Pseduobinary System."  AVS Student Symposium, (1999).