Self-Recognition in the Self-Assembly of Hydrophilic Macroionic Solutions

在这个由化学系大分子、超分子和纳米化学计划资助的项目中，阿克伦大学的刘天波将探索可溶大离子的性质，这些大离子代表了简单离子和大胶体之间缺失的一环。这项研究有三个组成部分：首先，将进行实验，以确定在极端条件下，如电荷、形状、额外配体或中心金属离子的微小差异，是否可以实现宏观离子的自我识别。在第二部分中，我们将研究对映体大离子和手性反离子(或共阴离子)之间的自识别。最后，将探讨自识别特性在材料科学中的潜在应用，如分离/提纯功能材料或手性催化。拟议的工作可能会对其他研究领域产生影响，如物理化学、超分子化学、生物化学、材料科学和纳米技术。该项目还包括培训研究生和本科生，以及访问当地高中，与学生互动，鼓励他们参加全国性的科学竞赛，并在未来追求科学事业。自我识别涉及一个分子或更大的实体，它可以在解决方案或甚至更复杂的混合物中选择性地识别并与自己联系。这一现象在生物和化学系统中是一种普遍而关键的行为，并导致许多重要的性质。本研究旨在进一步了解溶液中大离子(超大带电分子)的自我识别行为，以增强我们对自我识别是如何发生的，这种现象背后的关键驱动力是什么，以及是否可以在模拟生物的化学过程中实现自我识别的基础知识。这项研究可以为科学家提供更多的证据来理解某些未解决的生物过程，并可能导致潜在的应用，如催化材料或用于分离和纯化的材料。

In this project funded by the Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry Program of the Chemistry Division, Tianbo Liu of the University of Akron will explore the properties of soluble macroions which represent a missing link between simple ions and large colloids. The research has three components: first, experiments will be performed to determine whether the self-recognition of macroions can be achieved under extreme conditions, such as tiny differences in charge, shape, extra ligands or center metal ions. In the second part, self-recognition amongst enantiomeric macroions and chiral counterions (or co-anions) will be studied. Finally, potential applications of the self-recognition feature in materials science, such as separating/purifying functional materials or chiral catalysis will be pursued. The proposed work could have impacts on other research fields, such as physical chemistry, supramolecular chemistry, biochemistry, materials sciences and nanotechnology. The project also involves training graduate and undergraduate students, as well as visiting local high schools to interact with the students and encourage them to participate in national science competitions and to pursue scientific careers in the future.Self-recognition involves a molecule, or larger entity, that can selective "recognize" and associate with itself in solution or even a more complex mixture. This phenomenon is a universal and critical behavior in biological and chemical systems and leads to many important properties. This research seeks to further understand the self-recognition behavior of macroions (very large charged molecules) in solution, in order to enhance our fundamental knowledge of how the self-recognition occurs, what are the critical driving forces behind this phenomenon, and whether it can be achieved in chemical process that mimic biological ones. This research could provide scientists additional evidence to understand certain unsolved biological processes and might lead to potential applications such as catalytic materials or materials for separations and purification.