Responsive Branched Miktoarm and Ionic-Liquid Materials

新颖的自适应和响应聚合物材料代表了一类有趣的软纳米材料，具有有趣的性质。PI将研究一类纳米材料，这些材料的分子也包括含有电荷的分子分支。它们提供了一种独特的能力，可以在微弱的外部刺激下改变它们的物理性质，比如改变化学环境、温度或其他因素。PI将专注于使用先进的表征技术来理解这些软纳米材料的分子行为。这些材料的变形和自组装使其具有局部大分子形状和纳米级性质，这使得它们在环境友好加工、能量收集、药物控制释放、自适应表面和离子交换选择膜方面具有很强的应用前景。该项目的另一个主要组成部分是研究生参与跨学科基础研究，以及与美国和国外国家实验室的合作。该项目的研究和教育方面促进了国家利益。技术概述：该项目重点组装具有双型反应臂的多反应型密臂嵌段共聚物，以及具有特殊离子传输性质的新型支链低聚物和聚合物离子液体。PI采用了一种全面的战略方法，通过确定单个大分子及其组装在凝聚态中的行为来理解整体材料的性质。将特别关注相变过程中的分子重组和单个臂的线圈球坍缩。将研究聚合物臂组成和长度、臂数和大分子拓扑结构对其整体和局部构象、分子内状态以及在稀溶液和界面表面层内的响应行为的影响。这些材料的构象、微观结构和形态将与它们的机械性能和渗透性结合起来考虑，重点是定制离子和大分子运输。通过加强对研究生和本科生的培训，通过积极招募代表性不足的群体，以及与美国和欧洲的聚合物化学和材料实验室的密切合作，重点是他们早期参与跨学科的基础研究，预计该项目将产生更广泛的影响。

NON TECHNICAL SUMMARYNovel adaptive and responsive polymeric materials represent an intriguing class of soft nanomaterials with interesting properties. The PI will investigate a class of these nanomaterials whose molecules also include molecular branches that contain electrical charges. These provide a unique ability to alter their physical properties under weak external stimuli such as changing chemical environment, temperature, or others. The PI will be focusing on the understanding of the molecular behavior of these soft nanomaterials using advanced characterization techniques. The morphing and self-assembly of these materials so as to adopt local macromolecular shapes and nanoscale properties makes them strong candidates for prospective applications in environmentally-friendly processing, energy harvesting, controlled drug release, adaptive surfaces, and ion-exchange selective membranes. Another major component of this project is the involvement of the graduate students in cross-disciplinary fundamental research, as well as collaborations with national labs in the US and abroad. The research and educational aspects of this project promote the national interest.TECHNICAL SUMMARYThe project focuses on the assembly of multi-responsive miktoarm block copolymers with dual-type responsive arms as well as novel classes of branched oligomeric and polymeric ionic liquids with peculiar ionic transport properties. The PI adopts a comprehensive strategic approach to the understanding of global materials properties by ascertaining the behavior of individual macromolecules and their assemblies in the condensed confined state. Special attention will be paid to molecular reorganization during phase transformations and coil-globule collapse of individual arms. The effect of polymer arm composition and length, arm number and macromolecular topology on their global and local conformation, intramolecular state, and responsive behavior in dilute solutions and within interfacial surface layers will be investigated. Conformation, microstructure, and morphology of these materials will be considered in conjunction with their mechanical properties and permeability with emphasis on tailored ionic and macromolecular transport. A broader impact of this project is anticipated through the enhanced training of graduate and undergraduate students with an emphasis on their early involvement in an interdisciplinary, fundamental research with active recruitment of underrepresented groups and intense collaboration with polymer chemistry and materials labs in the USA and Europe.