SGER: Conducting and Semi-transparent Chemically Active Surfaces

CBET-0808053，Alcantar这一探索性研究（SGER）项目的小额赠款解决了设计活性表面以检测硝基芳族化合物、亚硝胺和硝酸酯化合物的需求，这些化合物是爆炸装置的主要成分。混合，纳米结构的表面将构造从透明导电复合材料（TCC）装饰共轭导电低聚物线。靶标与寡聚体的选择性结合改变了TCC中的电子电荷迁移率，这反过来影响TCC的氧化还原状态。因此，通过测量TCC的电导率或通过TCC的颜色变化，可以有效地读出结合事件。这项工作将包括开发薄膜TCC传感器和测试传感器相对于三个代表性的硝基衍生物。TCC将联合收割机金纳米颗粒结合在导电聚合物基质中，以产生导电、柔性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。在一端用硫醇基团官能化并且在另一端用硝基衍生物受体官能化的共轭低聚物提供了选择性和传感的基础。硫醇基团将寡聚体锚定到TCC表面上的金属位点，并且当用适当的分子靶向时，受体启动电荷转移机制。将评估的关键问题包括TCC配方，TCC加工成薄膜（基于溶液或固态），以及TCC与适当的低聚物wires.Intellectual优点的功能化：目前，最常见的透明传感器类型是基于氧化铟锡（ITO）薄膜。ITO具有显著的缺点，包括高加工成本、铟的有限供应及其低机械鲁棒性。本研究旨在建立一种新型的基于TCC的高冲击透明传感器，克服ITO的缺点。然而，结构/性能关系对于TCC是相对未知的。该研究将首次确定并建立这些关系，以实现对TCC性能的可预测控制。具体来说，本研究将探讨成分的影响，并将评估电影处理策略控制性能。后者是重要的，因为在工艺的可扩展性和对纳米结构的控制之间存在权衡。这种研究将产生的影响不仅仅是TCC薄膜，因为它将为纳米结构材料的加工提供宝贵的洞察力，其中有序和空间分布主导属性。更广泛的影响：TCC薄膜除了传感器之外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，以加强化学，物理化学和工程基础的课程并使其多样化。它还将提供一个机制，以纳入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，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.