Nicolas Giovambattista
Associate Professor
Physics
Location: 3438 Ingersoll Hall
Phone: 718.951.5418
Fax: 718.951.4407
Email:
Nicolas Giovambattista utilizes computer simulations, combined with thermodynamics and statistical mechanics theory to study liquids and glasses, particularly, water and aqueous solutions. His research is driven both by applications and fundamental questions. Application-driven research topics include the characterization of liquids at interfaces and in nanoscale confinement, and the study of solvent-induced interactions (e.g., hydrophobic interactions). Research projects driven by fundamental questions include the understanding of glass polymorphism, i.e., the study of materials that can form more than one amorphous solid state (e.g., water), how liquids can be trapped in glassy states (glass transition), the stabilization of biomolecules at low temperatures (e.g., cryopreservation), and nuclear quantum effects on liquids and glasses.
Education:
Ph.D., Boston University - 2004 (Physics, General)
B.S., National University of Mar del Plata (Argentina) - 1998 (Physics (honors))
Areas of Expertise:
Giovambattista uses computer simulations and theory to understand how macroscopic properties of a system composed by atoms, molecules and/or nanoscale particles depend on the microscopic interactions of the system's constituents as well as working conditions (e.g., temperature and pressure). Among the systems of interest are complex liquids and solutions; glasses; liquids at interfaces and in nanoscale confinement; biomolecules in solution.
Books and Publications
Amann-Winkel, K., Kim, K.H., Giovambattista, N. et al. Liquid-liquid phase separation in supercooled water from ultrafast heating of low-density amorphous ice. Nat Commun 14, 442 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-36091-1 (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2023
A. Eltareb, G. E. Lopez, and N. Giovambattista, "Nuclear quantum effects on the dynamics and glass behavior of a monatomic liquid with two liquid states", J. Chem. Phys. 156, 204502 (2022); https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0087680. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2022
A. Eltareb, G. E. Lopez, N Giovambattista, "Evidence of a liquid-liquid phase transition in H2O and D2O from path-integral molecular dynamics simulations", Sci. Rep. 12, 6004 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-09525-x (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2022
J. Engstler and N. Giovambattista, "Different Temperature- and Pressure-Effects on the Water-Mediated Interactions between Hydrophobic, Hydrophilic, and Hydrophobic-Hydrophilic Nanoscale Surfaces", J. Chem. Phys. 157, 064701 (2022); https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0097908. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2022
Y. Zhou, G. E. Lopez, and N. Giovambattista, "Anomalous properties in the potential energy landscape of a monatomic liquid across the liquid-gas and liquid-liquid phase transitions", J. Chem. Phys. 157, 124502 (2022); https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0106923 (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2022
A. B. Almeida, S. V. Buldyrev, A. M. Alencar, and N. Giovambattista, "How Small Is Too Small for the Capillarity Theory?", J. Chem. Phys. C 125, 5335-5348 (2021). (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2021
A. Eltareb, G. E. Lopez, N. Giovambattista, "Nuclear Quantum Effects on the Thermodynamic, Structural, and Dynamical Properties of Water", Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 23, 6914-6928 (2021). (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2021
A. Eltareb, G. E. Lopez, N. Giovambattista, "The role of high-density and low-density amorphous ice on biomolecules at cryogenic temperatures: a case study with polyalanine", Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 23, 19402-19414 (2021). (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2021
N. Giovambattista and P. H. Poole, "Liquid-liquid phase transition in simulations of ultrafast heating and decompression of amorphous ice", Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids: X 11-12 (2021) 100067. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2021
B. Tang, S. V. Buldyrev, L. Xu, and N. Giovambattista, "Energy Stored in Nanoscale Water Capillary Bridges between Patchy Surfaces", Langmuir 36, 7246-7251 (2020). (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2020
B. Tang, X. Yu, S. V. Buldyrev, N. Giovambattista, and L. Xu, "Energy stored in nanoscale water capillary bridges formed between chemically heterogeneous surfaces with circular patches", Chinese Phys. B 29 114703 (2020). (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2020
K. H. Kim, K. Amann-Winkel, N. Giovambattista, A. Späh, F. Perakis, H. Pathak, M. Ladd Parada, C. Yang, D. Mariedahl, T. Eklund, T. J. Lane, S. You, S. Jeong, M Weston, J. H. Lee, I. Eom, M. Kim, J. Park, S. H. Chun, P. H. Poole, and A. Nilsson, "Experimental observation of the liquid-liquid transition in bulk supercooled water under pressure", Science 370, 978-982 (2020). (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2020
N. Giovambattista and G. E. Lopez, "Potential energy landscape formalism for quantum liquids", Phys. Rev. Research 00, 003000 (2020). (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2020
Y. Liu, G. Sun, A. Eltareb, G. E. Lopez, N. Giovambattista, and L. Xu, " Nuclear quantum effects on the thermodynamic response functions of a polymorphic water-like monatomic liquid", Phys. Rev. Research 2, 013153 (2020). (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2020
J. Bachler, P. H. Handle, N. Giovambattista, and T. Loerting, "Glass polymorphism and liquid-liquid phase transition in aqueous solutions: experiments and computer simulations" (Perspective), Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 21, 23238 (2019). Designated "Hot" paper of 2019 by the Editor of PCCP. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2019
J. Engstler and N. Giovambattista, "Comparative Study of the Effects of Temperature and Pressure on the Water-Mediated Interactions between Apolar Nanoscale Solutes", J. Phys. Chem. B 123, 1116-1128 (2019). (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2019
N. Giovambattista, F. Starr, and P. H. Poole, "State variables for glasses: The case of amorphous ice", J. Chem. Phys. 150, 224502 (2019). (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2019
P. H. Handle , F. Sciortino , and N. Giovambattista, "Glass polymorphism in TIP4P/2005 water: A
description based on the potential energy landscape formalism", J. Chem. Phys. 150, 244506 (2019). (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2019
Y. Kopel and N. Giovambattista, "Comparative Study of Water-Mediated Interactions between Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Nanoscale Surfaces", J. Phys. Chem. B 123, 50, 10814-10824 (2019). (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2019
A. B. Almeida, N. Giovambattista, S. V. Buldyrev, and A. M. Alencar, "Validation of Capillarity Theory at the Nanometer Scale. II: Stability and Rupture of Water Capillary Bridges in Contact with Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Surfaces", J. Phys. Chem. C 122, 1556-1569 (2018). (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2018
B. Nguyen, G. E. Lopez, and N. Giovambattista, "Nuclear quantum effects on the liquid-liquid phase transition of a water-like monatomic liquid", Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 20, 8210-8217 (2018).
Designated "Hot" paper of 2018 by the Editor of PCCP. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2018
F. Martelli, N. Giovambattista, S. Torquato, and R. Car. "Searching for crystal-ice domains in amorphous ices". Phys. Rev. Materials 2, 075601 (2018). (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2018
G. Sun, L. Xu, and N. Giovambattista, "Anomalous Features in the Potential Energy Landscape of a Waterlike Monatomic Model with Liquid and Glass Polymorphism", Phys. Rev. Lett. 120, 035701 (2018). (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2018
J. Engstler and N. Giovambattista, "Temperature Effects on Water-Mediated Interactions at the Nanoscale", J. Phys. Chem. B 122, 8908-8920, 2018. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2018
Z. Gao, N. Giovambattista, and O. Sahin, "Phase Diagram of Water Confined by Graphene", Scientific Reports 8, 6228 (2018) .
(Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2018
C. Gavazzoni, N. Giovambattista, P. Netz, and M. Barbosa, "Structure and mobility of
water confined in AlPO4 − 54 nanotubes", J. Chem. Phys. 146, 234509 (2017). (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2017
F. Martelli, S. Torquato, N. Giovambattista, and R. Car, "Large-scale structure and
hyperuniformity of amorphous ices", Phys. Rev. Lett. 119, 136002 (2017). (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2017
G. Sun, L. Xu, and N. Giovambattista, "Relationship between the potential energy landscape and the dynamic crossover in a water-like monatomic liquid with a liquid-liquid phase transition", J. Chem. Phys. 146, 014503 (2017); (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2017
J. Engstler and N. Giovambattista, "Heating- and pressure-induced transformations in
amorphous and hexagonal ice: A computer simulation study using the TIP4P/2005 model", J.
Chem. Phys. 147, 074505 (2017). (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2017
N. Giovambattista, F. W. Starr, and P. H. Poole, "Influence of sample preparation on
the transformation of low-density to high-density amorphous ice: An explanation based on the
Potential Energy Landscape", J. Chem. Phys. 147, 044501 (2017). (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2017
D. A. Jahn, J. Wong, J. Bachler, T. Loerting, and N. Giovambattista, "Glass polymorphism in glycerol-water mixtures: I. A computer simulation study", Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 18, 11042 (2016).
(Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2016
J. Bachler, V. Fuentes-Landete, D. A. Jahn, J. Wong, N. Giovambattista, and T. Loerting, "Glass polymorphism in glycerol-water mixtures: II. Experimental studies",Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 18, 11058-11068 (2016).
(Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2016
N. Giovambattista, A. B. Almeida, A. M. Alencar, and S. V. Buldyrev. "Validation of Capillarity Theory at the Nanometer-Scale by Atomistic Computer Simulations of Water Droplets and Bridges in Contact with Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Surfaces". J. Phys. Chem. C 120, 1597−1608 (2016).
(Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2016
N. Giovambattista, F. Sciortino, F. W. Starr, and P. H. Poole, "Potential energy landscape of the apparent first-order phase transition between low-density and high-density amorphous ice",
J. Chem. Phys. 145, 224501 (2016).-- Featured in Cover of for the Journal (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2016
Akinkunmi, F.O., D.A. Jahn and N. Giovambattista. "Effects of Temperature on the Thermodynamic and Dynamical Properties of Glycerol−Water Mixtures: A Computer Simulation Study of Three Different Force Fields." Journal of Physical Chemistry B 119: 6250−61 (2015). (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2015
G. Sun, N. Giovambattista, and L Xu. "Confinement effects on the liquid-liquid phase transition and anomalous properties of a monatomic water-like liquid." J. Chem. Phys. 143, 244503 (2015). (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2015
Wong, J., D. A. Jahn, and N. Giovambattista. Pressure-Induced Transfromation in Glassy Water: A Computer Simulation Study Using the TIP4P/2005 Model. Journal of Chemical Physics 143, 114504 (2015). (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2015
Chiu, J., F.W. Starr and N. Giovambattista. "Heating-induced Glass-glass and Glass-liquid Transformations in Computer Simulations of Glassy Water." Journal of Chemical Physics 140: 114504. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2014
Gordon, A. and N. Giovambattista. "Glass Transitions in a Monatomic Liquid With Two Glassy States." Physical Review Letters 112: 145701. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2014
Jahn, D.A., F.O. Akinkunmi and N. Giovambattista. "Effects of Temperature on the Properties of Glycerol: A Computer Simulation Study of Five Different Force Fields." Journal of Physical Chemistry B 118: 11284-94. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2014
Chiu, J., F.W. Starr and N. Giovambattista, "Pressure-induced Transformations in Computer Simulations of Glassy Water." Journal of Chemical Physics 139: 184504. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2013
Reisman, S. and N. Giovambattista. "Glass and Liquid Phase Diagram of a Polyamorphic Monatomic System." Journal of Chemical Physics 138: 064509.
(Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2013
Sun, G., N. Giovambattista, E. Wang and L. Xu. "Effects of Surface Structure and Solvophilicity on the Crystallization of Confined Liquids." Soft Matter 9: 11374. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2013
Ferguson, A.L. N. Giovambattista, P.J. Rossky, A.Z. Panagiotopoulos and P.G. Debenedetti. "A Computational Investigation of the Phase Behavior and Capillary Sublimation of Water Confined between Nanoscale Hydrophobic Plates." Journal of Chemical Physics 137: 144501. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2012
Giovambattista, N., P.G. Debenedetti and P.J. Rossky. "Computational Studies of Pressure, Temperature and Surface Effects on the Structure and Thermodynamics of Confined Water." Annual Review of Physical Chemistry 63: 179-200. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2012
Giovambattista, N., T. Loerting, B.R. Lukanov and F.W. Starr. "Interplay of the Glass Transition and the Liquid-Liquid Phase Transition in Water." Scientific Reports 2: 390. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2012
Abraham, J.Y., S.V. Buldyrev and N. Giovambattista. "Liquid and Glass Polymorphism in a Monatomic System with Isotropic, Smooth Pair Interactions." Journal of Physical Chemistry B 115: 14229-39. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2011
Cerdeirina, C., P.G. Debenedetti, P.J. Rossky and N. Giovambattista. "Evaporation Length Scale of Confined Water and Some Common Organic Liquids." Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters 2: 1000-03. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2011
Lynden-Bell, R.M., N. Giovambattista, P.G. Debenedetti, T. Head-Gordon and P.J. Rossky. "Hydrogen Bond Strength and Network Structure Effects on Hydration of Non-polar Molecules." Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 13: 2748-57. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2011
Romero-Vargas Castrillon, S., N. Giovambattista, I.A. Aksay and P.G. Debenedetti. "Structure and Energetics of Thin Film Water." Journal of Physical Chemistry C 115: 4624-35. (Books and Publications: Forthcoming Publications) 2011
Xu, L., N. Giovambattista, S.V. Buldyrev, P.G. Debenedetti and H.E. Stanley. "Waterlike Glass Polyamorphism in a Monoatomic Isotropic Jagla's Model." Journal of Chemical Physics 134: 064507. (Books and Publications: Forthcoming Publications) 2011
Xu, L.M., S.V. Buldyrev, N. Giovambattista, and H.E. Stanley. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 11: 5185-201. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2010
Buldyrev, S.V., G. Malescio, C.A. Angell, N. Giovambattista, S. Prestipino, F. Saija,
H.E. Stanley and L. Xu. "Unusual Phase Behavior of One-Component Systems With Two-Scale Isotropic Interaction." Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter 21: 504106-24. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2009
Giovambattista, N., P.G. Debenedetti and P.J. Rossky. "Enhanced Surface Hydrophobicity by Coupling of Surface Polarity and Topography." Proceedings of the National Academy of Science USA 106: 15181-85. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2009
Giovambattista, N., P.J. Rossky and P.G. Debenedetti. "Effect of Temperature on the Structure and Phase Behavior of Water Confined by Hydrophobic, Hydrophilic, and Heterogeneous Surfaces." Journal of Physical Chemistry B 113: 13723-34. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2009
Giovambattista, N., P.J. Rossky and P.G. Debenedetti. "Phase Transitions Induced by Nanoconfinement in Liquid Water." Physical Review Letters 102: 050603-1 - 4. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2009
Lombardo, T.G., N. Giovambattista and P.G. Debenedetti. "Structural and Mechanical Properties of Glassy Water in Nanoscale Confinement." Faraday Discussions 141: 359-76. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2009
Romero-Vargas Castrillon, S., N. Giovambattista, I.A. Aksay and P. G. Debenedetti, "Evolution From Surface-Influenced to Bulk-Like Dynamics in Nanoscopically Confined Water." Journal of Physical Chemistry B 113: 7973-76. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2009
Romero-Vargas Castrillon, S., N. Giovambattista, I.A. Aksay and P.G. Debenedetti. "Effect of Surface Polarity on the Structure and Dynamics of Water in Nano-scale Confinement." Journal of Physical Chemistry B 113: 1438-46. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2009
Xu, L., S.V. Buldyrev, N. Giovambattista, C.A. Angell and H. E. Stanley. "A Monatomic System With a Liquid-liquid Critical Point and Two Distinct Glassy States." Journal of Chemical Physics 130: 054505-1 - 12. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2009
Giovambattista, N., P.G. Debenedetti, C.F. Lopez and P.J. Rossky. "Hydrophobicity of Protein Surfaces: Separating Geometry From Chemistry." Proceedings of the National Academy of Science USA 105: 2274-79. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2008
Yan, Z.Y., S.V. Buldyrev, P. Kumar, N. Giovambattista and H.E. Stanley. "Correspondence Between Phase Diagrams of the TIP5P Water Model and a Spherically Symmetric Repulsive Ramp Potential With Two Characteristic Length Scales." Physics Review E (brief report) 77: 042201-05. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2008
