IDR: Emergent Assembly & Patterning of Dynamic Catalytic Motor Systems

IDR：紧急装配

• 批准号: 1014673
• 负责人: Darrell Velegol
• 金额: $ 60万
• 依托单位: Pennsylvania State Univ University Park
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-09-15 至 2013-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1014673&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: IDR; Emergent; Assembly; & Patterning

1014673VelegolCatalytic motors are a novel class of nano- and microscale particles and assemblies that convert chemical energy to mechanical energy. The proposed work builds on the initial experimentation in the area of catalytic motors an existing collaboration between the PIs Darrell Velegol and Ayusman Sen in the Departments of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry at The Pennsylvania State University. These catalytic motors are multiphase nanoparticles that catalyze reactions resulting in their motion through solution. These motions can be influenced by chemical gradients and by light. Individually the motors move in a random direction at speeds of tens of microns/sec, and the transport physics has been studied and modeled by the research groups. Collectively, the motors give complex behaviors similar to the chemotaxis, phototaxis, or even predator-prey phenomena normally seen only in biological systems. This is apparently the first observation of this phenomenon outside living systems. Because of the continuous input of energy due to the catalytic reaction, these are driven systems that operate far from equilibrium. Thus, hierarchical or dynamic pattern formation can result within the collection of particles. The PIs have done sufficient prior work to demonstrate that they do observe very interesting collective motion of the particles. These motions are of a variety of different types and are of potential use in building both static and dynamic nanostructures. The proposed work makes use of novel nanoparticle syntheses and measurements of particle motion, combined with electrokinetics modeling of the motion, in order to predict behavior.The PIs state the overarching goal is to establish principles for manipulating energy and information on the nano- and micron scales to create patterns of materials, leading toward technologies with capabilities perhaps even rivaling those of living things. This allows the PIs to pose questions such as: Can we design particle systems from which complex patterns emerge? Can we use patterns to quickly assess the quality/variability of individual catalysts? Can we pattern materials that change dynamically in time? Velegol and Sen have done a very nice job of relating their observations to types of motions and collective behaviors observed in microbial systems, which adds to the attractiveness of the project.Since the work has high visual impact as well as significant fundamental content, the subject provides powerful outreach opportunities including graduate student education, undergraduate participation, and involvement with the Upward Bound Math and Science program at Penn State, which does outreach to urban school districts. The undergraduates seem to have a very positive research experience and this has resulted in a number of them attending some of the best graduate programs in the country. The PIs have demonstrated excellent ability to work together and to encourage their research groups to work together. The work will gain broad exposure in premier materials, chemistry, and physics journals, and through presentations at major scientific conferences. Interdisciplinary research. This project combines cutting edge colloidal chemistry - including the synthesis,fabrication,functionalization and catalysis - with cutting edge colloidal physics - including auto-electrokinetic phenomena and simulations. This research also impacts both graduate and undergraduate students by requiring highly multidisciplinary work. Students will learn cutting-edge techniques employed in chemistry, chemical engineering, and nanofabrication, as well as modeling strategies for dynamic systems. Velegol and Sen propose a project which exemplifies the interdisciplinary nature of modern advanced fundamental science programs.

1014673 Velegol催化马达是一类新型的纳米和微米级颗粒和组件，可将化学能转化为机械能。拟议的工作建立在催化发动机领域的初步实验基础上，这是宾夕法尼亚州立大学化学工程和化学系的PI Darrell Velegol和Ayusman Sen之间的现有合作。这些催化发动机是多相纳米颗粒，催化反应，导致它们在溶液中运动。这些运动可以受到化学梯度和光的影响。单独的马达以几十微米/秒的速度在随机方向上移动，并且研究小组已经研究和建模了传输物理学。总的来说，这些马达产生了类似于趋化性、趋光性甚至是通常只在生物系统中看到的捕食者-被捕食者现象的复杂行为。这显然是在生命系统之外首次观察到这种现象。由于催化反应导致能量的连续输入，这些是远离平衡运行的驱动系统。因此，分层或动态图案形成可在颗粒集合内产生。PI已经做了足够的前期工作来证明他们确实观察到了非常有趣的粒子集体运动。这些运动是各种不同类型的，并且在构建静态和动态纳米结构中具有潜在的用途。这项工作利用新型纳米粒子合成和粒子运动的测量，结合运动的电动力学模型，以预测行为。PI表示，首要目标是建立在纳米和微米尺度上操纵能量和信息的原则，以创建材料模式，导致技术的能力甚至可以与生物相媲美。这使得PI可以提出这样的问题：我们可以设计出复杂模式出现的粒子系统吗？我们能否使用模式来快速评估单个催化剂的质量/可变性？我们能对随时间动态变化的材料进行图案化吗？Velegol和Sen在将他们的观察与微生物系统中观察到的运动和集体行为类型联系起来方面做得非常好，这增加了项目的吸引力。由于这项工作具有很高的视觉冲击力以及重要的基础内容，该主题提供了强大的推广机会，包括研究生教育，本科生参与，并参与了宾夕法尼亚州立大学的数学和科学项目，该项目与城市学区进行了外联。本科生似乎有一个非常积极的研究经验，这导致他们中的一些人参加了一些最好的研究生课程在该国。PI表现出出色的合作能力，并鼓励他们的研究小组一起工作。这项工作将在主要的材料，化学和物理期刊上获得广泛的曝光，并通过在主要科学会议上的演讲。跨学科研究。 该项目结合了尖端的胶体化学-包括合成，制造，功能化和催化-与尖端的胶体物理学-包括自动电动现象和模拟。这项研究也影响研究生和本科生，需要高度多学科的工作。学生将学习化学，化学工程和纳米纤维中使用的尖端技术，以及动态系统的建模策略。 Velegol和Sen提出了一个项目，该项目体现了现代先进基础科学项目的跨学科性质。