Meso-scale Systems Mimicking Molecules and Materials

有了这个更新奖的有机和高分子化学计划在化学部和固态化学计划在材料研究部支持博士乔治怀特塞德斯在化学和化学生物学系在哈佛大学剑桥，马萨诸塞州正在进行的工作。 这项工作将探索在介观尺度（微米至厘米大小）的组件的自组装，使用分子自组装模型的策略。 这项工作将扩展到更小的尺寸，更复杂的地形（包括3D），并包括电气和光学功能。 它将探索分子和生物分子的概念和类比中尺度的设计，自组装系统的价值，包括为凝聚态物理学开发的气泡筏组件的类似物。这项工作在中尺度的桥梁之间的差距差距与组件在正常规模（厘米）与那些在分子水平（纳米），使用化学和生物学的概念。 这项工作有望开发新的方法来制备目前难以或不可能制造的微型电子和光学器件。 由于其跨学科的性质，预计将为参与的学生提供出色的培训。

With this renewal award the Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Program in the Chemistry Division and the Solid-State Chemistry Program in the Division of Materials Research support the ongoing work of Dr. George Whitesides in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The work will explore the self-assembly of components at the meso-scale (micrometers to centimeters in size), using strategies modeled on molecular self-assembly. The work will be extended to smaller size, more complex topography (including 3D), and include electrical and optical functionality. It will explore the value of molecular and biomolecular concepts and analogies for the design of meso-scale, self-assembling systems, including analogues of bubble raft assemblies developed for condensed matter physics.This work at the meso-scale bridges the gap between devices with components at normal scale (cm) with those at the molecular level (nm), using concepts from chemistry and biology. The work is expected to develop new methods to prepare tiny electronic and optical devices that are difficult or impossible to make by current methods. Because of its interdisciplinary nature, it is expected to provide excellent training for the students involved.