Elucidation of the Structure-Property Relations of Hybrid Particles and Their Assembly Structures

这笔赠款的研究目的是阐明决定聚合物接枝颗粒组件的结构和粘结性能的主导参数，并建立能够有效地对能够形成机械坚固的阵列结构的纳米颗粒进行分子工程的知识库。将纳米颗粒组装成阵列结构对于将纳米颗粒系统集成到从光伏到固态照明的各种应用的设备架构中至关重要。自组装颗粒阵列结构规模化生产的一个主要障碍是颗粒固体的脆性，它促进了加工过程中裂纹的形成。这项拟议的研究将建立一种新的方法，通过将聚合物配体结合到纳米颗粒表面来增强颗粒之间的结合作用。如果成功，拟议的研究将为轻松制造具有指定微观结构和增强性能的聚合物纳米复合材料提供新的机会，并推动一系列变革性的技术创新，例如，在固态照明领域，到2013年，仅这一领域的市场估计就将增长到143亿美元。这笔研究补助金将使一名研究生和几名本科生能够在聚合物和纳米材料的关键领域进行跨学科培训。与国家科学基金会资助的正在进行的项目的合作将促进少数族裔学生和代表不足的群体的参与。这笔研究补助金将支持教授一门新课程，并包括开发一个关于“可持续能源技术的纳米技术”的教师讲习班，以及“科学货车”计划的一个新模块，旨在支持匹兹堡地区资金不足的学校的STEM教育。

The research objective of this grant is to elucidate the governing parameters that determine the structure and cohesive properties of polymer-grafted particle assemblies and to establish the knowledge base that will enable the efficient molecular-engineering of nanoparticles that are capable to form mechanically robust array structures. The assembly of nanoparticles into array structures is of central importance to the integration of nanoparticle systems into device architectures for applications ranging from photovoltaics to solid state lighting. A major barrier in the scalable production of self-assembled particle array structures is the brittle nature of particle solids that promotes crack formation during the processing. The proposed study will establish a novel methodology to enhance the cohesive interactions between particles by binding of polymeric ligands to nanoparticle surfaces.If successful, the proposed research will provide new opportunities for the facile fabrication of polymer nanocomposites with prescribed microstructure and enhanced performance and fuel a range of transformative technological innovations, for example, in the area of solid state lighting for which alone the market is estimated to grow to $14.3B by 2013. This research grant will enable cross-disciplinary training for one graduate student and several undergraduate students in the critical areas of polymer and nanoscale materials. Collaboration with ongoing programs funded through the National Science Foundation will promote the participation of minority students and underrepresented groups. This research grant will support the teaching of a new course and encompass the development of a teacher workshop on "nanotechnologies for sustainable energy technologies" as well as a new module to "The Science Van" program that is aimed at supporting STEM education in underfunded schools in the Pittsburgh area.