Design of Nanoporous Polymers with New Functional Capabilities via Monomer Self-Assembly

技术概述该项目的重点是扩展基于可聚合溶致物（即，两亲性）液晶（LLC）。 我们小组先前的工作表明，含有有序圆柱形纳米通道（HII相）的LLC网络可用作分子筛的催化有机类似物，以及分子尺寸选择性过滤介质。 两个新的研究方向将探索扩展这些LLC网络的功能能力，并增加我们对如何设计这种材料的理解。第一个新的方向是集中在探索是否结构上更多样化的头基与能力以外的催化活性可以纳入这些聚合物材料。 具体地，将探索在纳米孔中含有部分的LLC网络的设计，所述部分可以响应于特定刺激可逆地改变其孔尺寸、结构或化学特性（即，响应式门控运输）。主动和选择性地控制LLC树脂的传输性能的能力将大大增加已经在这些纳米多孔聚合物中证明的分子尺寸排阻和催化能力。第二个新方向是专注于设计具有更复杂孔结构的新功能LLC网络，这将使运输和访问相关领域的性能更好。具体而言，将研究含有三维互连纳米孔的交联双连续立方（Q）LLC组装体的设计。 这项工作的目标是设计更容易获得的纳米多孔聚合物材料，这些材料可以与我们最初的HII系统具有相同的功能水平。 总的来说，这个项目将提供新的见解，如何设计新的功能基团/能力到交联的LLC组件，并产生新的纳米多孔聚合物与前所未有的功能特性的组合。这项研究也将作为一个平台，培养学生在聚合物化学和应用nanoscience.Non-Technical总结方法纳入新的功能能力的表面活性剂液晶（LC）聚合物，具有均匀的孔在1至2纳米的范围内，将进行探索。 这种材料以前已被证明可用作增强型固态催化剂，以及可根据分子大小分离分子的新型过滤材料。在这个项目中，将探索纳米多孔聚合物的设计，这些聚合物可以可逆地改变其孔径，结构或化学特性以响应特定的刺激。 主动门控这些材料的分子传输特性的能力将大大增加它们的实用性。 此外，将探索具有更复杂的纳米孔结构的新型LC聚合物的设计，作为改善传输和内部访问特性的手段。 总的来说，这项研究可能会导致新的功能多孔聚合物，可以应用于许多有益的应用，如高选择性，适应性膜的环境和个人化学保护应用;上级高通量聚合物负载催化剂的过程化学;该研究项目也将作为高分子化学和新兴应用纳米科学领域交叉培训学生的平台。

TECHNICAL SUMMARYThe focus of this project is to expand the functional capabilities of ordered, nanoporous polymers based on polymerizable lyotropic (i.e., amphiphilic) liquid crystals (LLCs). Prior work in our group has shown that LLC networks containing ordered, cylindrical nanochannels (the HII phase) can be used as catalytic organic analogs to molecular sieves, and as molecular size-selective filtration media. Two new research directions will be explored for extending the functional capabilities of these LLC networks, and for increasing our understanding of how to design such materials. The first new direction is focused on exploring whether structurally more diverse headgroups with capabilities other than catalytic activity can be incorporated into these polymeric materials. Specifically, the design of LLC networks containing moieties in the nanopores that can reversibly change their pore dimensions, structure, or chemical character in response to specific stimuli, will be explored (i.e., responsive gated transport). The ability to actively and selectively control the transport properties of LLC resins would greatly add to the molecular size-exclusion and catalytic capabilities already demonstrated in these nanoporous polymers. The second new direction is focused on the design of new functional LLC networks with more sophisticated pore architectures, which will allow better performance in areas related to transport and access. Specifically, the design of cross-linked bicontinuous cubic (Q) LLC assemblies containing three-dimensional interconnected nanopores, will be investigated. The goal of this work is the design of more accessible nanoporous polymer materials that can incorporate the same level of functional capabilities as our initial HII systems. Collectively, this project will provide new insights into how to design new functional groups/capabilities into cross-linked LLC assemblies, and generate new nanoporous polymers with unprecedented combinations of functional properties. This research will also serve as a platform for training students in polymer chemistry and applied nanoscience.NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARYMethods for incorporating new functional capabilities into surfactant liquid crystal (LC) polymers that have uniform pores in the 1 to 2 nanometer range, will be explored. Such materials have previously been shown to be useful as enhanced solid-state catalysts, and as new filtration materials that can separate molecules based on their size. In this project, the design of nanoporous polymers that can reversibly change their pore size, structure, or chemical character in response to specific stimuli will be explored. The ability to actively gate the molecular transport properties of these materials would greatly increase their utility. In addition, the design of new LC polymers with more sophisticated nanopore structures will be explored, as a means of improving transport and internal access properties. Collectively, this research may lead to new functional porous polymers that can be applied to a number of beneficial applications, such as highly selective, adaptive membranes for environmental and personal chemical protection applications; superior high-throughput polymer-supported catalysts for process chemistry; etc. This research project will also serve as a platform for cross-training students in polymer chemistry and the emerging area of applied nanoscience.