NER: Active Nanotribological Surfaces Using Monomolecular Films

NER：使用单分子膜的活性纳米摩擦学表面PI：Sriram Sundararajan(爱荷华州立大学)摘要本提案是对NSF 05-610纳米科学与工程计划的响应，NER类别。这项研究的目标是设计分子薄膜，使其能够通过施加电场来主动操纵其表面能量和摩擦学(摩擦、润滑和磨损)行为。该方法是利用实验和计算相结合的研究来研究两个候选的烷硫醇分子体系，包括1)候选薄膜的合成、化学和结构表征；2)定性预测和理解电场对薄膜行为的影响的计算研究；以及3)薄膜在电场响应下的摩擦学实验表征。成功地展示所提出的研究策略可以导致在整个工业和消费机械系统中的应用，在这些系统中，与摩擦/磨损相关的能量和经济损失可以显著减少。这种薄膜还可用于需要根据需要控制摩擦行为的系统中，例如生物材料研究(细胞、组织、流体研究)和消费应用(全年牵引的鞋类)。该项目还将通过将研究成果纳入工程学课程，并利用爱荷华州立大学的新生荣誉/学生勤工俭学计划，将本科生纳入研究，从而加强本科和研究生教育。

NER: Active Nanotribological Surfaces Using Monomolecular FilmsPI: Sriram Sundararajan (Iowa State University)AbstractThis proposal was received in response to Nanoscale Science and Engineering initiative, NSF 05-610, category NER. The objective of this research is design molecularly thin films that allow active manipulation of their surface energy and tribological (friction, lubrication and wear) behavior through the application of electric fields. The approach is to investigate two candidate alkanethiol based molecule systems using combined experimental and computational studies that include 1) synthesis, chemical and structural characterization of candidate films; 2) computational studies to qualitatively predict and understand the effect of electric fields on film behavior and 3) experimental tribological characterization of films in response to electrical fields.Successful demonstration of the proposed research strategy can lead to applications in a whole range of industrial and consumer mechanical systems in which energy and economical losses associated with friction/wear can be significantly reduced. The films can also be used in systems where friction behavior needs to be controlled on demand such as biomaterial research (cells, tissues, fluid studies) and consumer applications (footwear for all-year traction). The project will also enhance undergraduate and graduate education by incorporating research results into engineering courses and leveraging freshman honors/student workstudy programs at Iowa State University to include undergraduates in research.