NER: Asymmetric End-functionalization of Nonaligned Carbon Nanotubes For DNA-directed Self-assembling

这项建议是对纳米科学和工程倡议NSF 06-595，NER类的回应。目的是开发一种通用的化学修饰方法，用不同的化学试剂来不对称地端基修饰非取向碳纳米管。该方法利用DNA双螺旋的可逆削削和变性来形成DNA刷子，以支持顺序末端功能化的非排列碳纳米管。这项研究将集中在不同碱基序列的DNA链末端连接的化学；通过DNA配对相互作用的末端功能化碳纳米管的仿生自组装；以及对其有效整合到功能系统中的自组装结构的控制。该项目的完成不仅将使人们对用于定制纳米管自组装结构的DNA化学有深刻的基础了解，而且将开发用于光电子学和许多其他应用的新的基于碳纳米管的功能系统，从而潜在地加速纳米管电子和光学器件的商业化。不对称末端功能化的碳纳米管也可以用作纳米级的构建块，以开发协同结合碳纳米管和DNA链的独特性能的新材料。该项目将通过将研究成果纳入本科生和研究生课程来加强学生的培训和学习。该项目的成果将通过期刊出版物和会议发言进一步传播，使多学科领域的普通科学界受益。

This proposal was received in response to Nanoscale Science and Engineering initiative NSF 06-595, category NER. The objective is to develop a general chemical modification method to asymmetrically end-functionalize nonaligned carbon nanotubes with different chemical reagents. The approach takes advantage of the reversible paring and denaturing of DNA double helices to form DNA brushes that support nonaligned carbon nanotubes for sequential end-functionalization. The research will focus on the chemistry for end-attachment of DNA chains of different base sequences; biomimetic self-assembling of the end-functionalized carbon nanotubes through the DNA pairing interactions; and control of the self-assembled structures for their effective incorporation into functional systems.The accomplishment of this project will lead to not only a strong fundamental understanding of DNA chemistries for tailoring nanotube self-assembled structures, but also developing new carbon nanotube-based functional systems useful for optoelectronic and many other applications to potentially accelerate the commercialization of nanotube electronic and optical devices. The asymmetrically end-functionalized carbon nanotubes can also be used as nanoscale building blocks for developing new materials that synergistically combine the unique properties of carbon nanotubes and DNA chains. This project will enhance student training and learning by incorporating the research results into undergraduate and graduate courses. The results of this project will be further disseminated through journal publications and conference presentations to benefit the general scientific community in the multidisciplinary field.