SGER: Conducting and Semi-transparent Chemically Active Surfaces

这个探索性研究（SGER）项目的小额拨款解决了设计用于检测硝基芳香族、硝胺和硝酸盐酯化合物的活性表面的需求，这些化合物是爆炸装置的主要成分。混合纳米结构的表面将由透明导电复合材料（tcc）组成，并用共轭导电低聚物导线装饰。目标与低聚物的选择性结合改变了TCC中的电荷迁移率，从而影响了TCC的氧化还原状态。因此，可以通过测量TCC的电导率或通过TCC的颜色变化来有效地读出结合事件。这项工作将包括开发薄膜TCC传感器，并对三种代表性的硝基衍生物进行传感器测试。tcc将金纳米颗粒结合在导电聚合物基体中，形成一种导电、柔韧和电致变色的混合材料。例如，TCC可以根据其氧化还原状态从不透明切换到深绿色。一端以巯基官能化，另一端以硝基衍生物受体官能化的共轭低聚物为选择性和传感提供了基础。巯基将低聚物锚定在TCC表面的金属位点上，当受体与适当的分子靶向时，受体启动电荷转移机制。将评估的关键问题包括TCC配方，TCC成薄膜（溶液或固态）的加工，以及TCC用适当的低聚物线的功能化。知识优势：目前，最常见的透明传感器类型是基于氧化铟锡（ITO）薄膜。ITO有很大的缺点，包括加工成本高，铟供应有限，机械稳健性低。本研究旨在建立一种新型的基于tcc的高冲击透明传感器，消除ITO的缺点。然而，tcc的结构/性质关系相对未知。这项研究将首次确定并建立这些关系，从而对TCC特性进行可预测的控制。具体而言，本研究将探讨合成效果，并评估胶片处理策略在控制性能方面的作用。后者很重要，因为在工艺的可伸缩性和对纳米结构的控制之间存在权衡。这种研究的影响将不仅仅局限于TCC薄膜，因为它将为有序和空间分布主导性质的纳米结构材料的加工提供宝贵的见解。更广泛的影响：除了传感器之外，TCC薄膜还有许多潜在的应用，包括非线性光学元件、胶体稳定剂、催化剂和表面涂层，这些将大大提高安全性和生活质量。该项目将导致包括当地高中教师和学生在内的推广计划，以加强和多样化化学，物理化学和工程基础课程。它还将提供一个机制，包括一个多样化的研究小组。PI致力于在她的研究中包括女性和代表性不足的研究生。目前，她的小组有四名女学生，其中两名有西班牙裔背景。

CBET-0808053, AlcantarThis Small Grant for Exploratory Research (SGER) project addresses the need to engineer active surfaces for the detection of nitroaromatic, nitramine, and nitrate ester compounds, which are the primary constituents of explosive devices. Hybrid, nanostructured surfaces will be constructed from transparent conductive composites (TCCs) decorated with conjugated conductive oligomer wires. Selective binding of the target to the oligomer alters the electron charge mobility in the TCC, which in turn affects the redox state of the TCC. The binding event, therefore, can be effectively read out through measuring the conductivity of the TCC or through color changes to the TCC.The work will consist of developing thin-film TCC sensors and testing the sensors with respect to the three representative nitro-derivatives. TCCs combine gold nanoparticles in a conducting polymer matrix to create a hybrid material that is conductive, flexible, and electrochromic. For instance, the TCC can switch from opaque to dark green depending on its redox state. Conjugated oligomers that are functionalized with thiol groups at one end and nitro-derivative receptors at the other provide the basis for selectivity and sensing. The thiol group anchors the oligomer to the metal sites on the TCC surface and the receptor starts the charge transfer mechanism when targeted with the appropriate molecule. Key issues that will be evaluated include TCC formulation, processing of the TCC into thin films (solution based or solid state), and functionalization of the TCC with the appropriate oligomer wire.Intellectual merit: Currently, the most common type of transparent sensor is based on indium tin oxide (ITO) films. ITO suffers from significant drawbacks including a high processing cost, the limited supply of indium and its low mechanical robustness. This research serves to establish a new type of high-impact transparent sensor based on TCCs without the disadvantage of ITO. However, structure/property relationships are relatively unknown for TCCs. The research will, for the first time, identify and establish those relationships to lead to predictable control over TCC properties. Specifically, this research will explore compositional effects and will assess film processing strategies in controlling performance. The latter is important in that there are tradeoffs between scalability of the process and control over the nanostructure. Such research will have impact beyond just TCC films, for it will lend invaluable insight into the processing of nanostructured materials where order and spatial distributions dominate properties.Broader Impacts: There are many potential applications of TCC films beyond sensors including nonlinear optical components, colloidal stabilizers, catalytic agents, and surface coatings that will greatly improve security and quality of life. The project will lead to outreach programs that include local high school teachers and students to enhance and diversify curriculums in chemistry, physicochemistry, and foundations of engineering. It will also provide a mechanism for including a diverse research group. The PI is committed to include female and underrepresented graduate students in her research. Currently, her group has four female students, two with Hispanic backgrounds.