CAREER: Heterogeneous and Competitive Self-assembly at Liquid-Liquid Interfaces

职业生涯：液-液界面的异质和竞争性自组装德州理工大学的Lenore L.Dai科学意义：微米或纳米物体在液-液界面的自组装在各种自然和工业应用中具有巨大的兴趣。该项目致力于以液-液界面上的非均质和竞争性自组装为中心的研究和教育相结合。首先，PI将使用Pickering乳液作为实验模板来研究非均相胶体晶格的自组装。二维胶体晶格将包含不同润湿性、大小和电荷的胶体颗粒。其次，PI将扩展Pickering乳液的概念，并使用固体颗粒来稳定双乳液(单物种固体颗粒在非均相界面上的自组装)。他们将研究颗粒大小、类型、浓度、离子强度和油水比对固体颗粒稳定的双重乳液结构和稳定性的影响。最后，他们将使用分子动力学模拟来研究纳米颗粒和表面活性剂在液-液界面上的异相或竞争性自组装。他们将模拟水-三氯乙烯界面以及其他液-液界面上不同浓度的纳米颗粒和表面活性剂。这项最先进的研究具有基础性和现实意义。液-液界面上的非均相和竞争性自组装在各种自然和工业过程中都是重要的。所提出的非均相胶体晶格有望为新材料功能化开辟新途径，并为凝聚态物理研究提供非均相二维实验模型。将Pickering乳液概念扩展到双乳液是颗粒的另一种创新用途，预计将克服目前双乳液的主要限制，这些限制阻碍了它们在实际和商业应用中的特性。纳米粒子和表面活性剂多相或竞争性自组装的分子动力学模拟将提供原位和分子信息，并更好地从根本上理解存在于许多工业过程中的现象，如采油、多层涂层和乳化技术。广泛影响：将实施研究和教育的整合，以实现NSF的两个战略成果：人和想法。由于对教育的坚定承诺，PI将在现有课程中建立与研究相关的开放式项目，促进本科生和研究生研究，建立一个新的暑期计划，以扩大代表不足群体的参与，参加教师培训学院，并促进技术转让。液-液界面上的非均相竞争自组装具有重要意义，具有广泛的实际应用前景。最后，但并非最不重要的是，该项目还提供了一个独特的机会，以满足国家对尖端研究领域的需求，该领域在21世纪具有显著扩展的潜力。

CAREER: Heterogeneous and Competitive Self-assembly at Liquid-Liquid InterfacesLenore L. Dai, Texas Tech UniversityScientific Significance: Self-assembly of micro- or nano- objects at liquid-liquid interfaces is of tremendous interests in various natural and industrial applications. This project focuses on integrating research and education centering on heterogeneous and competitive self-assembly at liquid-liquid interfaces. First, the PI will investigate the self-assembly of heterogeneous colloidal lattices using Pickering emulsions as an experimental template. The two-dimensional colloidal lattices will contain colloidal particles of different wettability, size, and charge. Second, the PI will expand the concept of Pickering emulsions and use solid particles to stabilize double emulsions (self-assembly of single species solid particles at heterogeneous interfaces). They will investigate the influences of particle size, type, concentration, ionic strength, and oil/water ratio on the structure and stability of double emulsions stabilized by solid particles. Finally, they will study the heterogeneous or competitive self-assembly of nanoparticles and surfactants at liquid-liquid interfaces using a molecular dynamics simulation. They will simulate different concentrations of nanoparticles and surfactants at water-trichloroethylene interfaces as well as other pairs of liquid-liquid interfaces. This state-of-the-art research is of both fundamental and practical significance. Heterogeneous and competitive self-assembly at liquid-liquid interfaces is important in various natural and industrial processes. The proposed heterogeneous colloidal lattices are anticipated to open new ways to functionalize novel materials and to provide heterogeneous 2-D experimental model for condensed matter physics study. The expansion of Pickering emulsion concept to double emulsions is another innovative usage for particles and is anticipated to overcome the current major limitation of double emulsions that inhibited them from featuring in practical and commercial applications. The molecular dynamics simulations of heterogeneous or competitive self-assembly of nanoparticles and surfactants will provide in-situ and molecular information and a better fundamental understanding of the phenomenon that exists in many industrial processes such as oil recovery, multi-layer coatings, and emulsion technology.Broader Impacts: The integration between research and education will be performed to meet the NSF's goals for two strategic outcomes: People and Ideas. With a strong commitment to education, the PI will establish research-related open-ended projects in the existing courses, promote undergraduate and graduate research, establish a new summer program to broaden the participation of under-represented groups, participate in the Teacher Training Institute, and promote technology transfer. Heterogeneous and competitive self-assembly at liquid-liquid interfaces are important and have widespread practical applications. Last, but not least, this project also provides a unique opportunity to meet the nation's need for a cutting-edge research area with the potential of significant expansion in the 21st century.