CAREER: Unique Chemical Functionalization of Nanoparticles for Dispersion, Directed Assembly, and Precise Interfacial Mediation

本研究的重点是将纳米粒子功能化，消除粒子的聚集，分离和组装聚合物材料中的粒子，并探索功能化粒子在液-液界面上的化学。该项目的目标是通过同时使用三正辛基氧膦(TOPO)来控制溶解度，以及使用基于Ru的GRubb催化剂以空间隔离的方式引发聚合，从而实现对聚合物基质中纳米颗粒的精确界面控制。拟议工作的第二个方面涉及沿水-有机相边界定向纳米颗粒。将与柯达的科学家合作，为学生提供独特的教育机会。凭借这一职业奖，有机化学和高分子化学项目正在支持马萨诸塞大学阿默斯特分校化学系的托德·埃姆里克博士的研究和教育努力。埃姆里克教授将把他的研究重点放在新材料的开发上，该材料包含沿材料内特定平面定向的纳米颗粒。这可能会对新型光学和电子设备的发展产生重要影响。该奖项的教育活动将包括他的学生与纽约罗切斯特柯达公园的科学家们的互动。

The focus of this research is to functionalize nanoparticles, eliminate aggregation of the resulting particles, segregate and assemble the particles in polymer materials, and explore the chemistry of the functionalized particles at liquid-liquid interfaces. The goal of the project is to achieve precise interfacial control of the nanoparticles within polymer matrices by the simultaneous use of tri-n-octyl phosphine oxide (TOPO) to control solubility, and ruthenium-based Grubb's catalyst sites to initiate polymerization in a spacially segregated manner. A second aspect of the proposed work involves orienting the nanoparticles along an aqueous-organic phase boundary. Unique educational opportunities for students will be pursued in collaboration with scientists from Kodak. With this CAREER award, the Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Program is supporting the research and educational efforts of Dr. Todd Emrick of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Professor Emrick will focus his research on the development of new materials containing nanoparticles oriented along specific planes within the materials. This could have important ramifications in the development of new types of optical and electrical devices. The educational activities of the award will include interactions of his students with scientists at Kodak Park in Rochester, New York.