Nanoscale Fluctuations and Responses in Complex Materials

技术摘要：在这个项目中，我们将使用我们实验室和其他实验室开发的基于原子力显微镜(AFM)的技术来探测纳米尺度上的局部介电和机械涨落和响应。这些课程将应用于几种材料，目的是研究玻璃化转变的基本物理、非平衡统计物理和材料的纳米物理。拟议的工作将包括以下三个主要部分：(A)将在玻璃材料中研究纳米尺度的时空动力学，以寻找在领先的玻璃化转变理论中起主导作用的动态关联长度尺度；(B)对涨落和响应的测量将使我们能够测试各种材料在平衡和非平衡状态下的全局和局部涨落-耗散关系(FDR)的有效性；以及(C)纳米介电光谱将用于研究聚合物和聚合物共混物中的近表面聚合物动力学。这次国际合作，将与西班牙的DIPC交换美国本科生国际合作组织的学生和其他研究人员。他们将获得宝贵的纳米科学方面的国际经验和培训。尤其是发展一种可靠的纳米介电光谱方法，将对聚合物材料科学领域产生广泛的影响。非技术摘要：未来几年，我们的经济将严重依赖高科技创新，特别是在纳米技术、信息技术和可再生能源方面。国际合作在许多情况下可能是有益的。太阳能和燃料电池技术都强烈依赖于先进的纳米结构聚合物材料。这些行业越来越需要了解和预测纳米尺度(一排5到10个原子)上的材料性质。研究人员越来越意识到材料性质在纳米尺度上随位置或时间变化的重要性。我们探索这些材料的局部性质的能力的进步使我们有可能对这些性质和复杂材料的物理得到更深入的了解和更好的控制。在这个项目中，将使用新的纳米介电成像和光谱技术来探测聚合物共混物等纳米结构材料的性能变化。该项目将与西班牙实验室交换美国本科国际合作项目学生和其他研究人员，以促进合作项目，并在实验室之间交换信息、材料和技能。学生将获得宝贵的纳米科学方面的国际经验和培训。尤其是发展一种可靠的纳米介电光谱方法，将对聚合物材料科学领域产生广泛的影响。

Technical Abstract: In this project we will use techniques developed in our lab, and by others, based on atomic-force microscopy (AFM) to probe local dielectric and mechanical fluctuations and responses on nanometer length scales. These will be applied to several materials with the objective of investigating the fundamental physics of the glass transition, non-equilibrium statistical physics, and nanophysics of materials. The proposed work will include the following three main components: (a) Nanoscale spatio-temporal dynamics will be studied in glassy materials in a search for growing dynamical correlation length scales, which play a dominant role in leading glass transition theories; (b) Measurement of both fluctuations and responses will allow us to test the validity of the global and local fluctuation-dissipation-relation (FDR) in equilibrium and out-of equilibrium in various materials; and (c) Nanodielectric spectroscopy will be used to study near-surface polymer dynamics in polymers and polymer blends. This international collaboration, will exchange U.S. undergraduate international co-op students and other researchers with the DIPC in Spain. They will receive invaluable international experience and training in nanosciences. Development of a reliable method for nanodielectric spectroscopy in particular would have a broad impact on the field of polymer materials science. Non-technical Abstract: In the coming years, our economy will depend heavily on high-tech innovations, particularly in nanotechnology, information technology, and renewable energy. International cooperation may be beneficial in many cases. Both solar and fuel-cell technologies rely strongly on advanced, nanostructured polymeric materials. Such industries are have an increasing need to understand and predict material properties on nanometer length scales (a row of 5 to 10 atoms). Researchers are increasingly aware of the importance of variations of material properties with position or time, on the nanoscale. Advances in our ability to explore local properties in these materials makes it possible to gain a deeper understanding and better control of these properties and the physics of complex materials. In this project new nanodielectric imaging and spectroscopy techniques will be used to probe property variations in nano-structured materials such as polymer blends. This project will exchange U.S. undergraduate international co-op students and other researchers with a Spanish lab in order to facilitate collaborative projects and to exchange information, materials and skills between the labs. Students will receive invaluable international experience and training in nano-sciences. Development of a reliable method for nanodielectric spectroscopy in particular would have a broad impact on the field of polymer materials science.