CAREER: Self-Assembly in Two and Three Dimensions: from Crystal to Surface Design and Back

该奖项是根据2009年《美国复苏和再投资法案》(公法111-5)提供资金的。技术总结这份职业建议书支持一个综合的研究和教育计划，该计划的中心是使用理论和计算方法解决涉及胶体粒子自组装的问题。与该领域迄今所做的大多数工作不同的是，这项研究重点关注给定的局部粒子间相互作用如何产生秩序，而这项研究将研究逆问题，即找出构建块自组装到给定结构所需的局部相互作用。使用这种方法，将开发新的策略来寻找能够通过自组装产生特定晶体结构的粒子相互作用。还将研究弹性表面和两亲性表面在调节颗粒自组装中的作用，以及颗粒聚集在决定软界面的机械和弹性性质中的作用。以系统的方式设计粒子相互作用以针对所需的晶体的能力，以及操纵微观弹性板的机械性能的前景，将是具有重要实际意义的结果。这一研究成果将为合理设计具有新颖的光学、力学和功能特性的结构开辟道路。这个职业奖项的教育方面是多方面的。一个主要目标是通过改善附近哈莱姆高中的K-12课程活动，增加未被充分代表的群体对科学的参与，特别是在化学方面。PI还计划开发多平台互动教育软件，以视频游戏的特殊形式，向全国初中和高中免费提供。这种方法的前提是，主动学习和互动将是激励和激励下一代科学家的关键。这一外展计划建立在哥伦比亚大学技术、创新和社区参与中心的框架之上，并补充了化学系和大学为接触哈莱姆社区所做的持续努力。非技术总结这个职业奖项支持一个研究和教育相结合的计划，以开发能够预测分子构建块如何自组装成三维材料结构的理论和计算方法。这种方法可以应用于许多材料系统，一些典型的例子包括：蛋白质在大分子尺度上聚集成功能性生物机器，形成病毒的蛋白质外壳，大分子包装形成生物膜，以及组装纳米级粒子来制造光子晶体，光子晶体是为特殊光学特性而设计的晶体，如传输特定颜色的光和阻挡其他颜色的光。主要的研究目标包括开发数值工具来检查颗粒如何相互作用才能自组装成所需的复杂晶体结构，研究弹性表面或薄膜如何帮助颗粒自组装，以及如何利用软界面上的颗粒聚集来确定用作模板的材料的机械和弹性性质。这一研究成果为合理设计具有新颖光学、力学和功能特性的结构开辟了道路。该计划将建立在哥伦比亚大学对纳米技术领域的坚定承诺基础上。这个职业奖项的教育方面是多方面的。一个主要目标是通过改善附近哈莱姆高中的K-12课程活动，增加未被充分代表的群体对科学的参与，特别是在化学方面。PI还计划开发多平台互动教育软件，以视频游戏的特殊形式，向全国初中和高中免费提供。这种方法的前提是，主动学习和互动将是激励和激励下一代科学家的关键。这一外展计划建立在哥伦比亚大学技术、创新和社区参与中心的框架之上，并补充了化学系和大学为接触哈莱姆社区所做的持续努力。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5). TECHNICAL SUMMARYThis CAREER proposal supports an integrated research and education program that centers on solving problems involving colloidal particle self-assembly using theoretical and computational methods. Unlike most of the work done so far in the field that focuses on how order arises from given local interparticle interactions, this research will study the inverse problem of finding what local interactions are required for the building blocks to self-assemble into a given structure. Using this approach, new strategies will be developed to find particle interactions that are capable of generating specific crystal structures through self-assembly. The role of elastic and amphiphatic surfaces in mediating particle self-assembly and the role of particle aggregation in determining the mechanical and elastic properties of soft interfaces will also be studied. The ability to design particle interactions in a systematic fashion to target desired crystals, and the prospect of manipulating the mechanical properties of microscopic elastic sheets, will be results of great practical importance. The results of this research will help open the way to rational design of structures with novel optical, mechanical and functional properties. The educational aspects of this CAREER award are multifaceted. One major goal is to increase participation of underrepresented groups in the sciences and specifically in chemistry by improving K-12 curriculum activities in nearby Harlem high schools. The PI also plans to develop multi-platform interactive educational software, in the particular form of video games, that will be made freely available to middle and high schools nation wide. This approach is based on the premise that active learning and interactivity will be the key to motivate and inspire the next generation of scientists. This outreach program builds on the framework of the Center for Technology, Innovation, and Community Engagement at Columbia University, and complements the ongoing efforts of the Chemistry Department and the University to reach the Harlem community.NONTECHNICAL SUMMARYThis CAREER award supports a combined research and education program to develop theoretical and computational methods that can predict how molecular building blocks will self-assemble into three-dimensional materials structures. This approach could apply to many materials systems, some representative examples include: aggregation of proteins into functional biomachines on the scale of large molecules, formation of protein coats of viruses, packing of large molecules to form biological membranes, and assembly of nanometer scale particles to make photonic crystals, crystals engineered for specific optical properties, such as transmitting particular colors of light and blocking others. The major research objectives include the development of numerical tools to examine how particles need to interact with each other in order to self-assemble into a desired complex crystal structure, the study of how elastic surfaces or membranes can assist particle self-assembly, and the study of how particle clustering on soft interfaces can be used to determine the mechanical and elastic properties of materials used as templates. The results of this research could help open the way to rational design of structures with novel optical, mechanical and functional properties. This program will build on the strong commitment of Columbia University to the field of nanotechnology. The educational aspects of this CAREER award are multifaceted. One major goal is to increase participation of underrepresented groups in the sciences and specifically in chemistry by improving K-12 curriculum activities in nearby Harlem high schools. The PI also plans to develop multi-platform interactive educational software, in the particular form of video games, that will be made freely available to middle and high schools nation wide. This approach is based on the premise that active learning and interactivity will be the key to motivate and inspire the next generation of scientists. This outreach program builds on the framework of the Center for Technology, Innovation, and Community Engagement at Columbia University, and complements the ongoing efforts of the Chemistry Department and the University to reach the Harlem community.