I am interested in many aspects of chemistry, most importantly understanding the chemical bond, what advantages can be gained to selectively make and break bonds, and how inter- and intra-chemical bonds relate to stability across a range of stressors. A common tactic in most research areas is to look at the extremes of the range being studied. For my graduate research I performed synthetic research with highly reactive fluorinating reagents like HF, F₂, CF₃I and many others to form very stable, perfluorinated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, fullerenes, and borane cage compounds. The driver of this research was selective tuning of the electronic properties for energy storage and energy generation applications. Furthering this study of strong and weak chemical bonds I have worked for a combined 10 years in explosive and energetic materials research starting at U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground MD before graduate school and then at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory after graduate school. The research at both locations was similar and targeted understanding the myriad variables of chemicals, materials, formulations, scale and geometry, environmental conditions etc. and their affects on the phenomenon of detonation. I have characterized new explosives and formulations, designed experiments to selectively probe certain properties with higher fidelity, scaled formulations and explosives processing, and designed new formulations to meet target parameters.

 

To broaden my perspective on the scale and breadth of explosives research, development, and production operations occurring within the DOE enterprise, I transitioned to the Explosives Safety Office Lead at LLNL in 2020. Now, I am able to put my years of explosives research to use in other ways by working to enable new and novel explosives and energetic based research at LLNL.

Ph.D. Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins CO, 2015.

B.S. Chemistry, Colorado School of Mines, Golden CO, 2006.

Peer Reviewed Journal Publications

Howell, B. M.; Cook, C. C.; Grapes, M. D.; Dubbin, K.; Robertson, E. L.; Sain, J. D.; Sullivan, K. T.; Duoss, E. B.; Bukovsky, E. V. "Spatially Controlled 3D Printing of Dual-Curing Urethane Elastomers" – Highlighted as a backcover –, Adv. Mater. Tech. 2021, 2100700.

Manes, T. A.; Imler, G. H.; Sullivan, K. T.; Bukovsky, E. V. "Evaluating the Bis-isoxazole Core for Energetic Heterocyclic-Based Oligomers" –Highlighted as a backcover- Polym. Chem., 2020, 11, 6149-6156.

Bagge-Hansen, M.; Bastea, S.; Hammons, J. A.; Nielsen, M. H.; Lauderbach, L. M.; Hodgin, R. L.; Pagoria, P.; May, C.; Aloni, S.; Jones, A.; Shaw, W. L.; Bukovsky, E. V.; Sinclair, N.; Gustavsen, R. L.; Watkins, E. B.; Jensen, B. J.; Dattlbaum, D. M.; Firestone, M. A.; Huber, R. C.; Ringstrand, B. S.; Lee, J. R. I.; van Buuren, T.; Fried, L. E.; Willey, T. M. "Detonation Synthesis of Carbon Nano-Onions via Liquid Carbon Condensation" Nat. Comm. 2019, 10, 1-8. (PLS Directors Award for publication)

Castro, K. P.; Bukovsky, E. V.; Kuvychko, I. V.; DeWeerd, N. J.; Chen, Y. S.; Deng, S. H. M.; Wang, X. B.; Popov, A. A.; Strauss, S. H.; Boltalina, O. V. "PAH/PAH(CF₃)_n Donor/Acceptor Charge-Transfer Complexes in Solution and in Solid-State Co-Crystals" Eur. J. Chem. 2019, 25, 13547-13565.

DeWeerd, N. J.; Bukovsky, E. V.; Castro, K. P.; Kuvychko, I. V.; Popov, A. A.; Strauss, S. H.; Boltalina, O. V. "Steric and electronic effects of CF3 conformations in acene(CF₃)n derivatives" J. Fluor. Chem. 2019, 221, 1-7.

Lacroix, M. R.; Bukovsky, E. V.; Lozinsek, M.; Folsom, T. C.; Newell, B. S.; Liu, Y.; Peryshkov, D. V.; Strauss, S. T. "Manifestations of Weak O—H∙∙∙F Hydrogen Bonding in M(H₂O)_n(B₁₂F₁₂) Salt Hydrates: Unusually Sharp Fourier Transform Infrared v(OH) Bands and Latent Porosity (M = Mg-Ba, Co, Ni, Zn)" Inorg. Chem. 2018, 14983-15000.

Durban, M. D.; Golobic, A. M.; Bukovsky, E. V.; Gash, A. E.; Sullivan, K. T. "Development and Characterization of 3D Printable Thermite Component Materials" Adv. Mater. Tech. 2018, 1800120.

Bukovsky, E. V.; Lacroix, M. R.; DeWeerd, N. J.; Reeves, B. J.; Kobayashi, Y.; Bayless, M. B.; Bradshaw, G. P.; Choi, Y. L.; Newell, B. S.; Strauss, S. H. "Structures of 1,1',3,3'-tetra(2-methyl-2-nonyl)ferrocenium(1+) salts of CB₁₁H₁₂¹⁻, B₁₂F₁₂²⁻, BF₄⁻, PF₆⁻, and ClO₃⁻" J. Organometallic Chemistry 2018, 128-137.

Malichewski, M.; Bukovsky, E. V.; Strauss, S. H.; Seppelt, K. "Structure of (SiEt₃)₂(B₁₂F₁₂). Another Example of R₃Si-F-E Bridge Bonding (E = B, Al, Si)" J. Fluor. Chem. 2018, 212, 107-111.

Bukovsky, E. V.; DeWeerd, N. J.; Strauss, S. H.; Boltalina, O. V. "Versatile Metal Reactor for High-Temperature and High-Pressure Trifluoromethylation of Carbon-Rich Substrates" J. Fluor. Chem. 2018, 210, 56-64.

Pluntze, A. M.; Bukovsky, E. V.; Lacroix, M. R.; Newell, B. S.; Rithner, C. D.; Strauss, S. H. "Deca-B-fluorination of Diammonioboranes. Structures and NMR Characterization of 1,2-, 1,7-, and 1,12-B₁₂H₁₀(NH₃)₂ and 1,2-, 1,7-, and 1,12-B₁₂F₁₀(NH₃)₂" J. Fluor. Chem. 2018, 209, 33-42.

Peryshkov, D. V.; Bukovsky, E. V.; Lacroix, M. R.; Wu, H.; Zhou, W.; Jones, W. M.; Lozinsek, M.; Folsom, T. C.; Heyliger, D. L.; Udovic, T. J. Strauss, S. H. "Latent Porosity in Alkali-Metal M₂B₁₂F₁₂ Salts: Structures and Rapid Room-Temperature Hydration/Dehydration Cycles" Inorg. Chem. 2017, 56(19), 12023-12041.

Bukovsky, E. V.; Pluntze, A. P.; Strauss, S. H. "Efficient direct fluorination of the B₁₂H₁₁(NH₃)⁻ anion in acetonitrile and comparison of the structures of Na(H₂O)₄(B₁₂F₁₁(NH₃)), Na(H₃O)(H₂O)₃(B₁₂F₁₂), and Na₂(H₂O)₄(B₁₂F₁₂)" J. Fluor. Chem. 2017, 203, 90-98.

Bukovsky, E. V.; Peryshkov, D. V.; Wu, H.; Zhou, W.; Tang, W. S.; Jones, W. M.; Stavila, V.; Udovic, T. J.; Strauss, S. H. "Comparison of the coordination of B₁₂F₁₂²⁻, B₁₂C₁₂²⁻, and B₁₂H₁₂²⁻ to Na⁺ in the solid state: crystal structures and thermal behavior of Na₂(B₁₂F₁₂), Na₂(H₂O)₄(B₁₂F₁₂), Na₂(B₁₂Cl₁₂), and Na₂(H₂O)₆(B₁₂Cl₁₂)" Inorg. Chem., 2017, 56 (8), 4369-4379.

Bukovsky, E. V.; Castro, K. P.; Wyatt, B. M.; Boltalina, O. V.; Strauss, S. H. "Anaerobic vs. Aerobic preparation of silicon nanoparticles by stirred media milling. The effects of dioxygen, milling solvent, and milling time on particle size, surface area, crystallinity, surface/near-surface composition and reactivity" RCS Adv. 2016, 6, 112370-112380.

Malischewski, M.; Peryshkov, D. V.; Bukovsky, E. V.; Seppelt, K.; Strauss, S. H. "Structures of M₂(SO₂)₆B₁₂F₁₂ (M = Ag or K) and Ag₂(H₂O)₄B₁₂F₁₂: Comparison of the Coordination of SO₂ versus H₂O and of B₁₂F₁₂²⁻versus Other Weakly Coordinating Anions to Metal ions in the Solid State" Inorg. Chem. 2016, 55 (23), 12254-12262.

Bukovsky, E. V.; Larson, B. W.; Clikeman, T. T.; Chen, Y. S.; Popov, A. A.; Boltalina, O. V.; Strauss, S. H. "Structures and Structure-related Electronic Properties of New C₆₀(CF₃)₁₀ Isomers" J. Fluro. Chem. 2016, 185, 103-117.

Castro, K. P.; Clikeman, T. T.; DeWeerd, N. J.; Bukovsky, E. V.; Rippy, K. C.; Kuvychko, I. V.; Chen, Y. S.; Wang, X. B.; Strauss, S. H.; Boltalina, O. V. Incremental Tuning Up of Fluorous Phenazine Acceptors" Chem. Euro. J. 2016, 22, 3930–3936.

Rippy, K. C.; Bukovsky, E. V.; Clikeman, T. T.; Chen, Y. S.; Popov, A. A.; Boltalina, O. V.; Strauss, S. H. "Copper Causes Defluorination/Aromatization of the ortho-C₄F₈ Rings formed by High-Temperature Regiospecific Perfluoroalkylation" Chem. Eur. J. 2016, 22, 874–877.

Malischewski, M.; Bukovsky, E. V.; Strauss, S. H.; Seppelt, K. "Jahn–Teller Effect in the B₁₂F₁₂ Radical Anion and the Energetic Preference of an Octahedral B₆(BF₂)₆ Cluster Structure Over an Icosahedral Structure for the Elusive Neutral B₁₂F₁₂" Inorg. Chem. 2015, 54 (23), 11653–11566.

Clikeman, T. T.; Bukovsky, E. V.; Wang, X. B.; Chen, Y. S.; Rumbles, G.; Strauss, S. H.; Boltalina, O. V. "Core Perylene Diimide Designs via Direct Bay- and ortho- (poly)trifluoromethylation: Synthesis, Isolation, X-ray Structures, Optical and Electronic Properties" Eur. J. Org. Chem. 2015, 6641–6654.

San, L. K.; Bukovsky, E. V.; Larson, B. W.; Whitaker, J. B.; Deng, S. H. M.; Kopidakis, N.; Rumbles, G.; Popov, A. A.; Chen, Y. S.; Wang, X. B.; Boltalina, O. V.; Strauss, S. H. "A Faux Hawk Fullerene with PCBM-like Properties" Edge Article Chem. Sci. 2015, 6, 1801–1815.

San, L. K.; Bukovsky, E. V.; Kuvychko, I. V.; Popov, A. A.; Strauss, S. H.; Boltalina, O. V. "Single-Step Gas-Phase Polyperfluoroalkylation of Naphthalene Leads to Thermodynamic Products" Very Important Paper, Chem. Eur. J. 2014, 20, 4373–4379.

Clikeman, T. T.; Bukovsky, E. V.; Kuvychko, I. V.; San, L. K.; Deng, S. H. M.; Wang, X. B.; Chen, Y. S.; Strauss, S. H.; Boltalina, O. V. "Poly(trifluoromethyl)azulenes: Structures and Acceptor Properties" Chem. Comm. 2014, 50, 6263–6266.

Peryshkov, D. V.; Bukovsky, E. V.; Folsom, T. C.; Strauss, S. H. "Solid-state Solvation and Anion Packing Patterns in X-Ray Structures of Crystalline K₂(solv)_nB₁₂F₁₂ (solv) = H₂O₂(aq), CH₃OH, CH₃NO₂ and CH₃CN) " Polyhedron 2013, 58, 197–205.

Bukovsky, E. V.; Fiedler, S. R.; Peryshkov, D. V.; Popov, A. A.; Strauss, S. H. "The Structure of (H₃O)₂B₁₂F₁₂∙6H₂O – a CCP Lattice of B₁₂F₁₂²⁻ Anions Intercalated with a Nonplanar Network of O–H∙∙∙O Connected O₆ Rings" Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 2012, 208–212.

Book Chapters

Bukovsky, E. V.; Larson, B. W.; Clikeman, , T. T.; Chen, Y. S.; Popov, A. A.; Boltalina, O. V.; Strauss, S. H. "Thirteen Decakis(trifluoromethyl)decahydro(C₆₀-Ih)[5,6]fullerenes (C₆₀(CF₃)₁₀). Structures and Structure-Related Properties of the Largest Set of Fullerene(X)n Isomers." In New Forms of Fluorinated Carbon: Fundamentals and Applications: Progress in Fluorine Science Series; Edited by Boltalina, O. V.; and Nakajima, T.; Elsevier Inc. Cambridge, MA, U.S.A., 2017 pp 59-89.

Peryshkov, D. V.; Bukovsky, E. V.; Strauss, S. H. "Efficient Perfluorination of K₂B₁₂H₁₂ in Neutral Acetonitrile." In Efficient Preparations of Fluorine Compounds; Roesky, H. W., Ed.; John Wiley & Sons, Inc.: Hoboken, NJ, U.S.A., 2013; pp 16-18.

Select Conference Presentations and Proceedings

Anderson, N. F.; Hoffman, D. M.; Robertson, E. L.; Bukovsky, E. V.; Gash, A. E. "Formulation of DAPO LLM-105 Quenched in Ammonium Nitrate" Presentation LLNL-PROC-829458, Joint Army, Navy, NASA, Air Force (JANNAF) Online Conference, December 2021.

Robertson, E. L.; Anderson, N.; Landeros, C. M; Bukovsky, E. V.; Hoffman, H. M. "Researching the Slurry Coating Process; Transition from an Art to a Science" Presentation LLNL-PROC-814646, Joint Army, Navy, NASA, Air Force (JANNAF) Online Conference, October 2020.

Armstrong, M. R.; Austin, R.; Bukovsky, E. V.; Chow, P.; Xiao, Y.; Grivickas, P.; Hammons, J.; Koroglu, B.; Robinson, A.; Willey, T. "Time-Resolved X-Ray Imaging of Void Collapse at 10 micron Length Scales" Presentation LLNL-PROC-795443, Shock Compression of Condensed Matter, Portland OR, October 2019.

Bukovsky, E. V.; Chambers, R. D.; Lee, E. L.; Lorenz, K. T.; (U)"The Shell Acceleration eXperiment (SAX)-A Modern Corner Turning Experiment" LLNL-PROC-754038, Invited Plenary Talk, 16^th International Detonation Symposium, Chesapeake, MD, July 2018.

Reeves, R. V.; White, B. W.; Grapes, M. D.; Bukovsky, E. V.; Pease, S. T. (U)"Development of Low Explosive Mass Plane Wave Generators for Explosively Driven Flyer Experiments" LLNL-PROC-754440, 16^th International Detonation Symposium, Chesapeake, MD, July 2018.

White, B. W.; Reeves, R. V.; Bukovsky, E. V.; Grapes, M. D.; Pease, S. T. (U)"Computational Modeling of Detonations in Branching HE Structures for Plane Wave Generator Applications" LLNL-PROC-754320, 16^th International Detonation Symposium, Chesapeake, MD, July 2018.

Armstrong, M.; Bukovsky, E. V.; Shaw, W.; Austin, R.; Grivickas, P. Lauderbach, L.; Hodgin, R.; Sinclair, N.; Klug, J.; Willey, T.; Zaug, J.; Fried, L. E. (U)"Time-resolved X-ray Imaging of Void Collapse in Silicone and TNT" LLNL-PROC-763328, 16^th International Detonation Symposium, Chesapeake, MD, July 2018.

Kuo, W. I. K.; Vitello, P.; Fried, L. E.; Bukovsky, E. V.; Lorenz, K. T. (U)"Reactive Flow Modeling of Small Scale Corner Turning Experiments" LLNL-CONF-754212, 16^th International Detonation Symposium, Chesapeake, MD, July 2018.

Bukovsky, E. V.; Howell, B. M.; Martinez, H. P.; Durban, M. M.; Grapes, M. D.; Golobic, A. M.; Sullivan, K. T.; Gash, A. E. (U)"Polymer Resin Systems for Precision Direct-Ink-Write Printing of Thermite Loaded Inks" LLNL-PRES-754246, presentation only, 43^rd International Pyrotechniques Society Seminar, Fort Collins, CO, July 2018.

Bukovsky, E. V.; Reeves, R. V.; Krish, A.; Gash, A. E.; Glumac, N. G. (U)"Experimental Study of Structure/Behavior Relationship for a Metallized Explosive" LLNL-PRES-734069, presentation and paper 20^th Shock Compression of Condensed Matter, APS, St. Louis, MO; July 2017.

Grapes, M. D.; Bukovsky, E. V.; Hoffman, D. M.; Kelly, R.; Reeves, R. V.; McMichael, L.; Sullivan, K. T.; Gash, A. E. (U)"Direct Ink Write Fabrication and Testing of Explosives Lattice Structures with Engineered Density" LLNL-PROC-729798, Presentation and paper 40th Joint Army, Navy, NASA, Air Force Propellant and Explosive Development and Characterization Subcommittee, Kansas City, MO; April 2017.

Bukovsky, E. V.; Castro, K. P.; San, L. K.; Clikeman, T. T.; Kuvychco, I. V.; Wang, X. B.; Chen, Y. S.; Boltalina, O. V.; Strauss, S. H. "Analysis of PAH:PAH(CF₃)_n Charge Transfer Complexes" 249th American Chemical Society Conference, Denver, CO; March 2015.

Strauss, S. H.; San, L. K..; Rippy, K. C.; Castro, K. P.; Kuvychko, I. V.; Clikeman, T. T.; Bukovsky, E. V.; Dubceac, C.; Spisak, S. N.; Petrukhina, M. A.; Chen, Y. S.; Deng, S. H. M.; Wang, X. B.; Popov, A. A.; Boltalina, O. V. "Reactions of Perfluoroalkyl Radicals with PAHs: Substitutions, Additions, Mechanistic Insights, Solid-State Pi-Stacking, Charge-Transfer Complexes with Electron Donors, and the Remarkable Effect of R_F Chain Length on Electron Affinity" 22nd International Fluorine Conference, St. Pete Beach, FL; January 2015.

Boltalina, O. V.; San, L. K..; Bukovsky, E. V.; Larson, B. W.; Whitaker, J. B.; DeWeerd, N. J.; Deng, S. H. M.; Wang, X. B.; Popov, A. A.; Chen, Y. S.; Strauss, S. H.; Kopidakis, N.; Rumbles, G.; Castro, K. P.; Clikeman, T. T. "Organofluorine Fullerenes: Molecular Design for Optoelectronic Applications" 22nd International Fluorine Conference, St. Pete Beach, FL; January 2015.

Bukovsky, E. V.; Larson, B. W.; Popov, A. A.; Strauss, S. H.; Boltalina, O. V. "Structure Analysis of C₆₀(CF₃)₁₀ Isomers" Presentation, 225th Electrochemical Society Meeting, Nanocarbon Division, Orlando, FL; May 12, 2014, Abstract #1143.

Bukovsky, E. V.; Aubert, S. A. "Development and Testing of Molding Powder Formulations Utilizing CL-14" Presentation and paper 35th Joint Army, Navy, NASA, Air Force Propellant and Explosive Development and Characterization Subcommittee, Las Vegas, NV; April 2009.

Bukovsky, E. V.; Aubert, S. A.; Hanson, K. M.; Lad, S. P.; Pearsall, A. G. "Scaled Synthesis, Melt-Cast Processing, and Detonation Properties of AMTN" Presentation and Paper 35th Joint Army, Navy, NASA, Air Force Propellant and Explosive Development and Characterization Subcommittee, Las Vegas, NV; April 2009.

Bukovsky E. V.; Aubert, S. A.; Lad, S. P.; Hanson, K. M.; Pearsall, A. G. "AMTN: Characterization, Eutectic Development, and Improved Synthesis" Presentation and Paper 24th Joint Army, Navy, NASA, Air Force Propulsion Systems Hazards Subcommittee, Boston, MA; May 2008.

Bukovsky, E. V.; Aubert, S. A.; Roos, B. R. "Thermal Characterization of New Melt Castable Ionic Liquid Explosive, AMTN" JOCG Eglin AFB, Ft Walton FL, July 2008.

Bukovsky, E. V.; Roos, B. D.; Aubert, S. A. "DEMN Eutectic Tolerance Study and Development of a DEMN/wax Emulsion" Presentation and Paper 34th JANNAF (Joint Army, Navy, NASA, Air Force) PEDCS (Propellant and Explosive Development and Characterization Subcommittee), Reno, NV; August 2007.

Roos, B. D.; Aubert, S. A., Mehta, N.' Piehler, T. Bukovsky, E. V. "Reformulation for DEMN-III Explosive with an Alternate HBNQ Source" Presentation and Paper at 34th PEDCS JANNAF, Reno NV, August 2007.

Roos, B. D.; Aubert, S. A.; Mehta, N.; Piehler, T.; Bukovsky, E. V. "Development of DEMN: An Insensitive Melt Cast Family of Explosives" Presentation and Paper at the 23rd JANNAF PSHS Meeting, San Diego California, December 2006.

Roos, B. D.; Aubert, S. A.; Krzewinki, B. Bukovsky, E. V. "Insensitive Munitions Testing on 155mm M795 Artillery Projectiles filled with DEMN-III", Presentation and Paper 23rd JANNAF PSHS, San Diego California December 2006.

2022 Weapons, Complex Integration Operations Silver Award "In Recognition of Exceptional Creativity in the completion of LLNL Large-Scale Explosives Formulations Project."

2022 Weapons, Complex Integration Operations Silver Award “Exemplary teamwork demonstrated by the CFF Incident Analysis team."

2020 Weapons Physics and Design Silver Award for "Exceptional creativity and productivity in designing, modeling and producing a new class of energy materials with high-reward applications".

2020 DDS&T Excellence in Publication Award for co-author of "Detonation Synthesis of Carbon Nano-Onions via Liquid Carbon Condensation" in Nature Communications, August 2019.

2019 Global Security Silver Award "Meeting Initial Milestones and Progress on Great Basin Project."

2017 Physical and Life Sciences Outstanding Mentor Award.

2014 Best Student Oral Presentation, Nanocarbon Division, 225th Electrochemical Society Meeting, Orlando, FL, May 2014.

2013 Graduate Student Teaching Assistant Award, Colorado State University.

2002 Colorado School of Mines Medal of Achievement in Math and Science.

I am an active peer reviewer for a number of chemistry, materials, energetic, and detonation science journals.