CAREER: Morphological Control of Crystalline Materials Using Deformations of Elastomeric Substrates and Fluid Flow for the Bottom-up Fabrication of Hybrid Materials

非技术摘要将硬材料(陶瓷或半导体)和软材料(聚合物)组合成一个单一的结构，使技术(例如，软电子和低成本传感器)具有新的形式和功能，有望广泛影响医疗保健、消费电子和公共安全等领域；然而，将具有如此不同性质的材料组合在一起(热、机械、化学等)。直接进入混合结构是具有挑战性的。在这个项目中，研究小组研究了动态溶液和表面化学过程，这些过程为晶体材料的受控合成以及它们与软材料的直接集成提供了新的方法，从而产生了具有有用性能(例如，光学、电学等)的混合结构。在免费活动中，首席研究员将研究活动的方法和成果用于创建新的教育课程和外联活动，以加强创新的传统和代表不足的群体(特别是美国原住民青年)对内布拉斯加州材料科学的参与。技术摘要在材料研究部固态和材料化学计划和EPSCoR计划的支持下，该项目寻求产生控制晶体生长的新方法，使其能够直接制造将软材料与复杂的三维无机材料相结合的混合结构。使用传统的微加工无法实现具有非常不同特性(热和机械)的部件的这种无缝集成。该项目包括以下具体目标：(I)利用化学功能化软聚合物的机械变形来积极控制硬材料的合成、组装和2D组织，从而能够制造具有可重构特性的混合结构。(Ii)利用软反应器中流动液体的效应合成层次化、三维晶体形态和杂化材料。正在研究的控制晶体生长的方法强调对物理变量、表面化学和流体流动的动态操纵，这超出了使用刚性材料或静态条件的系统中的可用方法。具体地说，弹性体衬底的变形提供了一种方便的方法来可逆地改变表面化学和操纵晶体的空间组织；反应器中的液体流动可以同时调节晶体的化学和流体力学环境。这些研究活动为实现直接生产功能混合材料的新的添加剂方法做出了重要贡献，这些材料应用于现有和新兴技术，包括微电子、能源以及软、可伸缩和灵活的电子和传感器。

Non-technical AbstractThe combination of hard materials (ceramics or semiconductors) and soft materials (polymers) into a single construct enables technologies (e.g., soft electronics and low-cost sensors) with new forms and functions that promise to broadly impact areas such as health care, consumer electronics, and public safety; however, combining materials with such disparate properties (thermal, mechanical, chemical, etc.) directly into hybrid structures is challenging. In this project the research team investigates dynamic solution- and surface-chemical processes that provide new methods for the controlled synthesis of crystalline materials and their direct integration with soft materials yielding hybrid structures with useful properties (e.g., optical, electrical, etc.). In complimentary activities, the principal investigator uses the methods and outcomes of the research activities in the creation of new educational curriculum and outreach activities that strengthen the tradition of innovation and the participation of underrepresented groups (especially Native American youths) in materials science in Nebraska. Technical AbstractWith the support of the Solid State and Materials Chemistry program in the Division of Materials Research and the EPSCoR program, this project seeks to generate new approaches to controlling crystal growth that enable the direct fabrication of hybrid structures which combine soft materials with complex, three-dimensional, inorganic materials. Such seamless integration of components with exceedingly different properties (thermal and mechanical) cannot be achieved using traditional microfabrication. This project includes the following specific goals: (i) Utilize mechanical deformations of chemically functionalized soft polymers to actively control the synthesis, assembly, and 2D organization of hard materials enabling the fabrication of hybrid structures with reconfigurable properties. (ii) Synthesize hierarchical, 3D crystal morphologies and hybrid materials using the effects of flowing liquids in soft reactors. The approaches to controlling crystal growth under investigation emphasize dynamic manipulation of physical variables surface chemistry and fluid flow that go beyond those available in systems which use rigid materials or static conditions. Specifically, the deformation of elastomeric substrates provides a convenient way to reversibly change surface chemistry and manipulate the spatial organization of crystals; the flow of liquids in reactors can simultaneously tune the chemical and fluid-mechanical environments of crystals. These research activities contribute significantly to the realization of new, additive approaches to the direct production of functional, hybrid materials with applications in existing and emerging technologies including, microelectronics, energy, and soft, stretchable, and flexible electronics and sensors.