CAREER: Nonlinear Optical Spectroscopy to Study Structure and Dynamics at Polymeric Surfaces and Interfaces

9984996 Dhinojwala本职业生涯建议的教育目标是开发一个聚合物系列讲座，组织科学博览会，并鼓励高中暑期研究项目，以激发我们高中课程中存在的科学兴趣，包括材料或聚合物领域的任何正式培训。 该提案旨在提高中学对聚合物研究计划的认识，并鼓励高中生在聚合物科学及其相关领域接受高等教育。 本计画的研究目标是对含疏水侧链的官能化聚合物的表面和界面有一个基本的了解。 目前，尚不清楚聚合物表面的分子排列和分子流动性如何影响表面张力、粘附力、摩擦力和接触角滞后等性能。 本研究采用了非线性光学技术，显示出良好的灵敏度，非破坏性探针的化学和局部取向信息在聚合物表面和界面。 将研究烷基侧链（聚乙烯基N-烷基氨基甲酸酯）的长度对表面的分子堆积、表面转变温度、表面重构和表面层的流动性的影响。 这将使研究人员能够理解热力学表面能之间的复杂相互作用，在界面上的流动性，以及在分子水平上的粘附和摩擦机制。功能化聚合物用于制造更好的粘合剂，半透膜，生物材料和液晶显示器。 拟议中的研究将提供这些领域的基本信息，并将使美国工业在世界市场上保持其技术优势。 此外，培养高中生的兴趣和培养研究生将为这个竞争激烈的全球市场提供所需的熟练劳动力。

9984996 DhinojwalaThe educational goal of this CAREER proposal is to develop a polymer lecture series, organize science fairs, and encourage high school summer research projects to stimulate an interest in science in our high school programs exist that include any formal training in the area of materials or polymers. This proposal is targeted toward increasing the awareness of polymer research programs in secondary schools and encouraging high school students to pursue higher education in the area of polymer science and its related fields. The research goal of this proposal is to develop a fundamental understanding on surfaces and interfaces of functionalized polymers containing hydrophobic side chains. At present, it is unclear how molecular alignment and mobility of molecules at polymer surfaces influence properties such as surface tension, adhesion, friction, and contact angle hysteresis. This research employs a nonlinear optical technique that shows excellent sensitivity to non-destructively probe chemical and local orientational information at polymeric surfaces and interfaces. The influence of the length of alkyl side chains (polyvinyl N-alkyl carbamates) on molecular packing at surfaces, surface transition temperatures, surface restructuring, and the mobility of the surface layer will be studied. This will enable the researchers to understand the complex interplay between thermodynamic surface energy, mobility at the interface, and the mechanism of adhesion and friction at a molecular level.Functionalized polymers are used to make better adhesives, semi-permeable membranes, bio-materials, and liquid crystal displays. The proposed research will provide fundamental information in these areas and will allow US industries to maintain their technological edge in the world market. Furthermore, the development of interest in high school students and training of graduate students will provide the skilled work force necessary for this competitive global market.