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

摘要-9875848 P。两亲分子以各种构型和长度尺度组织的能力允许多层次的组织，通常具有显着的精确性。 除了所有生物都是这种自组织的表现（例如脂质细胞膜）之外，许多技术产品和过程涉及，例如，目前的研究主要集中在两亲性嵌段共聚物，即由亲水（溶剂）和疏水（溶剂）嵌段（或接枝物）组成的大分子，从配方和材料合成方面都非常有趣，并且提供了典型表面活性剂所没有的优点。 两亲性嵌段共聚物的大分子性质在设定所需形态方面提供了很大的灵活性，并且允许微观结构特征的长度和时间尺度的相当大的变化。 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的存在，它可以调节相行为和结构，也可以作为化学合成的合适介质。研究的目标是双重的：通过两亲性嵌段共聚物的自组织实现所需的微结构，并稳定这种微结构用于微孔材料的合成。 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提供所需的区室化和释放性能的制剂，使用剪切来对齐微区并在长范围内诱导有序，研究有序系统中结构形成和溶解背景下的质量传递，并探索通过参与结构的两亲物的交联或通过在溶剂域中的聚合来合成有序材料。在教育战线上，认识到制药、个人护理产品和食品工业，在主要使用两亲物的情况下，是化学工程师就业的新兴领域，建议开发关于胶体、聚合物、表面和先进材料的课程，并将研究学期项目并入这些课程中，并使本科生参与所建议的研究的各个步骤。 在更一般的层面上，合作学习和目标学习将被引入到所有课程中，特别是在化学工程概论大二课程中。高中和社区大学的推广活动旨在向更广泛的受众介绍化学工程以及胶体和聚合物。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.