Collaborative Research: Direct exploration of new nanoscale structures using a microfluidic chip integrated with cryo-TEM

这个与纳米相关的合作研究项目开发了一种新的设备，将微流控芯片与受控环境玻璃化系统(CEVS)集成在一起，以了解有机和无机纳米结构在重要但以前未被探索的体系中的自组装。低温透射电子显微镜将被用来直接成像在高度可控的条件下形成的纳米级结构，这是微流体的特征。使用这种集成系统的第一个版本，我们已经发现了一种具有重要意义的胶束-囊泡转变的新结构途径。研究的具体目标是：(1)设计和开发一种新型的微流控芯片--低温透射电子显微镜装置，以实现短时间(亚秒)的样品筛选。新的设计将使样品输送自动化，并消除在玻璃化之前用来稀释样品的吸墨法步骤。这一变化将是变革性的，因为它将使人们能够探索在新的时间区域中形成的纳米结构，这些纳米结构对于从根本上重新理解几个重要的物理过程是至关重要的，这项工作将研究两类过程。(2)探索无机体系中结构形成的早期阶段(成核之前)，以及结构演变如何可以被聚合物控制。了解前体结构对于生物矿化领域的进展以及用于水处理的新型杂化材料和添加剂的开发(例如用于海水淡化的结垢抑制剂)至关重要。(3)确定结构演变保险系统的过渡状态和动力学。这项工作将有助于更好地理解影响软胶体系微观结构的基本性质，最终允许更精确地控制这些材料的最终性质。广泛影响这项研究的范围将从表面活性剂自组装到材料科学。在远程应用方面，这项工作还可以帮助开发药物输送技术和水处理。这项研究扩大了布朗大学的微流体小组和URI的软物质小组与巴斯夫的聚合物物理/晶体生长小组之间的密切合作，通过巴斯夫/哈佛倡议在哈佛大学工作。从事这个项目的研究生将参与实验设计和制作以及关键实验，这些实验提供了对过程的新的基本理解，这些过程也有重要的应用。考虑到对昂贵的商业分析仪器的典型依赖，这种范围的体验将是独一无二的。这项研究的材料与URI和Brown教授的两门课程直接相关，并将在可用时纳入课程作业。PIS将为高中生和本科生开发一个教育项目，展示微流体的关键特征以及自组装系统的热力学和动力学，目的是提高和保持他们对科学和工程的兴趣。利用Browns和URIS办公室促进少数族裔学生的发展，将为这个项目寻找来自代表性不足群体的研究生和本科生。

0854115Bose"This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5)."Intellectual meritThis nano related collaborative research program develops a new device integrating a microfluidic chip with a controlled environment vitrification system (CEVS) to understand self assembly of organic and inorganic nanostructures in important, but previously unexplored regimes. Cryogenic transmission electron microscopy will be used to directly image nanoscale structures that are formed under the highly controlled conditions that are characteristic of microfluidics. Using the first version of such an integrated system, we have already uncovered a new structural pathway for a micelle-vesicle transition that has important implications. The specific aims of the proposed research are:(1) Design and develop a new microfluidic chip-cryo-TEM setup to enable short time (sub-second) sample screening. The new design will automate sample delivery and eliminate the blotting step used to thin the sample prior to vitrification. This change will be transformative as it will allow one to explore nanostructures formed in new temporal regimes that are vital for a fundamental new understanding of several important physical processes, two classes of which will be investigated in this work.(2) Explore the early stages of structure formation (preceding nucleation) in inorganic systems and how the structural evolution can be controlled by polymers understanding precursor structures is essential for progress in the field of biomineralization as well as for the development of new hybrid materials and additives used in water treatment (for example, encrustation inhibitors for seawater desalination).(3) Determine transition states and dynamics of structural evolution insurfactant systems. This work will lead to a better comprehension of fundamental properties that affect microstructures in soft colloidal systems, eventually allowing more precise control of the final properties of these materials.Broader impactThe impact of this research will be broad, ranging from surfactant self-assembly to materials science. In terms of long range applications, the work could also assist in developing drug delivery techniques and water treatment. This research expands a strong collaboration between a microfluidics group at Brown University and a soft matter group at URI with a polymer physics/crystal growth group at BASF, working at Harvard University through the BASF/Harvard initiative. The graduate students working on this project will be involved in experimental design and fabrication and key experiments that provide new fundamental understanding of processes that also have significant applications. Given the typical reliance on expensive commercially available analytical devices, this range of experience will be unique. Material from this research is directly relevant for two courses taught at URI and Brown, and will be incorporated into coursework as it becomes available. The PIs will develop an educational program that demonstrates key features of microfluidics and the thermodynamics and kinetics of self-assembling systems for high school and undergraduate students, with the goal of raising and maintaining their interest in science and engineering. Using both Browns and URIs offices for minority student development, graduate and undergraduate students from underrepresented groups will be sought for this project.