CAREER: Amphiphilicity-Driven Organization of Nanoparticles into Discrete Assemblies

事业：两亲性驱动的纳米粒子组织成离散组件

• 批准号: 0547399
• 负责人: Eugene Zubarev
• 金额: $ 52.81万
• 依托单位: William Marsh Rice University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2006
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2006-07-01 至 2012-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0547399&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: CAREER; Amphiphilicity; Driven; Organization; Nanoparticles

TECHNICAL EXPLANATION This CAREER project will use the hydrophobic effect as a means to assemble condensed matter into discrete functional objects. Specifically, covalent attachment of Y-shaped amphiphiles to metallic clusters of platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), and gold (Au) will impart the amphiphilicity to the resulting hybrid structure. Because every particle will be the junction point of all hydrophobic and hydrophilic arms, the micellization will lead to a dense packing of particles exactly at the boundary between the core and corona of the micelle. Thus, the individual particles will organize spontaneously into finite and well-defined nanoarrays. Importantly, each micelle will be a carrier of densely packed catalytic sites (Pt, Pd, or Au nanoparticles) and will combine the best features of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts. We hypothesize that the catalytic activity may not only be a function of size and the nature of particles, but will also depend on the curvature of nanoarrays and the degree of order in them. The curvature can be dramatically changed as cylinders transform into vesicles, and vice versa. Thus, the catalytic activity and/or selectivity may be manipulated by changing the morphology of the proposed assemblies. The expected outcomes are strongly supported by the feasibility studies on gold nanoparticles, but the approach can be applied to any spherical or rodlike carrier of functionality. NON-TECHNICAL EXPLANATIONThe broader impacts of the project are in developing new methods to bridge the gap between the nano- and mesoscale, and to strengthen the nanoscience education of the general public in Texas and nationwide. Of particular importance will be the collaboration with the NSF-funded educational outreach program NanoKids. The PI will introduce a Materials Studio Visualizer Program in the middle schools that are already using NanoKids educational materials. This 3D Molecular Graphics Program will allow children to learn and better understand the structure of various molecules, crystals, and DNA. In a parallel effort, three on-line mini-courses in nanotechnology, which will be used by 58 science teachers from the greater Houston area, will be developed. Unique hybrid structures and advanced catalysts proposed in this project will be excellent examples to help K-12 teachers understand the origin of unusual properties of matter at the nanoscale, and to learn about the industrial and societal implications of nanotechnology. This project will open up a new avenue for organizing functional matter and creating better catalysts, which will directly benefit society.

本职业项目将使用疏水效应作为将凝聚态物质组装成离散功能物体的手段。具体来说，y形两亲化合物与铂（Pt）、钯（Pd）和金（Au）金属团簇的共价连接将赋予所得到的杂化结构两亲性。因为每个粒子都是所有疏水和亲水臂的连接点，胶束作用将导致粒子在胶束核心和日冕之间的边界处密集堆积。因此，单个粒子将自发地组织成有限且定义良好的纳米阵列。重要的是，每个胶束将是密集排列的催化位点（Pt、Pd或Au纳米颗粒）的载体，并将结合均相和非均相催化剂的最佳特征。我们假设，催化活性可能不仅是一个函数的大小和粒子的性质，但也将取决于纳米阵列的曲率和他们的有序程度。当圆柱体转变为囊泡时，曲率会发生显著变化，反之亦然。因此，催化活性和/或选择性可以通过改变所建议的组装体的形态来操纵。金纳米颗粒的可行性研究有力地支持了预期的结果，但该方法可以应用于任何球形或棒状的功能载体。该项目的更广泛的影响是开发新的方法来弥合纳米尺度和中尺度之间的差距，并加强德克萨斯州和全国公众的纳米科学教育。特别重要的是与nsf资助的教育推广计划NanoKids的合作。PI将在已经使用NanoKids教育材料的中学引入材料工作室可视化程序。这个3D分子图形程序将让孩子们学习和更好地理解各种分子，晶体和DNA的结构。与此同时，还将开发三门关于纳米技术的在线迷你课程，供大休斯顿地区的58名科学教师使用。在这个项目中提出的独特的混合结构和先进的催化剂将是很好的例子，帮助K-12教师了解纳米尺度下物质的不寻常性质的起源，并了解纳米技术在工业和社会上的影响。该项目将为组织功能物质和创造更好的催化剂开辟一条新的途径，这将直接造福于社会。