Cooperation with Germany: Studies of Polyelectrolyte Brushes in Confined Environments

与德国合作：聚电解质刷在密闭环境中的研究

• 批准号: 1306467
• 负责人: Christopher Ober
• 金额: $ 39万
• 依托单位: Cornell University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-09-01 至 2016-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1306467&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Cooperation; Germany; Studies; Polyelectrolyte; Brushes

In this project funded by the Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry Program of the Chemistry Division, Christopher Ober of Cornell University will study the physical chemistry of polyelectrolyte brushes. This work includes an international collaboration with Prof. Jurgen Ruhe of the University of Freiburg, Germany. Prof. Ruhe's work will be funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG). Polyelectrolyte brushes are of particular interest because they feature both confinement, which forces the polymer chains into a largely stretched conformation, and the presence of charges along the polymer backbones. The international team will investigate how the swelling of polyelectrolyte brushes scales with the size of a nanostructure produced using advanced lithography and how the system transitions from swelling of a two-dimensional pattern into swelling of a three-dimensional structure. Furthermore, the team will characterize the effects of brush height, charge and density on interactions with soluble species and establish what are promising strategies to stabilize polyelectrolyte brush structures and prevent "entropic death," that is the entropy induced breakage of chains from the brush surface. The broader impacts involve active international exchanges exposing graduate students and associated undergraduate researchers to a global research partnership. Additionally, summer schools will be hosted on specific topics that enable a deeper consideration of the types of problems encountered in the study of polymer brushes.Polymers are long chain organic molecules and are found in many facets of everyday life that utilize plastics, including food packaging, structural materials for automotive and aerospace transportation, and lightweight electronic devices. Nature uses charged polymer films at interfaces to control lubrication, to limit biofouling, and to aid in keeping surfaces wet. This research seeks to develop and understand stable, sustainable surface structures that undergo controlled interactions with soluble, synthetic or biological materials. Through development of new chemical components and process strategies, this research could lead to better materials for biomedical devices, environmental and medical sensors, and environmentally friendly coatings.

在由化学部的大分子，超分子和纳米化学计划资助的项目中，康奈尔大学的克里斯托弗·奥伯（Christopher Ober）将研究多电解质刷的物理化学。这项工作包括与德国弗莱堡大学的尤尔根·鲁赫教授的国际合作。 Ruhe教授的作品将由Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft（DFG）资助。 聚电解质刷特别令人感兴趣，因为它们既具有限制性，又迫使聚合物链变成大量拉伸的构象，并且沿聚合物骨架沿着聚合物的存在。国际团队将研究与使用高级光刻产生的纳米结构大小的聚电解质刷的肿胀，以及系统如何从二维模式肿胀到三维结构的肿胀。此外，团队将表征刷子高度，电荷和密度对与可溶物种相互作用的影响，并确定稳定聚电解质刷子结构并防止“熵死亡”的有希望的策略，这是熵导致的链从刷表面断裂。更广泛的影响涉及将研究生和相关的本科研究人员暴露于全球研究合作伙伴关系的积极交流。此外，暑期学校将由特定主题举办，可以更深入地考虑聚合物刷研究中遇到的问题类型。聚合物是长链有机分子，在日常生活的许多方面都可以使用塑料，包括食品包装，包括食品包装，包括自动和航天运输的结构材料，用于汽车和航空航天运输和轻量级电子设备。 大自然在界面上使用带电的聚合物膜来控制润滑，限制生物污染并有助于保持表面潮湿。 这项研究旨在发展和理解与可溶性，合成或生物材料进行控制相互作用的稳定，可持续的表面结构。 通过开发新的化学组件和过程策略，这项研究可以为生物医学设备，环境和医疗传感器以及环保涂料提供更好的材料。