Design and Construction of Responsive Surfaces by Means of Tethered Chain Nanolayers

林恩S. Penn等人，肯塔基州大学“通过系链纳米层设计和构建响应表面“该项目探索使用系链策略来创建动态响应其环境或其他外部刺激的表面。（拴系链被定义为聚合物分子，其通过单点沿其长度沿着连接到固体表面。）拴系链是唯一适合于创建响应表面，因为，除了链段邻近的连接点，他们的节段的流动性不受损害。因此，即使它们永久地附着在基底上，拴系链也可以改变构象-从而改变表面的性质-以响应施加的场或局部环境的改变。具有适当化学结构和分子结构的拴系链，以及附着的特定化学官能团，可以用于构建表现出各种响应的表面。表面可以被构造成具有动态能力，例如纳米级图案的可逆外观、有害生物或化学试剂的捕获以及接触相的表面能的模拟。具有这些能力的表面可应用于电子制造、环境污染的清除、生物医学装置、粘合剂结合、科学仪器中的传感器、粘附和润湿，在这个项目中，研究人员将收集剩余的实验数据，以扩大他们目前的拴系过程的数学模型，使其具有足够的实用性，并将使用受控系留，以构建三个展示不同响应能力的演示表面。这三个演示表面将能够1）响应于温度变化而呈现可逆的面内相分离，2）从通过的流中捕获大的阴离子物质，以及3）分别改变表面能以匹配接触相的表面能。项目活动包括大有机分子和聚合物的合成，在受控条件下（通过真实的时间监测）执行系留程序，以及通过各种技术表征表面的结构和功能。影响：用聚合物修饰表面以操纵纳米表面结构和性能在许多方面都具有重要的技术意义。 这项工作解决了一个关键的需要。在这些先进技术方面提供的培训将使这一重要的纳米技术的研究得以扩大。 本提案中提出的系所和大学之间的联网被认为充分利用了多学科方法的优势，并在参与的许多学生的形成中灌输了这种方法。 如果研究成功，新的响应表面将可用于各种重要的纳米技术应用，这将为社会带来巨大利益。

Lynn S. Penn, Et al, University of Kentucky"Design and Construction of Responsive Surfaces by Means of Tethered Chain Nanolayers"This project explores use of a tethered chain strategy to create surfaces that respond dynamically to their environments or other external stimuli. (A tethered chain is defined as a polymer molecule that is attached by a single point along its length to the surface of a solid.) Tethered chains are uniquely suited for creating responsive surfaces because, except for chain segments adjacent to the point of attachment, their segmental mobility is not impaired. Thus, even though they are attached permanently to the substrate, tethered chains can change conformation-- and thereby change the nature of the surface-- in response to an applied field or alteration in the local environment.Tethered chains of the appropriate chemical structure and molecular architecture, and with specific chemical functionalities attached, can be used to construct surfaces that exhibit a wide variety of responses. Surfaces can be constructed to have dynamic capabilities such as reversible appearance of nanoscale patterns, trapping of hazardous biological or chemical agents, and mimicry of surface energy of contacting phases. Surfaces with these capabilities have applications in electronics manufacture, clean-up of environmental pollution, biomedical devices, adhesive bonding, sensors in scientific instrumentation, adhesion and wetting, and biological and chemical warfare defense.In this project the investigators will gather the remaining experimental data needed to broaden their current mathematical model of the tethering process and make it versatile enough for practical use and will use controlled tethering to construct three demonstration surfaces that exhibit diverse response capabilities. The three demonstration surfaces will be able to 1) exhibit reversible, in-plane phase separation in response to temperature changes, 2) trap large anionic species from a passing stream, and 3) change surface energy to match that of a contacting phase, respectively. Project activities include synthesis of large organic molecules and polymers, execution of tethering procedures under controlled conditions (with real time monitoring), and characterization of structure and function of the surfaces by means of a variety of techniques.Impact: The modification of surfaces with polymers to manipulate nano-surface structure and properties is technologically important on many fronts. This work addresses a critical need. The training provided in these sophisticated techniques will enable research in this important nano-technology to expand. The networking between departments and universities proposed in this proposal is considered to fully utilize the advantages of multidisciplary approaches and inculcates this approach in the formation of the many students involved. If the research is successful, new responsive surfaces will be available for a wide variety of important nano-technological applications which will provide great benefit to society.