Conjugated Polymer-Quantum Rod Nanocomposites in Well-Defined Nanoscopic Geometries

将共轭聚合物与量子点或量子棒直接接触（即，共轭聚合物-量子点（CP-QD）或共轭聚合物-量子棒（CP-QR）纳米复合材料的制备）在CP和QD或QR之间提供了良好限定的界面，从而促进了它们之间的有效电荷转移。然而，很少有研究集中在这样的直接集成，和CP-QR纳米复合材料限制在纳米几何形状从未被探索。本提案的目的是探讨约束对CP-QR纳米复合材料的物理性能的影响。将使用两种独特的策略来限制CP-QR纳米复合材料：（1）将纳米复合材料直接固定在高度有序的直圆柱形纳米孔的六边形阵列中（即，纳米多孔氧化铝膜）;和（2）将纳米复合材料限制和剪切在两个平行板之间，所述两个平行板通过使覆盖有云母片的两个交叉圆柱形底座接触而形成，膜厚度范围从分子薄到几百纳米。研究结果将用于提高纳米科学教育的总体水平。将开展综合教育活动，使包括K-12学生在内的几个受众接触纳米科学的新知识，从而促进对其重要性的普遍认识。拟议的研究是基于一个跨学科的努力，涉及高分子化学，高分子物理，纳米纤维技术，和纳米物理学。这项工作的智力价值体现在利用纳米几何形状作为独特的物理环境来控制CP的构象的创新研究中，这反过来又调节了从CP到QR的电荷转移，并最终调节了纳米级CP-QR纳米复合材料的物理性质。本论文的研究目标有四个：（1）基于合理设计制备CP-QR纳米复合材料;（2）揭示外部纳米约束对CP-QR纳米复合材料物理性能的影响（第一战略）;（3）建立了从分子厚度到几百纳米厚的CP-QR膜的受限和剪切链构象与物理性质之间的相关性（第二种策略）;和（4）开发CP-QR纳米复合材料用于光电器件。这些发现也将增强对其他CP相关或QR相关纳米复合材料的理解。研究成果预计将对纳米材料科学的进步做出重大贡献。拟议工作的更广泛影响包括在多个级别加强纳米科学教育。将招募女本科生进行夏季纳米复合材料研究，从而加强代表性不足的群体参与该项目。还将为K-12教师开设暑期讲习班。高中实习生将为全国5 - 8年级学生制定基于网络的聚合物纳米材料课程计划。这项活动最终将使小学生和中学生接触纳米世界。该项目产生的知识可能会导致创建对国家安全和国防工业以及民用应用至关重要的新型纳米光电器件，从而将基础科学发现转化为有益于社会的有用技术。

CBET-0824361LinPlacing conjugated polymers in direct contact with quantum dots or quantum rods (i.e., preparation of conjugated polymer-quantum dot (CP-QD) or conjugated polymer-quantum rod (CP-QR) nanocomposites) provides a well-defined interface between CP and QD or QR, thus facilitating an efficient charge transfer between them. However, few studies have centered on such direct integration, and CP-QR nanocomposites confined in nanoscopic geometries have never been explored. The objective of this proposal is to explore the effects of confinement on the photophysical properties of CP-QR nanocomposites. Two unique strategies will be used to confine CP-QR nanocomposites: (1) directly immobilizing nanocomposites in highly ordered hexagonal arrays of straight cylindrical nanopores (i.e., a nanoporous alumina membrane); and (2) confining and shearing nanocomposites between two parallel plates, formed by bringing two crossed cylindrical mounts covered with mica sheets into contact, to film thicknesses ranging from molecularly thin to several hundred nanometers. The research findings will be used to enhance the general level of nanoscience education. Integrated educational activities will be pursued to expose several audiences, including K-12 students, to new knowledge in nanoscience, thereby promoting general awareness of its importance. The proposed research is based on an interdisciplinary effort that involves polymer chemistry, polymer physics, nanofabrication techniques, and photophysics. The intellectual merit of the work is manifested in the innovative studies of exploiting nanoscopic geometries as unique physical environments to control the conformation of CPs, which in turn regulates the charge transfer from CPs to QRs and, ultimately, the photophysical properties of CP-QR nanocomposites at the nanoscale. Four specific research goals will be pursued: (1) prepare CP-QR nanocomposites based on rational design; (2) reveal the effect of external nanoscopic confinement on the photophysical properties of CP-QR nanocomposites (first strategy); (3) establish correlations between the confined-and-sheared chain conformation and photophysical properties of CP-QR films ranging from the molecularly thin to several hundred nanometers thick (second strategy); and (4) exploit CP-QR nanocomposites for use in optoelectronic devices. The findings will also enhance understanding of other CP-related or QR-related nanocomposites confined at the nanoscale. The outcomes from the research are expected to contribute significantly to the advancement of nanomaterials science. The broader impacts of the proposed work include stronger nanoscience education across several levels. Female undergraduate students will be recruited for summer nanocomposite research, thus strengthening the involvement of an underrepresented group in the project. Summer workshops for K-12 teachers will also be created. High school interns will develop Web-based lesson plans on polymeric nanomaterials for 5th-8th graders nationwide. This activity will ultimately expose elementary- and middle-school students to the nano-world. Knowledge generated by this project may lead to the creation of novel nano-optoelectronic devices that are extremely critical to national security and the defense industry as well as civilian applications, thereby transitioning fundamental scientific discoveries into useful technologies that benefit society.