CAREER: Hierarchical Polymeric Hybrids - Lessons from Nature in Mechanical Behavior

技术概述：在自然界中发现的高性能材料，如胶原和蜘蛛丝，表现出层次化的结构排列，并包含增强的有序结构域，这导致了新的机械功能。这个职业项目的总体目标是利用生物启发的方法，特别是结合有序区域，产生具有可调机械性能的功能性聚合物杂化材料。多嵌段共聚物模仿了许多天然材料的微观结构，是探索的理想体系吗？多肽嵌段共聚物二级结构变化引起的结构域有序。PI将开发具有可控结构变化的含肽的聚合物杂化，以阐明分级有序性(二级结构；微相分离；超分子相互作用；结晶度)和结构相互作用对力学和形态行为的作用。在层次化组装杂化材料的研究中获得的基本结构-功能关系将推动新的聚合物材料体系的发展，这些材料体系具有为新兴应用量身定做的力学行为，如耐刮擦涂层、复合材料抗冲击薄膜/纤维和多功能组织工程支架。非技术摘要：具有仿生结构和可调机械响应的杂化聚合物材料的开发将影响用于能量吸收和高强度应用的下一代材料的设计，如抗冲击板、抗刮擦涂层和耐用织物。这一多学科研究、教育和外展职业计划为高中、研究生和本科生研究人员提供了一个独特的培训和指导平台。PI还将把以自然为灵感的设计、分层组装和机械行为的概念融入到新的和现有的本科和研究生课程中。已经提出了创新和有影响力的外展方案，包括1)为对科学、技术、工程和数学(STEM)感兴趣的代表不足的妇女建立一个指导网络--Sister 2 Sister；2)与公民建立伙伴关系？这些活动包括：a)科罗拉多科学与技术学院，这是一所K-5特许学校，位于凯斯西储大学校区附近的大学圈地区，提供探索聚合物世界的机会，支持科学俱乐部的活动和课程开发；3)STEM的多面孔活动，为主要来自代表不足群体的克利夫兰地区的中学生提供接触日，以激发人们对STEM学科的兴趣，并促进与来自相似背景的STEM榜样的互动。

TECHNICAL SUMMARY:High performance materials found in nature, such as collagen and spider silk, exhibit a hierarchical structural arrangement and contain reinforcing, ordered domains, which lead to novel mechanical function. The overall aim of this CAREER project is to utilize a bio-inspired approach, particularly the incorporation of ordered regions, to generate functional, polymeric hybrids with tunable mechanical properties. Multi-block copolymers, which mimic the microstructure of numerous natural materials, are ideal systems with which to explore ?soft? domain ordering via variations in secondary structure of polypeptide-based block copolymers. The PI will develop peptide-containing polymeric hybrids with controlled structural variations to elucidate the role of hierarchical ordering (secondary structure; microphase segregation; supramolecular interactions; crystallinity) and structural interplay on mechanical and morphological behavior. The fundamental structure-function relationships obtained in this examination of hierarchically-assembled hybrids will drive the development of new polymeric material systems with tailored mechanical behavior for emerging applications, such as scratch-resistant coatings, impact-resistant films/fibers for composites, and multi-functional tissue engineering scaffolds.NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY:The development of hybrid polymeric materials with a bio-inspired architecture and tunable mechanical response will impact the design of next generation materials for energy-absorption and high strength applications, such as impact-resistant panels, scratch-resistant coatings, and durable fabrics. This multi-disciplinary research, educational, and outreach CAREER plan provides a unique training and mentoring platform for high school, graduate, and undergraduate researchers. The PI will also incorporate concepts of nature-inspired design, hierarchical assembly, and mechanical behavior into new and existing undergraduate and graduate courses. Innovative and impactful outreach programs have been proposed, including 1) a mentoring network, Sister 2 Sister, for underrepresented women interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM); 2) a partnership with Citizens? Academy, an urban K-5 charter school in the University Circle area adjacent to the Case Western Reserve University campus, to provide opportunities to explore the world of polymers, support Science Club activities and curriculum development; and 3) Many Faces of STEM, an exposure day for Cleveland-area middle school students from primarily underrepresented groups, to spur an interest in STEM disciplines and to promote interaction with STEM role models from similar backgrounds.