FRG: Fullerene Nanotube Chemistry

这个重点研究小组提案的重点将是发展富勒烯纳米管的分子科学。 这些新材料因其材料特性和这些特性所承诺的应用而受到欢迎。 实现这一承诺的最大障碍是目前缺乏将管作为单个分子操纵的化学方法。 单壁纳米管（swnts）是真正的分子实体，由于其高度的结构完美性，但从化学家操纵其他分子的意义上讲，操纵它们的分子科学仍然相当萌芽。 这些操作包括溶解、管端和侧的共价衍生化、按长度、电类型和直径分类、组装、切割和合成特定螺旋度的管。 这些任务构成了纳米管操作的基础，也是实现单壁纳米管前景的核心技术。 一个特别的目标将是开发各种策略，以溶解纳米管在各种溶剂，包括水，通过超分子路线。 将设计SWNT与其他分子的结合-例如，聚合物或大的大环化合物-既用于溶解管，又用于组装它们而不与它们的侧面进行任何共价连接，从而完全保留它们的固有材料性质。 根据长度、类型和直径对纳米管进行分类对于实现将纳米管用作分子电子学中的导线的希望至关重要。 粗分离的长度和直径已经开始，但更清洁，可扩展的色谱和电泳方法是必要的。 将通过利用它们不同的电和磁特性（例如，使用电泳、电化学和电场或磁场梯度），以及它们的结构差异，以通过类型选择性地衍生化。 一个巨大的挑战是合成给定电子类型的电子管。 该计划是利用一种特定类型的晶种（通过作为拟议工作的一部分开发的方法分离），并在最后使用共价化学来组装生长催化剂。 这一挑战将对其他几个目标提出要求，既提供了丰富的驱动力，如果成功的话，还将提供一个具有深远技术影响的非凡的新材料科学。这个重点研究小组的项目将在一个快速突破的领域产生重大影响，重点是富勒烯纳米管的分子科学的发展。 该研究具有高度协同性，多学科，高风险和高影响力，在分子电子学和高性能复合材料等领域具有很大的技术回报可能性。 这支由国际知名专家组成的团队得到了多学科事务办公室、材料研究部、数学和物理科学理事会化学部以及工程理事会化学和运输系统部的共同支持。

The focus of this Focused Research Group proposal will develop the molecular science of fullerene nanotubes. These new materials have been hailed for their materials properties and the applications that these properties promise. The single greatest impediment to realizing this promise is the current poverty of chemical approaches for manipulating the tubes as individual molecules. Single-walled nanotubes (swnts) are truly molecular entities, owing to their high degree of structural perfection, but the molecular science of manipulating them in the sense that chemists manipulate other molecules is still quite embryonic. These manipulations include solubilization, covalent derivatization of tube ends and sides, sorting by length, electrical type, and diameter, assembly, cutting, and synthesis of tubes of specific helicity. These are the tasks that comprise the basis of nanotube manipulation, and are central technologies in the realization of the promise of swnt. One particular aim will be to develop a variety of strategies to solubilizing nanotubes in various solvents, including water, by supramolecular routes. Associations of swnts with other molecules will be designed - e.g., polymers or large macrocyclic compounds - both for solubilizing the tubes and for assembling them without making any covalent attachment to their sides, thus preserving fully their intrinsic materials properties. Sorting tubes by length, type, and diameter will be crucial to fulfilling hopes of using nanotubes as wires in molecular electronics. Crude separations by length and diameter have begun, but cleaner, scalable chromatographic and electrophoretic methods are needed. Sorting by electrical type will be approached by exploiting their different electrical and magnetic properties(e.g., using electrophoresis, electrochemistry, and electric or magnetic field gradients), as well as their structural differences to derivatize selectively by type. A grand challenge is to synthesize tubes of a given electrical type. The plan is to utilize seed crystals of a particular type, (separated by methods developed as part of the proposed work), and use covalent chemistry at the end to assemble a catalyst for growth there. This challenge will make demands on several of the other goals, providing both a rich driving force, and, if successful, a remarkable new materials science with far-reaching technological impact.%%%This Focused Research Group project will have a major impact in a fast-breaking area focused on the development of the molecular science of fullerene nanotubes. The research is highly synergistic, multidisciplinary, high-risk and high-impact, with a significant probability for technological payoff in areas that include molecular electronics and high performance composites. This team of intrnationally renown experts is being jointly supported by The Office of Mulitdisciplinary Affairs, The Division of Materials Research and The Chemistry Division of The Mathematical and Physical Sciences Directorate, and by the Division of Chemical and Transport Systems of The Engineering Directorate.