Self-Assembly of Diblock Copolymer-Based Supramolecule Thin Films at Two Length Scales

嵌段共聚物和小分子的协同组装结合了（a）嵌段共聚物的可能性和纳米级自组装和（B）小分子的丰富化学功能性和分子组装，这可以导致分级功能材料。 一个基本的理解将发展上的组装过程中的二嵌段共聚物为基础的超分子在薄膜和组装过程之间的相互作用的二嵌段共聚物和小分子在两个不同的长度尺度。 特别是在薄膜中小分子存在下嵌段共聚物的相行为和小分子在嵌段共聚物微区中的自组装及其对共聚物微区取向的影响方面的研究，为我们现有的软材料分级组装的知识增加了新的维度，并将提高我们对自组装和微区取向之间相互作用的理解。两种不同长度尺度的组装过程，即几十纳米和亚纳米（分子）水平。 由于内置功能可以很容易地纳入和基本原则的协同作用是普遍的，拟议的研究将开辟新的途径，功能分层薄膜材料。纳米结构的可视化有效地展示了聚合物科学和纳米科学之间的桥梁，并将刺激观众？对基础科学感兴趣。 超分子组装产生了大量不同长度尺度的迷人图像库。 计划将开发使用这些图像，以促进不同的非技术群体之间的聚合物科学。 在本提案的供资期间，将在以下三个领域开展工作。 1.对于本科生和研究生，将为聚合物材料课程开发课程模块，以教育不同背景的学生。对于来自代表性不足的群体的有抱负的学生，将创造夏季研究机会。 学生将从他/她的实验中收集图像，以帮助他们的同龄人欣赏高分子科学。对于公众，将在西海岸启动一个种子计划，以促进科学使用艺术。

The synergistic assembly of block copolymers and small molecules combines (a) the possibility and nanoscopic self-assembly of block copolymers and (b) the rich chemical functionality and molecular assembly of small molecule which can lead to hierarchical functional materials. A fundamental understanding will be developed on the assembly processes of diblock copolymer-based supramolecules in thin films and the interplay between the assembly processes of diblock copolymer and the small molecules on two different length scales. Specifically efforts will focus on the phase behavior of block copolymers in the presence of small molecules in thin film and the self assembly of the small molecules within the bock copolymer microdomains and their effect on the copolymer microdomain orientation in thin films.The proposed studies add a new dimension to our existing knowledge of hierarchical assembly of soft materials and will improve our understanding of the interplay between self-assembly processes of two different length scales namely tens of nanometer and sub-nanometer (molecular) level. Since the built-in functionalities can be readily incorporated and the fundamental principles underpinning the synergy are general, the proposed studies will open mew avenues to functional hierarchical thin film materials.%%%Visualization of nanostructures effectively demonstrates the bridge between polymer science and nanoscience and will stimulate viewers? interests in fundamental sciences. Supramolecular assemblies produce a large library of fascinating images at different length scales. Programs will be developed to use these images to promote polymer science among different non-technical groups. During the funding period of this proposal, efforts will be initiated in the following three areas. 1. For undergraduate and graduate students, class modules will be developed for the polymeric materials course to educate students with different backgrounds.2. For aspiring students from under-represented groups, summer research opportunities will be crated. The students will collect images from his/her experiments to help their peers appreciate polymer science.3. For the general public, a seed program will be initiated on the West Coast to promote science using arts.