NSF-Europe: Molecular-Based Objects: Nanoscopic Control of Physical and Mechanical Properties

这项NSF/SSF合作提案的科学使命是开发新的合成方法和表征技术，用于制备和研究定义良好的纳米级分子基物体。纤维素纤维，纳米晶体或单分子链，与线性聚合物链或树-线性杂化大分子功能化，将被用作构建具有核-壳形态的大分子物体的框架。这些纳米结构的外部外壳的交联将通过选择官能团和化学物质来完成。根据这种方法，纤维素聚合物或纤维作为模板，将在其上构建交联聚合物网络，然后降解纤维素核心以产生包含中心通道的中空物体。从纳米到微米尺寸的物体的定义将通过控制覆盖在纤维素基材上的聚合物网络的厚度和控制纤维素材料的尺寸来演示。此外，这些壳交联结构的组装和操作作为纳米线制造的模板，以及进入其中心通道进行分子隔离和传递将是这些努力的关键特征。一个更根本的挑战将是基于交联壳的刚度和功能，发展对单个纳米结构或其小组件的结构、性能和功能之间关系的理解。一个充满活力和跨学科的教学和推广计划是该提案的一个关键特征，并将显著建立在这些科学基础上。通过整合位于学术机构和工业实验室的世界级研究中心在聚合物化学、物理和加工方面的教育专业知识，将建立一个独特的合作研究和教育环境。这种让本科生和毕业生接触到国际学术和工业学术环境的机会，将提供令人振奋的研究经验，并导致所有三个机构之间的人员交流。教学理念和课程结构的交流也将使K-12水平以及本科和研究生课程的思想交流和交流成为可能。预计将在这种国际合作和所有主要研究人员接触到这三个机构提供的不同教育环境的基础上，为材料化学课程的电子合作和教学开发新的概念和框架。该项目由材料研究部（聚合物）、MPS多学科活动办公室和国际办公室（西欧）共同资助，作为美国国家科学基金会与欧洲材料研究的合作活动（NSF 02-135）。该项目是与瑞典皇家理工学院（KTH）和国际商业机器公司（IBM）合作进行的。

The scientific mission of this NSF/SSF collaborative proposal is to develop new synthetic approaches and characterization techniques for the preparation and study of well-defined, nanoscopic, molecular-based objects. Cellulose fibers, nanocrystals or single molecular chains, functionalized with linear polymer chains or dendritic-linear hybrid macromolecules, will be used as a framework to construct macromolecular objects having a core-shell morphology. Crosslinking of the external shell of these nanostructures will then be accomplished using a selection of functional groups and chemistries. According to this approach, the cellulose polymers or fibers serve as templates, upon which will be constructed crosslinked polymer networks, followed by the degradation of the cellulose core to produce hollowed objects containing a central channel. Definition of the objects from nanometer to micrometer dimensions will be demonstrated via control over the thickness of the polymer network coating the cellulose substrate and control over the dimensions of the cellulose material. Furthermore, the assembly and manipulation of these shell crosslinked structures as templates for the fabrication of nanowires, and access to their central channels for molecular sequestration and delivery will be key features of these efforts. A more fundamental challenge will be to develop an understanding of the relationship between structure, property and function for individual nanostructures or small assemblies thereof based on the rigidity and functionality of the crosslinked shell. A vigorous and interdisciplinary teaching and outreach program is a critical feature of this proposal and will significantly build on these scientific foundations. By integrating educational expertise in polymer chemistry, physics and processing at world class research centers located at both academic institutions and at an industrial laboratory, a unique collaborative research and educational environment will be established. This exposure of undergraduates and graduates to combined international academic-academic and industrial-academic settings will provide an invigorating research experience and lead to a dynamic exchange of personnel between all three institutions. The exchange of teaching concepts and course structure will also permit cross-fertilization and exchange of ideas at the K-12 level as well as in undergraduate and graduate courses. It is anticipated that new concepts and frameworks for electronic collaboration and teaching of courses in materials chemistry will be developed based on this international collaboration and the exposure of all principal investigators to the different educational settings provided by the three institutions.This NSF project is co-funded by the Division of Materials Research (Polymers), the MPS Office of Multidisciplinary Activities, and the International Office (Western Europe) as a Cooperative Activity in Materials Research between the NSF and Europe (NSF 02-135). This project is being carried out in collaboration with the Royal Institute of Technology of Sweden (KTH) and the International Business Machines Corp. (IBM).