Exploiting the Low Dimensional Physics of Incompressible Particles to Tailor the Stability and Morphology of Finite Phases Through Designed Surface Energies

该奖项由阿克伦大学材料研究部的聚合物项目授予，旨在研究由不可压缩纳米颗粒和均聚物（可结晶和均聚物）制备的混合材料的结构-功能关系。 平面和曲面上的二维相变的研究，以及使用与这些新的均聚物-纳米颗粒混合物相关的二维相变来控制胶束的稳定性，形态和过渡途径是该项目的一部分。 使用层状晶体的专门设计和合成的颗粒结晶均聚物和共聚物生长在稀溶液中，拟议的研究将创建一个平面基板与颗粒紧密拴系到表面使用这些？三明治？单晶体由于分子量接近单分散，拴系颗粒在表面上将具有均匀且可控的体积分数。监测在不同的结晶温度下的层状晶体厚度的变化将使理论和技术上重要的2-D相变的定量调查。将生长混合线性二嵌段共聚物的层状单晶，其中两个不混溶的、不可结晶的末端将位于单晶的相对基底表面。 新开发的方法来创建使用粒子可结晶聚合物的拴系粒子基板将提供精确控制的系统，将提供显着的洞察低维相变，这将是一个重要的贡献，以前开发的理论。此外，结合粒子和聚合物物理学的知识将使材料的开发具有精确控制的粒子界面体积分数，嵌段分子量，嵌段化学和分子结构。该项目预计将增强知识基础，以发展对软材料物理学的进一步理解，以及它们在晶体，表面和胶束中的行为。 拟议的研究将使研究生和本科生接触先进软材料的主题，同时促进跨学科的研究方法。 作为该项目的一部分，还计划通过“数学/科学向上拓展”和“天才高中生暑期荣誉学院”方案招募和培训天才和代表性不足的高中生。

This award by the Polymer program in the Division of Materials Research to University of Akron is to study the structure-functional relationships of hybride materials prepared from incompressible nanoparticles and homopolymers - both crystallizable and homopolymers. Study of 2-D phase transitions on flat and curved surfaces, and use of the 2-D phase transitions associated with these novel homopolymer-nanoparticle hybrides to control the stability, morphology and transitional pathways of micelles are parts of this project. Using lamellar crystals of specifically designed and synthesized particles-crystallizable homo- and copolymers grown in dilute solution, the proposed research will create a flat substrate with particles closely tethered to the surface using these ?sandwiched? single crystals. With near monodispersed molecular weight, the tethered particle will possess a uniform and controllable volume fraction on the surface. Monitoring the lamellar crystal thickness changes at different crystallization temperatures will enable a quantitative investigation of theoretically and technologically important 2-D phase transitions. Lamellar single crystals of hybride linear diblock copolymers, where the two immiscible, non-crystallizable ends will be located at opposite basal surfaces of the single crystal, will be grown. The newly developed method to create the tethered particle substrates using particle-crystallizable polymers would provide precisely controlled systems that will give significant insight into low dimensional phase transitions which will be an important contribution to the previously developed theories. In addition, combining knowledge from both particle and polymer physics would enable the development of materials with accurately controlled particle interfacial volume fractions, block molecular weights, block chemistries, and molecular architectures.The project is expected to enhance the knowledge base in developing additional understanding of soft materials physics in general and their behavior in crystals, on surfaces and on micelles. The proposed research would be exposing graduate and undergraduate student to topics in advanced soft materials while promoting an interdisciplinary approach to research. Recruiting and training of gifted and underrepresented high school students through "Upward Bound Math/Science" and "Summer Honors Institute for Gifted High School Students" programs are also planned as part of this project.