NSF East Asia and Pacific Summer Institute (EAPSI) for FY 2013 in Japan

这项行动资助哈佛大学的Lauren Dell Zarzar于2013年夏天在日本东京文京区东京大学开展数学和物理科学领域的研究项目。这个项目的题目是在可变形的衬底中自组装机械响应液晶。主持人是加藤隆教授。对于许多存在强结构-功能关系的材料，定向自组装过程作为一种通过控制纳米级顺序来影响材料性能的一般方法显示出巨大的前景。液晶和其他材料的自组装是一个敏感的动态过程，其组装结构受到可调的内外参数的影响，其中之一是由几何约束引起的新的表面相互作用。具体来说，该项目侧重于在柔性纳米/微尺度3d图案表面上组装发光液晶。这类特殊液晶的发光颜色对分子的自组装结构很敏感。因此，本项目的重点是：1)某些表面和几何参数如何影响约束条件下液晶的初始组装顺序/颜色；2)这些几何参数的后续变化（如衬底变形）如何触发液晶分子的重组，形成具有不同性质的新自组装结构。利用合理设计的限制表面从外部触发材料的自我重组/组装的能力，可能会导致一种新型的、变革性的“智能”材料的发展，这种材料能够通过自组装机制适应外部压力。许多“智能”材料的发展可能会影响人们的日常生活，包括可穿戴技术、自我伪装表面和篡改报告标签。EAPSI奖学金的广泛影响包括为研究员提供美国以外的第一手研究经验；介绍该地区的科学、科学政策和科学基础设施；以及对社会、文化和语言的了解。这些活动符合美国国家科学基金会的目标，即在其科学家、工程师和教育工作者的职业生涯早期培养国际合作，从而确保美国科学劳动力具有全球意识。此外，这项研究的结果将通过演讲、出版物和公共宣传计划进行传播，包括开发一个动手演示，向年轻学生介绍液晶和自组装的概念。

This action funds Lauren Dell Zarzar of Harvard University to conduct a research project in the Math and Physical Sciences area during the summer of 2013 at the University of Tokyo in Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan. The project title is Self-Assembly of Mechanically-Responsive Liquid Crystals within Deformable Substrates." The host scientist is Professor Takashi Kato.For many materials where there exists a strong structure-function relationship, the process of directed self-assembly shows great promise as a general approach by which to influence materials properties via the control of nanoscale order. Self-assembly of liquid crystals, as well as other materials, is a sensitive dynamic process and the resulting assembled structure is affected by tunable external and internal parameters, one of which is the new surface interactions resulting from geometric confinement. Specifically, this project focuses on the assembly of luminescent liquid crystals within flexible nano/microscale 3D-patterned surfaces. The color of luminescence of this particular class of liquid crystals is sensitive to the self-assembled structure of the molecules. This project therefore focuses on 1) how certain surface and geometric parameters affect initial assembly order/color of the liquid crystals within confinement and 2) how subsequent changes in these geometric parameters (such as by substrate deformation) may trigger reorganization of the liquid crystal molecules into a new self-assembled structure with different properties. The ability to use rationally designed confining surfaces to externally trigger a material's self-reorganization/assembly could lead to the development of a novel, transformative class of "smart" materials capable of adapting to external pressures via self-assembling mechanisms. The development of numerous "smart" materials could impact every-day life, including wearable technologies, self-camouflaging surfaces, and tamper-reporting labels. Broader impacts of an EAPSI fellowship include providing the Fellow a first-hand research experience outside the U.S.; an introduction to the science, science policy, and scientific infrastructure of the respective location; and an orientation to the society, culture and language. These activities meet the NSF goal to educate for international collaborations early in the career of its scientists, engineers, and educators, thus ensuring a globally aware U.S. scientific workforce. Furthermore, the results of this research will be disseminated through presentation, publication, and public outreach programs, including the development of a hands-on demonstration that will introduce young students to the concepts of liquid crystals and self-assembly.