CAREER: Polymeric Optical Band Gap Composites - A Study of Multifunctional Photonic Materials

本项目旨在扩大晶体胶体阵列光子带隙材料的基础范围，并将光子晶体研究扩展到功能聚合物复合材料。该项目采用跨学科的实验方法，包括聚合物合成、材料科学、聚合物物理和应用制造。此外，理论计算与实验活动相结合，以指导材料改性，并将其对PBG复合材料光学性能的影响联系起来。五个互补的目标正在同时进行：(1)开发用于稳定自组装胶体阵列和最小化晶格缺陷的材料和方法；(2)开发增强PBG复合材料光学性能的材料和方法，并增加光子功能；(4)开发具有热和机电驱动带停止调谐的PBG复合材料；(5)开发具有阵列化学传感特性的PBG复合材料。总体研究目标是实现PBG复合材料初级结构与观察到的光学和力学性能的相互控制。由此产生的技术影响将进行调查，以突出这些材料的多功能特性。该项目涉及具有技术相关性的基础材料科学研究问题。该项目的一个重要特点是非常重视教育，并将研究与教育相结合。通过不同层次的学生参与，将教育融入研究过程，以达到研究目标：(1)开发以高分子科学基础为重点的研究生课程；(2)通过高级人员直接参与实验室研究，积极指导研究生和本科生；(3)为高中生制定暑期研究暴露计划。研究生水平课程的发展侧重于聚合物的原子模拟和聚合物物理，将促进创建一个大学范围内跨学科的聚合物科学课程。为此，这些课程将在材料科学与工程学院和先进工程纤维与薄膜中心（CAEFF） （NSF工程研究中心）共同开设。在高分子科学课程中增加这些课程将帮助学生在高分子科学方面打下坚实的基础，特别是帮助那些参与拟议研究的研究生成功地实现研究目标。为了帮助南卡罗来纳的地区教育机会，已经开发了一个夏季研究暴露计划，称为学校到大学研究暴露（SURE）。该项目将对初高中学生进行材料科学讲座，并邀请他们在克莱姆森大学进行为期一个月的PBG复合材料研究。SURE项目的一个重要目标是在广泛的社会经济范围内发现那些可能有技术倾向的学生，特别关注来自农村地区的少数民族和青少年，并鼓励他们追求技术领域的研究

This CAREER project aims to expand the fundamental scope of crystalline colloidal array de-rived photonic band gap materials, and extend photonic crystal research into functional polymeric composites. The project takes an interdisciplinary experimental approach including polymer synthesis, materials science, polymer physics, and applied fabrication. In addition, theoretical calculations are coupled with experimental activities to guide material modifications and relate their effects on observed optical properties of PBG composites. Five complementary objectives are being pursued in parallel: (1) development of materials and methods for the stabilization of self-assembled colloidal arrays and minimization of lattice imperfections; (2) development of materials and methods for the enhancement of the optical performance of PBG composites, coupled with added photonic functionalities; (4) development of PBG composites which exhibit thermo- and electromechanically actuated band stop tuning; and (5) development of PBG com-posites which exhibit intrinsic array-based chemical sensing characteristics. The overall research goal is to enable interdependent control of the primary structure of PBG composites and observed optical and mechanical properties. Resulting technological implications will be investigated to highlight multifunctional characteristics of these materials. %%% The project addresses fundamental materials science research issues having technological relevance. An important feature of the project is the strong emphasis on education, and the integration of research and education. The research objectives are being approached by integrating education into the research process through student involvement at various levels: (1) development of graduate-level courses focused on the fundamentals of polymer science; (2) active mentoring of graduate and undergraduate students through direct participation of senior personnel in labora-tory research; and (3) the development of a summer research exposure program for high school students. The development of graduate-level courses focusing on the atomistic simulation of polymers and polymer physics will foster the creation of a College-wide interdisciplinary polymer science curriculum. To that end, these courses will be offered in both the School of Materials Science & Engineering and the Center for Advanced Engineering Fibers and Films (CAEFF), an NSF Engineering Research Center. The addition of these courses to the polymer science curriculum will assist students in developing a firm foundation in polymer science and, specifically, assist those graduate students involved in the proposed research to successfully carry out the research objectives. To assist with regional educational opportunities in South Carolina, a summer research exposure program has been developed, labeled the School-to-University Research Ex-posure (SURE). This program integrates lectures on material science to junior and senior high school level students with invitations to perform research at Clemson University for one month in the summer on PBG composites. An important goal of the SURE program is to identify those students in a wide socioeconomic spectrum that may be technically inclined, with a specific focus on minorities and adolescents from rural areas, and encourage them to pursue a technical field of study.***