NIRT: Laser-Guided Assembly of Nanosystems

NIRT：激光引导纳米系统组装

• 批准号: 0404030
• 负责人: Gregory Timp
• 金额: $ 130万
• 依托单位: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2004
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2004-08-15 至 2008-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0404030&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: NIRT; Laser; Guided; Assembly; Nanosystems

The promise of nanotechnology won't be realized unless nanometer-scale structures can be assembled together inexpensively into a working system. The goal of this proposal is to develop and test a revolutionary tool that uses light-pressure forces to rapidly assemble complex nanosystems comprised of structures ranging in size from ~10nm to 1mm. Intellectual Merit: We plan to develop a tool to assemble a nanosystem layer-by-layer using light pressure forces to produce multiple, independent optical traps for organizing simultaneously tens of thousands of nanometer-scale structures within each layer. The optical traps will be produced either by rapidly scanning a laser beam from one trap location to the next, relying on the viscosity of the medium to stabilize the position until the trap is refreshed, or by generating a hologram, where multiple optical traps are created simultaneously by controlling the intensity and phase profile of the beam using a spatial light modulator. Either way, the tool will have to compensate in real-time for the scattering environment of the trap during the layer-by-layer assembly. Therefore, there are two elements at the core of this proposal: 1. the efficient simulation of the dynamic electromagnetic environment of the trap, which is used to predict in real-time the required intensity and phase profiles for the laser; and 2. the concomitant synthesis through adaptive optics of the trap.Broader Impact: Aside from the development of a new tool for nanoscale manufacturing that assembles nanometer-scale objects using light, there is a broader impact of this work derived from the nature of the testbeds we choose to explore, which can only be fabricated through optical manipulation. In particular, we plan to contribute to the understanding of self-assembly and locomotion in living cells through our work on "artificial cytoskeletons," by using optical tweezers to control the assembly of the molecular networks that form the cell's structure. Moreover, our work will affect supra-molecular chemistry in a fundamental way by augmenting the weak noncovalent bonds that form soft-condensed matter systems such as proteins, biological membranes and DNA with "optical binding" forces. By using optical binding forces in conjunction with supra-molecular forces, we hope to gain insight into the structure of the supra-molecular aggregates and their interactions. In addition, significant educational efforts are planned in the form of monthly seminars, innovative new interdisciplinary courses, and extensive involvement of undergraduate students in the research.

除非纳米级结构可以廉价地组合成一个工作系统，否则纳米技术的承诺将无法实现。该提案的目的是开发和测试一种革命性的工具，该工具使用轻压力来迅速组装复杂的纳米系统，该系统由大小从〜10nm到1mm的结构组成。智力优点：我们计划开发一种工具，使用轻压力逐层组装纳米系统，以产生多个独立的光学陷阱，以同时组织每一层中成千上万的纳米尺度结构。光学陷阱将通过迅速扫描激光束从一个陷阱位置到另一个陷阱，依靠培养基的粘度来稳定位置，直到陷阱刷新陷阱，或者通过使用Spatial Lightial Modulul apatial Lightial Modul仪表来控制陷阱，或者通过产生多个光学陷阱。无论哪种方式，该工具都必须在按层组件中实时补偿陷阱的散射环境。因此，该提案的核心有两个要素：1。陷阱的动态电磁环境的有效仿真，用于实时预测激光器的所需强度和相位剖面；和2。通过陷阱的自适应光学器件的伴随合成。BROADER的影响：除了开发用于使用光的纳米级制造工具开发新工具的纳米级制造工具，该工具使用灯光组装纳米尺度对象，还从我们选择探索的测试床的性质中产生了更广泛的影响，它只能通过光学操纵来制造。特别是，我们计划通过使用光学镊子来控制形成细胞结构的分子网络的组装，从而通过我们对“人造细胞骨架”的工作有助于对生物细胞中自组装和运动的理解。此外，我们的工作将通过增强形成诸如蛋白质，生物膜和具有“光学结合”力的较弱的非元素系统的弱键，以一种基本的方式影响上分子化学。通过将光学结合力与上分子力结合使用，我们希望深入了解上分子骨料及其相互作用的结构。此外，计划以每月研讨会，创新的新跨学科课程以及本科生参与研究的广泛参与的形式进行大量教育工作。