Materials World Network: Multifunctional Nanostructured Nanoparticle-Conjugated Polymer Assemblies Prepared via Layer-by-Layer and Surface Initiated Polymerization (SIP) Approaches

这个国际合作材料研究项目详细介绍了金属和半导体纳米颗粒的研究，这些纳米颗粒通过自组装方法被分层有序、嵌入和接枝到p共轭聚合物基质上。这是新加坡和美国两个活性材料研究小组之间的协同项目。第一个目标是设计自组装和定向组装方案，通过原位和非原位合成方法在二维和三维基序中形成杂化共轭聚合物和纳米颗粒组件。这包括使用逐层沉积（LbL）、表面引发聚合（SIP）和前体聚合物方法。与新加坡国立大学（NUS）和休斯顿大学（UH）的国际合作是研究这些新材料的关键组成部分。新加坡国立大学Valiyaveettil集团在共轭聚合物合成方面拥有专业知识，犹他大学Advincula集团在聚合物薄膜和杂化材料领域拥有专业知识。通过他们的共同努力，将会发现新的材料和现象。通过将两种材料以二维和三维分层顺序组装成薄膜，可以系统地研究基于激子形成（聚合物）-导带（纳米颗粒）匹配或表面等离子体效应（包括供体-受体系统）的新现象和特性。研究超薄膜中不同组分、纳米颗粒尺寸形状、纳米颗粒-聚合物界面、聚合物微结构、层序和局域场效应下电子传递和能量转移的结构-性能关系是一个重要的研究方向。对这种关系本质的更深入理解将导致利用潜在应用的新现象，例如基于半导体，光导性，能量转移和电荷输运性质的器件。该项目遵循详细的计划和时间表，包括学生的培训以及与学术和工业合作者的互动。最重要的影响是对有才能的学生的教育和培训，以及他们参与指导活动。他们将在一个独特的环境中接受培训，在Advincula集团和Valiyaveettil集团之间的国际合作环境中研究新的聚合物材料合成和设备制造。此外，这将使他们能够利用科学和技术技能，走向一个以技术为中心的全球社会。该项目由国际科学与工程办公室的东亚和太平洋计划（EAP）和材料研究部的聚合物计划（DMR）共同资助。

This international collaborative materials research program details the investigation of metal and semiconductor nanoparticles that are hierarchically ordered, imbedded, and grafted to p-conjugated polymer matrices via self-assembly methods. It is a synergistic project between two active materials research groups in Singapore and the US. The first goal is to design self-assembly and directed-assembly protocols for the formation of hybrid conjugated polymer and nanoparticle assemblies both by in-situ and ex-situ synthetic methods in 2-D and 3-D motifs. This includes the use of layer-by-layer (LbL) deposition, surface initiated polymerization (SIP), and precursor polymer approaches. An international collaboration with National University of Singapore (NUS) and the University of Houston (UH) is a key component to investigating these new materials. The Valiyaveettil group, NUS, has expertise in the synthesis of conjugated polymers and the Advincula group, UH, in the area of polymer thin films and hybrid materials. By a synergistic combination of their efforts, new materials and phenomena will be discovered. By assembling the two materials in 2-D and 3-D hierarchical ordering as thin films, new phenomena and properties can be systematically investigated based on exciton formation (polymers)-conduction band (nanoparticle) matching or surface plasmon effects including donor-acceptor systems. An important research thrust is to develop structure-property correlation of electron transport and energy transfer properties with different: composition, nanoparticle size-shape, nanoparticle-polymer interface, polymer microstructures, layer ordering, and local field effects in ultrathin films. A deeper understanding of the nature of this relationship will lead to harnessing new phenomena for potential applications, e.g. devices based on semi-conducting, photoconductivity, energy transfer, and charge transport properties. The project follows a detailed plan and timeline to incorporate the training of students and interaction with academic and industrial collaborators. The most important impact is the education and training of talented students and their involvement in mentoring activities. They will be trained in a unique environment to investigate new polymer materials synthesis and device fabrication in an international collaborative setting between the Advincula Group and the Valiyaveettil Groups. In addition, this will allow them to harness scientific and technological skills towards a technology-minded global society. The project is jointly funded by the East Asia and Pacific Program (EAP) of the Office of International Science and Engineering and the Polymers Program of the Division of Materials Research (DMR).