BECS: Collaborative Research: Engineering Complex Self-Assembling Systems Composed of Interacting Patterned Polyhedra: Theory and Experiments

这个项目的目标是用实验和理论相结合的方法来研究相互作用的、精确图案化的多面体粒子。该建议的两个具体目标是：(1)了解立方体、平行四面体、四面体和十二面体等尺寸从10微米到1毫米的多面体的折叠路径和聚集；以及(2)开发由相互作用的具有精确图案化孔洞的释放多面体阵列组成的复杂化学反应-扩散系统模型。限制对复杂系统理解的关键挑战之一是物理上可实现的模型、实验系统和理论之间的鸿沟。这项研究通过构建具有技术重要性的实验系统来弥合这种鸿沟，并作为开发描述复杂现象的数学模型的模型实验系统。该项目将研究具有精确形状和表面图案的粒子之间的相互作用，这在晶体生长、胶体物理和自组装等广泛的科学和技术领域非常重要。这些目标在创造图案化的亚毫米级三维超材料和设备方面也很重要，这些材料和设备有望显示出新的光学和电学特性。这些研究还将使人们深入了解微米和纳米技术的新自组装技术。这个项目的另一个目标是研究图案多面体之间的相互作用，这些多面体释放化学物质，从而代表化学相互作用的粒子。这些研究将使PI朝着创造活性、可重构和自适应自组装材料更近一步，因为反馈和控制回路可以编码到耦合化学反应的动力学中。此外，化学释放粒子的研究对于解释生物学中的生长现象和图案形成具有重要意义。

The goal of this project is the investigation of interacting, precisely patterned polyhedral particles using a combination of experiment and theory. The two specific aims of the proposal are: (1) To understand folding pathways and aggregation of polyhedra such as cubes, parallelipipeds, tetrahedra and dodecahedra with sizes ranging from 10 microns to 1mm, and (2) To develop a model complex chemical reaction-diffusion system composed of arrays of interacting "chemical reactant'' releasing polyhedra with precisely patterned porosity. One of the key challenges limiting the understanding of complex systems is the chasm between physically realizable model experimental systems and theory. This research bridges this divide with the construction of experimental systems that are of technological importance, and also serve as model experimental systems for the development of mathematical models describing complex phenomenon. This project will study the interaction of particles with precise shape and surface patterning which is important in a broad range of scientific and technological areas such as crystal growth, colloidal physics and self-assembly. The goals are also of importance in the creation of patterned sub-millimeter scale three dimensional metamaterials and devices which are expected to display novel optical and electronic properties. The studies will also lend insight into new self-assembly techniques for micro and nanotechnology. Another goal of this project is to study the interaction of patterned polyhedra that release chemicals thereby representing chemically interacting particles.These studies will allow the PIs to take a step closer towards the creation of active, reconfigurable and adaptive self-assembling materials since feedback and control loops can be encoded into the kinetics of coupled chemical reactions. Moreover, the study of chemically releasing particles is important in explaining growth phenomena and pattern formation in biology.