Career: Self-Organization of Amphiphilic Block Copolymers for the Preparation of Highly Ordered Materials: A Research and Education Program

摘要-9875848P。亚历山大-SUNY两亲性分子以各种构型和长度组织的能力允许多层次的组织，通常具有惊人的精确度。除了所有生物都是这种自组织的表现形式(如脂质细胞膜)外，许多涉及表面活性剂和共聚物的技术产品和工艺正在利用自组织提供的性能(区隔、增容、流变性)。目前的研究集中在两亲性嵌段共聚物，即由亲水(Solvo)和疏水(Solvo)嵌段(或接枝)组成的大分子，从配方和材料合成的角度都非常有趣，具有典型表面活性剂的优势。两亲性嵌段共聚物的大分子性质提供了极大的灵活性来设定所需的形态，并允许微观结构的长度和时间尺度特征的相当大的变化。与无溶剂嵌段共聚物相比，一个重要的自由度是选择性溶剂(S)的存在，它可以调节相行为和结构，也可以作为化学合成的介质。研究的目标有两个：通过两亲性嵌段共聚物的自组织获得所需的微观结构，并为合成微孔材料稳定这种微观结构。为此，计划研究两亲性嵌段共聚物在平衡条件下的自组装，并利用这一知识来制备具有期望的隔室和释放性能的配方，使用剪切来排列微区和诱导长距离有序，在结构形成和溶解的背景下研究有序系统中的质量传输，并探索通过参与结构的两亲分子的交联或通过在溶剂领域中的聚合来合成有序材料。在教育方面，认识到主要使用两亲分子的制药、个人护理产品和食品工业是雇用化学工程师的新兴领域，建议开发一门关于胶体、聚合物、表面和先进材料的课程，并将研究项目纳入这些课程，并让本科生参与拟议研究的各个阶段。在更广泛的层面上，所有课程都将引入合作学习和目标学习，特别是化学工程导论二年级课程。面向高中和社区大学的外展活动将旨在将化学工程以及胶体和聚合物介绍给更多的海外受众。总体而言，教育计划旨在促进创造力，为研究生和本科生研究提供丰富的环境，并充分整合研究和教育活动。

ABSTRACTCTS-9875848P. AlexandridisSUNYThe ability of amphiphilic molecules to organize at various configurations and lengthscales allows multiple levels of organization, often with remarkable precision. In additional to all living creatures being manifestations of such self-organization (e.g. lipid cell membranes), numerous technical products and processes that involve, e.g., surfactants and copolymers, are taking advantage of properties (compartmentalization, compatibilization, rheological) afforded by self-organization.The present investigation focuses on amphiphilic block copolymers, macromolecules consisting of hydro(solvo)philic and hydro(solvo)phobic blocks (or grafts), that are very interesting from the aspect of both formulations and materials synthesis, and offer advantages over typical surfactants. The macromolecular nature of the amphiphilic block copolymers affords great flexibility in setting the desired morphology, and allows a considerable variation of the length- and time-scales characteristic to the microstructure. An important degree of freedom (compared to "solvent-free" block copolymers) is the presence of selective solvent(s), that can modulate the phase behavior and structure, and also act as suitable media for chemical synthesis.The goals of the research are two-fold: to achieve a desired microstructure via means of self-organization of amphiphilic block copolymers and to stabilize such microstructure for the synthesis of microporous materials. To this end, it is planned to study the self-assembly of amphiphilic block copolymers under equilibrium conditions and utilize this knowledge to prepare formulations offering desired compartmentalization and release properties, use shear for aligning microdomains and inducing order over long ranges, investigate mass transport in ordered systems in the context of structure formation and dissolution, and explore the synthesis of ordered materials via the crosslinking of the amphiphiles participating in the structure or via polymerization in the solvent domains.In the education front, having recognized the fact that the pharmaceutical, personal care products, and food industries, where amphiphiles are primarily used, are emerging fields for employment of chemical engineers, it is proposed to develop a curriculum wit courses on colloids, polymers, surfaces, and advanced materials, and incorporate research term-projects into these courses and involve undergraduate students at various steps of the proposed research. On a more general level, cooperative learning and learning by objective will be introduced to all courses, with a specific interest in the Introduction to Chemical Engineering sophomore course. Outreach activities to high schools and to community colleges will aim in introducing chemical engineering as well as colloids and polymers to abroader audience. Overall, the educational plan aims in promoting creativity, providing an enriching environment for graduate and undergraduate research, and fully integrating research and educational activities.