NIRT: NanoElectroMechanical Systems (NEMS) using Light-Driven Molecular Shuttles as Active Nanostructures

这个NIRT的建议集中在开发可制造的纳米机电系统（NEMS），其中光驱动的人工分子梭被用作“活性纳米结构”。“PI建议（1）利用“自下而上”的合成路线来创建新型的基于光敏轮烷的分子梭，（2）开发多尺度计算机辅助设计方法来帮助设计和优化分子梭的分子结构/性质，（3）实验量化光敏轮烷从一种状态转换到另一种状态的响应时间，（4）开发用于产生具有可控分子结构的基于轮烷的聚合物微/纳米结构的分级纳米制造工艺，以及（5）展示一类新的功能性MEMS/NEMS器件，其具有光敏的基于轮烷的分子机器作为关键的“活性纳米结构”，包括微流体平台、化学/生物传感器，和能量转换/存储系统。智力优势：PI提出的研究将导致为人工分子机器创建新的合成路线，以及为分子结构/性能的设计和优化创建新的计算机辅助方法。该研究将在基于真实的功能分子机器的NEMS方面取得突破性成果。 因此，他们的目标是他们的努力在纳米技术的承诺的本质，证明已经作出的巨大投资的价值和刺激加速在这些领域的活动。更广泛的影响：PI和三个共同PI都长期致力于教育和社区外展活动。在NIRT赠款的支持下，他们来自四个研究所的团队将能够扩大现有的或为少数群体，高中生，本科生，高中教师和中学生开展新的外展活动。 我们所提出的努力的进展将包括在四所大学教授的课程中。 此外，让学生沉浸在这种跨学科的纳米技术方法中，涉及有机化学，计算材料科学和纳米工程，将更好地使学生适应不断变化的科学世界，使他们能够发展成为未来的领导者。

This NIRT proposal focuses on developing manufacturable NanoElectroMechanical Systems (NEMS) in which light-driven artificial molecular shuttles are used as the "active nanostructures." The PIs propose to (1) exploit the "bottom-up" based synthetic routes to create novel photoactive bistable rotaxane-based molecular shuttles, (2) develop multiscale computer-aided design methodologies to help design and optimize the molecular structures/properties of the molecular shuttles, (3) experimentally quantify the response time for photoactive bistable rotaxanes switching from one state to another, (4) develop hierarchical nanomanufacturing process for the creation of bistable rotaxane-based polymer micro/nano structures with controllable molecular architecture, and (5) demonstrate a new class of functional MEMS/NEMS devices with photoactive bistable rotaxane-based molecular machines as the key "active nanostructures," including microfluidic platforms, chemical/biological sensors, and energy conversion/storage systems. Intellectual Merit: The PIs proposed research will lead to the creation of new synthetic routes for artificial molecular machines, and new computer-aided methodologies for the design and optimization of molecular structures/properties. The proposed research will result in breakthrough achievements in real functional molecular-machine-based NEMS. Thus, they aim their effort at the essence of nanotechnologys promise, proving the value of the enormous investment already made and stimulating accelerated activities in these areas. Broader Impacts: The PI and three co-PIs each has longstanding commitments to education and community outreach activities. With the support from this NIRT grant, their team from four institutes will be able to expand the existing or start new outreach activities for minority groups, high-school students, undergraduates, high-school teachers, and middle-school students. The progress in our proposed endeavors will be included in courses being taught at the four universities. In addition, immersing their students in this interdisciplinary approach to nanotechnology, involving organic chemistry, computational material science, and nanoengineering will better equip students to adjust to the ever-changing scientific world, enabling them to develop into future leaders.