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

该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的东京大学进行数学和物理科学领域的研究项目。 该项目的标题是自组装的机械响应液晶内变形基板。“主持科学家是Takashi Kato教授。对于许多存在强结构-功能关系的材料，定向自组装过程显示出很大的希望，作为一种通过控制纳米级顺序来影响材料性能的通用方法。液晶和其他材料的自组装是一个敏感的动态过程，所得到的组装结构受到可调的外部和内部参数的影响，其中之一是由几何约束引起的新的表面相互作用。具体而言，该项目的重点是在柔性纳米/微米级3D图案化表面内组装发光液晶。这种特殊类型的液晶的发光颜色对分子的自组装结构敏感。因此，该项目的重点是1）某些表面和几何参数如何影响限制内液晶的初始组装顺序/颜色，以及2）这些几何参数的后续变化（例如通过基板变形）如何触发液晶分子重组为具有不同特性的新自组装结构。 使用合理设计的限制表面从外部触发材料的自重组/组装的能力可能会导致开发一种新型的、变革性的“智能”材料，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日常生活，包括可穿戴技术，自组装表面和篡改报告标签。EAPSI奖学金的更广泛的影响包括为研究员提供美国以外的第一手研究经验;介绍各自所在地的科学，科学政策和科学基础设施;以及社会，文化和语言的方向。 这些活动符合NSF的目标，即在科学家，工程师和教育工作者的职业生涯早期进行国际合作教育，从而确保具有全球意识的美国科学工作者。 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.