Rosa M. Espinosa Marzal

For More Information

• ResearchGate
• Research Group Website
• Website at UIUC

Education

• PhD. (Engineering, Materials Science), Hamburg University of Technology (Germany), 2004
• BEng. (Mechanical Engineering), Universidad Politecnica de Valencia (Spain), 1997

Academic Positions

• Ivan Racheff Professor, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2024- present

Chapters in Books

• Cayer-Barrioz, J.; Espinosa-Marzal, R. M.; Kurihara, K. Molecular Insights Into the Tribological Confined Interface via Surface Forces Measurements. In Reference Module in Materials Science and Materials Engineering, Elsevier, 2026.
• RM Espinosa-Marzal, ZAH Goodwin, X Zhang, Q Zheng. Colloidal Interactions in Ionic Liquids: the electrical double layer inferred from ion layering and aggregation. ACS Book: One Hundred Years of Colloid Symposia: Looking Back and Looking Forward, 123-148 (2023). Chapter 7. DOI: 10.1021/bk-2023-1457.ch007.
• Z Zachariah, M Heuberger, RM Espinosa-Marzal. Colloidal Interactions DLVO theory and beyond. One Hundred Years of Colloid Symposia: Looking Back and Looking Forward, 31-47 (2023). Chapter 2. DOI: 10.1021/bk-2023-1457.ch002.
• R. M. Espinosa-Marzal, M. Han, A. Arcifa, A. Rossi, N. D. Spencer. Ionic Liquids at Interfaces and their Tribological Behaviour, in "Encyclopedia of Interfacial Chemistry: Surface Science and Electrochemistry", Elsevier (2018) Vol. 3.

Selected Articles in Journals

• K R Wiegand, K Sun, GN Balistreri, S Ramanan, B Butler, A Deptula, E Nance, RM Espinosa-Marzal, D Guironnet. Decoupling the Role of Nanoparticle Rigidity and Chemistry in Particle Transport through the Brain Parenchyma. Biomacromolecules (2026) 27 (10), 6472–6483.
• X. Zhang, Q. Zheng, H. Li, Z. A. H. Goodwin, A. G. Hoane, A. Deptula, O. M. Johnson, J. Song, D. M. Markiewitz, M. Z. Bazant, C. Leal, F. Mangolini, A. A. Gewirth, R. Atkin, M. W. Rutland, R. M. Espinosa-Marzal, Science Advances 2026, 12, eaee3415.
• R. M. Espinosa-Marzal, F. Sidoroff, W. Tysoe, The Journal of chemical physics 2026, 164, 234501.
• E. N. Nixon, D. M. Flores, L. J. V. ter Horst, J. Yus, J. Baer, K. L. Marhaver, A. J. Wagoner Johnson, R. M. Espinosa-Marzal, C. E. Nelson, L. Wegley Kelly, Frontiers in Marine Science 2026, 13, 1822495.
• M. A. Rahman, W. Song, E. Ahmed, H. Zhang, A. Aboubakri, R. M. Espinosa-Marzal, R. Qiao, The Journal of Physical Chemistry C 2026, 130, 12187.
• D. M. Markiewitz, M. McEldrew, C. M. E. Phelan, Q. Zheng, J. Singh, R. S. Weatherup, R. M. Espinosa-Marzal, M. Z. Bazant, Z. A. H. Goodwin, Faraday Discussions 2026.
• C Bénier, Q Zheng, A Igual-Muñoz, RM  Espinosa-Marzal, S Mischler. Multi-scale Study of the Lubricious Behaviour of Two Imidazolium-Based Ionic Liquids,[BMIM][PF6] and [BMIM][TFSI]. Tribology Letters (2026) 74 (2), 31.
• A Deptula, RM Espinosa‐Marzal. Ionic Control of Microstructure and Lubrication in Charged, Physically Cross‐Linked Hydrogels. Advanced Functional Materials (2026) 36 (13), e11763.
• K Sun, MW Rutland, RM Espinosa-Marzal. Lipid self-assembly dependence on hyaluronic acid size reveals biolubrication and osteoarthritic degeneration mechanisms. Science Advances (2026) 12 (3), eadz9517.
• MJ Lee, I  Bordawekar, RM Espinosa-Marzal. Slippery When Charged: Hydration Lubrication in Hydrogels. Materials Horizons (2026).
• W Song, MA Rahman, Q  Zheng, N  Hawthorne, JD Batteas, R Qiao, RM Espinosa‐Marzal. Curvature‐Tuned Friction at Electrified Ionic Liquid Interfaces. Advanced Functional Materials (2026) e75326.
• D Pradhan, M  Müser, N Miller, J  Abdelnabe, L Afferrante, D Albertini, D Aldave, L Algieri, N Ali, A Almqvist et al. The surface-topography challenge: A multi-laboratory benchmark study to advance the characterization of topography. Tribology Letters (2025) 73 (3), 110.
• N Hopper, DW Bennett, RM  Espinosa-Marzal, W Tysoe. Shear Thinning and Stress-Dependent Viscosity Activation Volumes: Combining Eyring and Carreau. Tribology Letters (2025) 73 (3), 108.
• Y Ma, J Kwon, R Ji, RM Espinosa-Marzal. The Interplay between Diffusion Barrier and Nucleation Promotion during Noncarbonated and Carbonated Calcium Phosphate Mineralization in Polyacrylamide Hydrogels. Crystal Growth & Design (2025) 25 (13), 4892–4907.
• RM Espinosa‐Marzal, C Leal. Comment on:“Insight Into the Electrical Double Layer of Ionic Liquids Revealed Through Its Temporal Evolution”. Advanced Materials Interfaces (2025) 12 (12), 2500128.
• DM Markiewitz,, ZAH Goodwin, Q Zheng, M McEldrew, RM Espinosa-Marzal, MZ Bazant. Ionic Associations and Hydration in the Electrical Double Layer of Water-in-Salt Electrolytes. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces (2025) 17 (20), 29515-29534.
• K Deshpande, D Gysbers, J Yus, D van Bendegom, E Nixon, R McClintock, ZA Quinlan, KL Marhaver, LW Kelly, RM. Espinosa-Marzal, AJ Wagoner Johnson & Gabriel Juarez. Direct observation and quantitative characterization of chemotactic behaviors in Caribbean coral larvae exposed to organic and inorganic settlement cues. Scientific Report (2025) 15 (1), 10173.
• F. Mangolini, R. M. Espinosa-Marzal, P. C. Nalam, M. Ruths. Pioneers in Applied and Fundamental Interfacial Chemistry (PAFIC): Nicholas D. Spencer. Langmuir (2025) 41 (7), 4403-4409.
• K. M. Kamani, Y. H. Shim, J. Griebler, S. Narayanan, Q. Zhang, R. L. Leheny, J. L. Harden, A. Deptula, R. M. Espinosa-Marzal, S. A. Rogers. Linking structural and rheological memory in disordered soft materials. Soft Matter (2025) 21 (4), 750-759.
• N Hopper,  RM Espinosa-Marzal, W Tysoe. On the pressure dependence of viscosity, especially for fluids that have a tendency to form glasses. The Journal of Chemical Physics (2024) 161 (21).
• X Zhang, ZAH Goodwin, AG Hoane, A Deptula, DM Markiewitz, N Molinari, Q Zheng, H Li, M McEldrew, B Kozinsky, MZ Bazant, C Leal, R Atkin, AA Gewirth, MW Rutland, Rosa M Espinosa-Marzal Long-Range Surface Forces in Salt-in-Ionic Liquids. ACS Nano (2024) 18 (50), 34007-34022.
• Y Ma, J Kwon, R Ji, RM. Espinosa-Marzal. Polymer-mineral interaction influences the mineralization of hydroxyapatite in hydrogels. ACS Crystal Growth & Design (2024), 24 (21), 8970-8988.
• B. Fu, R. M. Espinosa-Marzal. Interfacial processes underlying the temperature-dependence of friction and wear of calcite single crystals. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science (2024) 664, 561-572.
• A Hoane, Q Zheng, N Maldonado, RM Espinosa-Marzal, AA Gewirth. Impact of Multivalent Cations on Interfacial Layering in Water-in-Salt Electrolytes. ACS Applied Energy Materials (2024), 7, 12, 5179-5192.
• MJ Lee, DR Shrotriya, RM. Espinosa-Marzal. Responsiveness of charged double network hydrogels to ionic environment. Advanced Functional Materials (2024) 2402279, 1-16.
• Q. Zheng, N. Hawthorne, J. Batteas, R.M. Espinosa-Marzal. Surface curvature enhances electrotunability of ionic liquid lubrication. Langmuir (2024) 40 (7) 3748-3758.
• J. Yus, E.N. Nixon, J. Li, J. Noriega, M.J. Bennett, D. Flores, K. L. Marhaver, L. Wegley Kelly, R. M. Espinosa-Marzal and, A. J. Wagoner Johnson. Composite substrates for coral larval settlement and reef restoration based on natural hydraulic lime and inorganic strontium and magnesium compounds. Ecological Engineering (2024) 202.
• DM Markiewitz, ZAH Goodwin, M McEldrew, JP de Souza, X Zhang, RM Espinosa-Marzal, MZ Bazant. Electric Field Induced Associations in the Double Layer of Salt-in-Ionic-Liquid Electrolytes. Faraday Discussions (2024). 
• Barrat, J. et al. Soft Matter Roadmap. Journal of Physics: Materials (2024) 7 (1) 012501.
• Rosa M. Espinosa-Marzal, Joaquin Yus, Jiheon Kwon et al. Reinforced Hydrogels via Mineralization: Next Generation Bioscaffold. Journal of Physics: Materials (2024) 7 (1) 012501. 
• X. Zhang; M. Han; R. M. Espinosa-Marzal. Thin-Film Rheology and Tribology of Imidazolium Ionic Liquids. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces (2023) 15 (38), 45485-45497.
• G Greenwood, JMK, SM, Yeageun Lee, A Hajarian, S Nam, RM Espinosa-Marzal. Dynamically tuning friction at the graphene interface using the field effect. Nature communications (2023) 14 (1), 5801.
• Q Zheng, ZAH Goodwin, V Gopalakrishnan, A G. Hoane, M Han, R Zhang, N Hawthorne, JD. Batteas, AA Gewirth, RM Espinosa- Marzal. Water in the electrical double layer of ionic liquids on graphene. ACS Nano (2023) 17 (10), 9347–9360.
• Alex Deptula, Jessica Galera, Rosa Espinosa-Marzal. Control of surface morphology, adhesion and friction of colloidal gels with lamellar surface interactions. Advanced Functional Materials (2023) 2300896.
• MJ Lee. RM Espinosa-Marzal. Intrinsic and Extrinsic Tunability of Double Network Hydrogel Strength and Lubricity. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces (2023) 15.
• K. Sun, T. Shoaib, M.W. Rutland, C. Do, R.M. Espinosa-Marzal. Insight into the assembly of lipid-hyaluronan complexes in osteoarthritic conditions. Biointerphases (2023) 18, 2.
• B. Fu, R. M. Espinosa-Marzal. Velocity-weakening and -strengthening friction at single and multi-asperity contacts with calcite single crystals. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the U.S.A (2022) 119 (22) e2112505119.
• T. Shoaib, P. Prendergast, R. M. Espinosa-Marzal. Compositional tuning reveals a pathway to achieve a strong and lubricious double network in agarose-polyacrylamide hydrogels. Tribology Letters (2022) 70 (3).
• L. Li, F. Kohler, A. Royne, R.M. Espinosa-Marzal, F. Bresme, E. Jettestuen, D. K. Dysthe. Limits to crystallization pressure. Langmuir (2022) 38 (37) 11265-11273, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c01325.
• M. Han, S. Rogers, R. M. Espinosa-Marzal. Rheological characteristics of ionic liquids through nanopores. Langmuir (2022) 38 (9), 2961-2971.
• Marilyn Porras-Gomez, Tooba Shoaib, Dylan Steer, Rosa Espinosa-Marzal, Cecilia Leal. Pathological hemifusion stiffens pulmonary surfactant membranes. Biophysical Journal (2022) 121(6), 886-896.
• A. Deptula, M. Wade, S. A. Rogers, R. M. Espinosa-Marzal. Charge-Induced Structural Changes of Confined Copolymer Hydrogels for Controlled Surface Morphology and Friction. Advanced Functional Materials (2022) 2111414.
• M. Negrito, M. B. Elinski, N. Hawthorne, M. P. Pedley, M. Han, M. Sheldon, R. M. Espinosa-Marzal, and J. D. Batteas, Using Patterned Self-Assembled Monolayers to Tune Graphene−Substrate Interactions. Langmuir (2021) 37 (33), 9996–10005.
• G. Greenwood, J.M. Kim, Q. Zheng, S.M. Nahid, S. Nam, Rosa M. Espinosa-Marzal. Effects of layering and supporting substrate on liquid slip at the single layer graphene interface. ACS Nano (2021) 15 (6), 10095–10106.
• B. Fu, Y. Diao, and R. M. Espinosa-Marzal. Nanoscale Insight into the Relation between Pressure Solution of Calcite and Interfacial Friction. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science. (2021) 601, 254-264.
• M. Han, R. Zhang, A. A. Gewirth, and R. M. Espinosa-Marzal. The nano-heterogeneity of LiTFSI solutions transitions close to a surface and with concentration. Nano Letters (2021), 21 (5), 2304-2309.
• T. Shoaib, R.M. Espinosa-Marzal. Advances in Understanding Hydrogel Lubrication. Colloids and Interfaces. 2020; 4(4):54.
• M. Han, H. Kim, C. Leal, M. Negrito, J.D. Batteas, R. M. Espinosa-Marzal. Insight into the Electrical Double Layer of Ionic Liquids Revealed through its Temporal Evolution. Advanced Materials Interfaces (2020) 7, 2001313.
• C. Yuh, M.P. Laurent, R.M Espinosa-Marzal, S. Chubinskaya, M.A. Wimmer. Transient stiffening of cartilage during joint articulation: A microindentation study. Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials (2020) 113, 104113.
• J. A. Lopez-Berganza, B. Fu, CW.J. Lee, S.A. Rogers, and R.M. Espinosa-Marzal. Mediating the Enhanced Interaction Between Hydroxyapatite and Agarose through Amorphous Calcium Carbonate. Crystal Growth& Design (2020) 20(10), 6917-6929.
• R. Zhang, M. Han, K. Ta, K. E. Madsen, X. Chen, X. Zhang, R.M. Espinosa-Marzal*, and A.A. Gewirth*. Potential-Dependent Layering in the Electrochemical Double Layer of Water-in-Salt Electrolytes. ACS Applied Energy Materials (2020) 3(8), 8086-8094. *Both corresponding authors.
• T. Shoaib, C. Yuh, M.A. Wimmer, T. Schmid, and R.M. Espinosa-Marzal. Calcium-induced softening and stiction of the cartilage articulating surface. Biomaterials Science. Biomaterials Science (2020) 8, 3944-3955.
• P. C. Nalam, A. Sheehan, M. Han, R.M. Espinosa-Marzal. Effects of Nanoscale Roughness on the Lubricious Behavior of an Ionic Liquid. Advanced Materials Interfaces (2020) 7(17), 2000314.
• Y. Diao, A. Li, R.M. Espinosa-Marzal. Pressure Solution of Calcite Single Crystals Investigated by a Surface Forces Apparatus. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta (2020) 280, 116-129.
• Z. Zachariah, P.C. Nalam, A. Ravindra, A. Raju, A. Mohanlal, K. Wang, R.V. Castillo and R.M. Espinosa-Marzal. Correlation between adsorption and nanotribological performance of fatty acid based organic friction modifiers on stainless steel. Tribology Letters (2020) 68(11).
• M. Han*, H. Kim*, R. M. Espinosa-Marzal&, C. Leal&. Bicontinuous Microemulsions with Oil, Water, and Ionic Liquids Under Nanoconfinement. Soft Matter (2019) 15, 9609-9613. *Both authors contributed equally, &both corresponding authors.
• T. Shoaib, R. M. Espinosa-Marzal. Static friction phase diagram for hydrogel-like materials. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces (2019) 11 (45), 42722–42733.
• M. Han, R. M. Espinosa-Marzal. Influence of Water on Structure, Dynamics and Electrostatics of Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Ionic Liquids in Charged and Hydrophilic Confinement between Mica Surfaces. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces (2019) 11 (36), 33465-33477.
• Y. Diao, R.M. Espinosa-Marzal. Effect of Fluid Chemistry on the Interfacial Composition, Adhesion and Frictional Response of Calcite Single Crystals; Implications for Injection-Induced Seismicity. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth (2019) 124, 5607-5628.
• J. A. Lopez-Berganza, S. Chen, R. M. Espinosa-Marzal. Tailoring Calcite Growth through an Amorphous Precursor in a Hydrogel Environment. Crystal Growth & Design (2019) 19(6), 3192-3205.
• P.C. Nalam, A. Pham, V. Castillo, R. M. Espinosa-Marzal. Adsorption Behavior and Nanotribology of Amine-based Friction Modifiers on Steel Surfaces. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C (2019) 123(22), 13672-13680.
• Y. Diao, G. Greenwood, M. C. Wang, S. Nam, R. M. Espinosa-Marzal. Slippery and Sticky Graphene in Water. ACS Nano (2019) 13(2), 2072-2082.
• M. Han, R. M. Espinosa-Marzal. Molecular Mechanisms underlying Lubrication by Ionic Liquids: Activated slip and flow. Lubricants (2018) 6(3), 64.
• M. Han, R. M. Espinosa-Marzal. Electroviscous Retardation of the Squeeze-Out of Nanoconfined Ionic Liquids. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C (2018) 122, 21344-21355.
• Y. Shen, P. C. Huang, C. Huang, P. Sun, G. Monroy, W. Wu, J. Lin, R. Espinosa-Marzal, S. Boppart, W-T Liu, T. Nguyen. Effect of divalent ions and a polyphosphate on composition, structure, and stiffness of simulated drinking water biofilms. npj Biofilms and Microbiomes (2018) 4, 15.
• T. Shoaib, R. M. Espinosa-Marzal. Insight into the Viscous and Adhesive Contributions to Hydrogel Friction. Tribology Letters (2018) 66(96).
• Y. Diao, R. M. Espinosa-Marzal. About how water lubricates faults. Nature Communications (2018) 9, 2309.
• A. Arcifa, A. Rossi, S. N. Ramakrishna, R. M. Espinosa-Marzal, A. Sheehan, N. D. Spencer. Lubrication of Si-Based Tribopairs with a Hydrophobic Ionic Liquid: The Multiscale Influence of Water. Journal of Physical Chemistry C (2018) 122, 7331-7343.
• T. Shoaib, J. Heintz, J.A. Lopez-Berganza, R. Muro-Barrios, S. Egner, R.M. Espinosa-Marzal. Stick-slip friction reveals hydrogel lubrication mechanisms. Langmuir (2017) 34, 756-765.
• J.A. Lopez-Berganza, R. Song, A. Elbanna, R.M. Espinosa-Marzal. Calcium Carbonate with Nanogranular Microstructure yields Enhanced Toughness. Nanoscale (2017) 9, 16689-16699.
• Y. Diao, M. Han, J.A. Lopez Berganza, L. Valentino, B.J. Marinas, R.M. Espinosa-Marzal. Reconciling DLVO and non-DLVO forces and their implications for ion rejection by a polyamide membrane. Langmuir (2017) 33(36), 8982-8992.
• T. Shoaib, A. Carmichael, R.E. Corman, Y. Shen, H. Nguyen, R.H. Ewoldt, R.M. Espinosa-Marzal. Self-Adaptive Hydrogels to Mineralization. Soft Matter (2017) 13, 5469-5480.
• Z. Zachariah, R.M. Espinosa-Marzal, Manfred Heuberger. Ion specific hydration in Nano-confined Electrical Double Layers. Journal of Colloid & Interface Science (2017) 506, 263-270.
• M. Heuberger, Z. Zachariah, N.D. Spencer, R.M. Espinosa-Marzal. Collective Dehydration of Ions in Nano-Pores. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics (2017) 19, 13462-13468.
• L.A. Jurado, R.M. Espinosa-Marzal. Molecular Insight into the Electrical Double Layer of an Ionic Liquid on Graphene. Scientific Reports (2017) 7, 4225.
• T. Shoaib, P.C. Nalam, Y. He, Y. Chen, R.M. Espinosa-Marzal. Assembly, morphology, diffusivity and indentation of hydrogel-supported lipid bilayers. Langmuir (2017) 33(28), 7105-7117.
• M. Han, R.M. Espinosa-Marzal. Strong Stretching of Poly(Ethylene Glycol) Brushes Mediated by Ionic Liquid Solvation. The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters (2017) 8(17), 3954-3960.
• M.K. Singh, P. Ilg, R.M. Espinosa-Marzal, M. Kroeger, N.D. Spencer. Molecular-Dynamics Simulation of the Effect of Crosslinking on the Tribological Behavior of Polymer Brushes. Tribology Letters (2016) 63(17), 1-9.
• M.K. Singh, P. Ilg, R,M. Espinosa-Marzal, N.D. Spencer, M. Kroeger. Influence of Chain Stiffness, Grafting Density, and Normal Load on Tribological and Structural Behavior of Polymer Brushes: a Nonequilibrium Molecular Dynamics Study. Polymers (2016) 8 (7), 254-272.
• A. Jurado, H. Kim, A. Rossi, A, Arcifa, J.K. Schuh, N.D. Spencer, C. Leal, R.H. Ewoldt, R.M. Espinosa-Marzal. Effect of the environmental humidity on the bulk, interfacial and nanoconfined properties of an ionic liquid. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics (2016) 18 (32), 22719-22730.
• Z. Zachariah, R.M. Espinosa-Marzal, N.D. Spencer, M. Heuberger. Stepwise collapse of highly overlapping Electrical Double Layers. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics (2016) 18, 24417-24427.
• Y. Diao, R.M. Espinosa-Marzal. Molecular Insight into the Nanoconfined Calcite-Solution Interface. Proceedings National Academy of Sciences (2016) 113(43), 12047-12052.
• J. Lopez-Berganza, R.M. Espinosa-Marzal. Mechanistic approach to predict the combined effects of additives and surface templates on calcium carbonate mineralization. ACS Crystal Growth&Design (2016) 16 (11), 6186-6198.
• A. Arcifa, A., A. Rossi, R.M. Espinosa-Marzal, N.D. Spencer. Influence of Environmental Humidity on the Wear and Friction of a Silica/Silicon Tribopair Lubricated with a Hydrophilic Ionic Liquid. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces (2016) 8(5), 2961-2973.
• Y. Shen, C. Huang, G.L. Monroy, D. Janjaroen, N. Derlon, J. Lin, R.M. Espinosa-Marzal, E. Morgenroth, S.A. Boppart, N.J. Ashbolt, W.-T. Liu, T.H. Nguyen. Response of Simulated Drinking Water Biofilm Mechanical and Structural Properties to Long-Term Disinfectant Exposure. Environmental Science and Technology (2016) 50, 1779-1787.
• A. Sheehan, L.A. Jurado, S.N. Ramakrishna, A. Arcifa, A. Rossi, N.D. Spencer, R.M. Espinosa-Marzal. Layering of Ionic Liquids on Rough Surfaces. Nanoscale (2016) 8, 4094-4106.

Teaching Honors

• List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students (2015 (Sp), 2016 (Fall), 2018 (Fall), 2022 (Fall), 2023 (Spring))

Research Honors

• Ivan Racheff Professor (The Grainger College of Engineering) (08/2024)
• Donald Biggar Willett Faculty Scholar (The Grainger College of Engineering) (06/2020)
• Deans Award for Excellence in Research (The Grainger College of Engineering) (01/2019)
• Excellence Faculty Scholar in Civil and Environmental Engineering. (03/2016)
• CAS Associate (UIUC) (01/2016)
• NCSA Fellow (UIUC) (08/2014)
• DFG Grant (German Research Foundation) (09/2007)
• DAAD Fellowship (German Academic Exchange Service) (10/1997)