CAREER: Selective Grafting of Responsive Polymer Brushes on Topographically Structured Surfaces: A New Route for Surface and Interface Manipulation

职业：在地形结构化表面上选择性嫁接响应聚合物刷：表面和界面操纵的新途径

• 批准号: 0548070
• 负责人: Shu Yang
• 金额: $ 45万
• 依托单位: University of Pennsylvania
• 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 2011-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0548070&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: CAREER; Selective; Grafting; Responsive; Polymer

The proposed research is based on an interdisciplinary effort that involves polymer surface chemistry, interface manipulation, and advanced nano-/microfabrication techniques. Through the interplay of surface roughness at the micro- and nano- scales at specific locations on a topographically structured surface, a quantitative understanding of surface properties will evolve and test the incompletely understood basic theories. Specifically, the PI plans to: 1) design new chemical routes to selectively graft polymer brushes only on the tip of the nanopatterned surface; 2) develop novel synthetic and fabrication strategies to spatially control the grafting density, (relative) chain length, composition, architecture, and location of polymer brushes on the silicon and polymer nanostructures, 3) synthesize a variety of responsive brushes with increasing complexity, to systematically investigate their structure and function in collapsed and extended states on a patterned substrate; 4) quantitatively relate molecular parameters to the driving forces for the surface wettability and transition in response to a small temperature change. Nature offers excellent examples of hierarchical architectures with multi-faceted functions. For example, animal fur pulls the tips of the fibers together while keeping them separated closer to the skin, allowing for the sheeting of water off the fur. The geckos foot is self-cleaning, dry adhesive on the tips of the foot toes. Inspired by the unique natural designs, this proposal aims to develop novel synthetic approaches that will spatially control and switch the surface/interfacial properties in three dimensions. It will not only provide important scientific insights of how to manipulate surface wettability and adhesion, but also will impact a diverse range of technologies, including microfluidics, controlled assembly and material synthesis, cell engineering, and soft robotics. Students at all levels will be exposed to a diverse range of topics in chemistry, materials science and engineering, and nanotechnology through new training and outreach opportunities, including an annual research retreat, a new course development, and industrial internships at Bell Laboratories, Lucent Technologies.

拟议的研究是基于一个跨学科的努力，涉及聚合物表面化学，界面操作，和先进的纳米/微米加工技术。通过表面粗糙度在微观和纳米尺度上的相互作用，在特定位置的形貌结构化表面上，表面性质的定量理解将演变和测试不完全理解的基本理论。 具体来说，PI计划：1）设计新的化学路线，选择性地将聚合物刷仅接枝在纳米图案表面的尖端; 2）开发新的合成和制造策略以在空间上控制接枝密度，聚合物刷在硅和聚合物纳米结构上的（相对）链长、组成、结构和位置，3）合成具有增加的复杂性的各种响应刷，系统地研究它们在图案化基底上的塌陷和延伸状态下的结构和功能; 4）定量地将分子参数与响应于小的温度变化的表面润湿性和转变的驱动力相关联。大自然提供了具有多方面功能的分层架构的优秀例子。 例如，动物皮毛将纤维的尖端拉在一起，同时使它们更靠近皮肤分开，从而使水从皮毛上脱落。壁虎的脚是自我清洁的，在脚趾尖上有干燥的粘合剂。 受独特的自然设计的启发，该提案旨在开发新的合成方法，在三维空间控制和切换表面/界面特性。 它不仅将为如何操纵表面润湿性和粘附性提供重要的科学见解，而且还将影响各种技术，包括微流体，受控组装和材料合成，细胞工程和软机器人。各级学生将通过新的培训和推广机会接触化学，材料科学和工程以及纳米技术的各种主题，包括年度研究务虚会，新课程开发以及在贝尔实验室，朗讯科技的工业实习。