Dynamics in Polymeric Thin Films

提出的研究的目的是表征和理解的行为，特别是动力学（分子运动），薄膜聚合物在固体表面。聚合物性质的表征对于理解各种器件的工作原理至关重要。最终，如果了解了聚合物的行为和作用，就可以改善含有聚合物的器件的性能。随着器件的尺寸和聚合物薄膜的厚度变得越来越小，这些决定变得更加重要。超薄聚合物薄膜的性质将通过各种技术进行研究，主要包括核磁共振波谱（NMR），以及调制差示扫描量热法（MDSC），傅里叶变换红外光谱（FTIR）和其他技术。在可能的情况下，化学/光谱结果将与物理性质研究相关联，例如薄膜粘附强度的测量。所提出的研究的智力价值是基于对聚合物薄膜中非常复杂现象的理解。由于表面系统的薄而不透明，它们的动力学很难用许多应用于化学系统的技术来量化。这些互补技术的使用将为吸附聚合物的动力学特性提供前所未有的细节，特别是通过使用二维交换氘核磁共振吸附聚合物。聚合物链的节段动力学将根据相关时间的分布来解释，分布的结果将用于确定聚合物薄膜的状态。这项研究更广泛的影响在于研究本身对学生的技术、教育和培训的影响，以及将这些知识转移到科学界和公众的影响。这项工作将帮助设备制造商为包括聚合物薄膜在内的先进应用设计更好的系统。这些应用在电子材料、传感器、颗粒稳定和复合材料领域，仅举几例。了解材料特性（如附着力）如何随着厚度的变化而变化，可以预测并避免这些设备的故障。通过这项研究培养的学生将接触到各种各样的经验，通常是从综合到机械性能的测量。他们将获得宝贵的跨学科背景，这将有助于他们在复杂的技术领域成为更有效的员工。科学界和广大公众也将受益于PI在专注于改进和传播知识的专业学会开展的活动。这包括公共宣传的有力组成部分。此外，通过参与和服务重要的教育领域，PI的科学活动将加强他自己与社区的联系。

The object of the proposed research is to characterize and understand the behavior, especially thedynamics (molecular motion), of thin-film polymers on solid surfaces. Characterization of theproperties of the polymers is crucial to an understanding of how various devices work. Ultimately,the properties of devices containing polymers can be improved if the behavior and their roles areunderstood. These determinations become even more crucial as the size of the devices, and hence thethickness of the polymer films, becomes smaller. The properties of the very-thin polymer films willbe studied with a variety of techniques including, mainly, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy(NMR), and also modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC), Fourier-transform infra-redspectroscopy (FTIR), and other techniques. The chemical/spectroscopic results will be correlated,when possible, to physical property studies, such as the measurement of adhesion strength in thinfilms. The intellectual merit of the proposed research is based on the understanding of the very complexphenomena in polymer thin films. Their dynamics are difficult to quantify with many of thetechniques that are applied to chemical systems because of the thinness and opacity of the surfacesystems. The use of these complementary techniques will give unprecedented detail to thecharacterization of the dynamics of adsorbed polymers, especially through the use of twodimensionalexchange deuterium NMR of adsorbed polymers. The segmental dynamics of thepolymer chains will be interpreted in terms of distributions of correlation times and the results of thedistributions will be used to determine the state of the polymer films. The broader impact of this research lies in the impact of the research itself on the technology,education and training of students, and the transfer of this knowledge to the scientific communityand the public. The work to be performed will aid device makers in designing better systems foradvanced applications that include thin polymer films. These applications are in electronic materials,sensors, particle stabilization, and composites fields, to name just a few. Knowledge of how materialproperties, such as adhesion, vary as a function of thickness allows the prediction and, indeed,avoidance of failure of these devices. The students educated through this research will be exposed toa wide variety of experiences, often from synthesis through the measurement of mechanicalproperties. They will develop an invaluable interdisciplinary background that will assist in makingthem more effective employees in complex technological fields. The scientific community andpublic at-large will also benefit through the activities of the PI in professional societies focused onimproving and disseminating knowledge. This includes strong components of public outreach. Inaddition, the PI's scientific activities will enhance his own outreach to the community throughinvolvement in and service to the important field of education.