Microstructured Macromolecular Soft Materials

9223966 Russell这个奖项是为了在普林斯顿大学成立一个新的材料研究小组（MRG），研究微结构大分子软材料。研究的目标是理解、控制和利用这些材料。该研究涉及三个主要主题：(1)嵌段共聚物的中观形貌由嵌段长度和组分的热力学不相容决定；(2)聚合物-颗粒分散，嵌段共聚物在界面上的附着导致胶体相的有序；(3)复杂结构流体的性质研究。这三个主题涉及有序动力学的研究，剪切对有序的影响，相分离系统作为纳米光刻模板的使用，嵌段共聚物结构对吸附和有序的影响，通过控制微观结构来调整流体流变学。微观结构的软材料在十到一百纳米的长度尺度上有序，其中结构形成或自组装发生在流体状态。结构的形成是由结构熵、空间能和静电力之间的平衡决定的。微结构软材料的例子包括机油和润滑剂、塑料的胶体添加剂、热塑性弹性体、油漆和涂料、钻井液、电子的纳米光刻和非线性光学。这项研究涉及与埃克森公司研究实验室的合作。普林斯顿大学的制度环境非常适合培养从事研究和教学工作的高级学生。＊＊＊

9223966 Russell This award is to start a new Materials Research Group (MRG) at Princeton University on the topic of microstructured macromolecular soft materials. The goal of the research is to understand, control, and exploit these materials. The research addresses three major themes: (1) block copolymers where the meso-scale morphology is determined by block lengths and thermodynamic incompatibilities of the constituents, (2) polymer-particle dispersions where the attachment of the block copolymer at an interface leads to ordering in the colloidal phase, (3) study of the properties of complex structured fluids. These three themes involve research on dynamics of ordering, effects of shear on ordering, use of phase separated systems as templates for nano-lithography, effects of block copolymer structure on adsorption and ordering, tailoring of fluid rheology through control of microstructure. Microstructured soft materials order on the length scale of ten to hundred nanometers, where structure formation or self assembly occurs in the fluid state. Structure formation is determined by the balance among structural entropy, steric energy, and electrostatic forces. Examples of microstructured soft materials include motor oils and lubricants, colloidal additives to plastics, thermoplastic elastomers, paints and coatings, drilling fluids, nano-lithography for electronics, and nonlinear optics. The research involves collaboration with Exxon Corporate Research Laboratories. The institutional environment at Princeton University is excellent for training advanced students for careers in research and teaching. ***