Molecular Motifs Governing Gemini Surfactant Self-Assembly into Complex Lyotropic Liquid Crystalline Phases

控制 Gemini 表面活性剂自组装成复杂溶致液晶相的分子基序

• 批准号: 1152347
• 负责人: Mahesh Mahanthappa
• 金额: $ 37.5万
• 依托单位: University of Wisconsin-Madison
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-08-15 至 2015-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1152347&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Molecular; Motifs; Governing; Gemini; Surfactant

In this project funded by the Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry Program of the Chemistry Division, Prof. Mahesh Mahanthappa of the University of Wisconsin-Madison will study the delicate balance of forces underpinning the self-assembly of gemini ("twin tail") amphiphiles in water to form nanostructured soft materials known as lyotropic liquid crystals (LLCs). By chemically synthesizing and characterizing the LLC phase behavior of a variety of structurally diverse gemini surfactants, Mahanthappa and co-workers will identify specific amphiphile structural motifs that direct gemini surfactants to spontaneously form aqueous bicontinuous LLCs. Bicontinuous LLCs are useful materials comprised of interpenetrating aqueous and hydrophobic domains that percolate in three-dimensions over macroscopic length scales.This work will enhance our understanding of the forces governing molecular self-assembly in water, which is of significant fundamental and practical importance. Discovery of new molecular design criteria favoring bicontinuous liquid crystal formation may have important implications in the design of new drug delivery materials and next generation membranes for water purification, fuel cells, and batteries. The broader impacts of this project will include training undergraduate and graduate students in the interdisciplinary area of organic materials chemistry, disseminating research results through scholarly publications and national conference presentations, and developing laboratory modules/demonstrations for high school seniors and college freshman to illustrate surfactant self-assembly in water toward the design of technologically useful, nanostructured materials.

在这个由化学系大分子，超分子和纳米化学项目资助的项目中，威斯康星大学麦迪逊分校的Mahesh Mahanthappa教授将研究支撑双子（“双尾”）自组装的微妙平衡力在水中形成纳米结构的软材料，称为溶致液晶（LLC）。 通过化学合成和表征各种结构不同的双子表面活性剂的LLC相行为，Mahanthappa及其同事将确定特定的两亲物结构基序，指导双子表面活性剂自发形成水性双连续LLC。 双连续液晶是一种由水相和疏水相相互渗透的结构域组成的三维结构的材料，这一工作将加深我们对分子在水中自组装的作用力的理解，具有重要的理论意义和实际意义。 有利于双连续液晶形成的新分子设计标准的发现可能在新药物递送材料和用于水净化、燃料电池和电池的下一代膜的设计中具有重要意义。该项目的更广泛的影响将包括在有机材料化学的跨学科领域培训本科生和研究生，通过学术出版物和全国会议演讲传播研究成果，并为高中毕业生和大学新生开发实验室模块/演示，以说明表面活性剂在水中的自组装，以设计技术上有用的纳米结构材料。