Dispersion, Chemical Functionalization and Dynamics of Boron-Nitride Nanotubides

化学系的大分子、超分子和纳米化学计划支持莱斯大学的Angel A.Martí教授和Matteo Pasqui教授的项目，该项目旨在研究由硼和氮组成的管状纳米结构的性质，即氮化硼纳米管(BNNTs)。本研究的目的是开发化学修饰BNNTs表面的方法，并研究其溶液行为。控制BNNT在溶液中的表面化学和组织结构将使其成为各种应用的构建块，包括高强度材料、净水膜、散热材料和防污剂。在探索BNNTs的化学的同时，私营部门开展了更广泛的影响活动，以扩大未被充分代表的少数群体在科学和工程事业中的参与，并向更大的社区传播化学、工程和纳米科学的概念。BNNTs是制造纳米结构和新型宏观组装的最终构件。然而，它们的化学官能化、分散性和在液体中的相行为，从而它们自组装成超分子有序结构，仍然是这一领域研究的挑战。为了应对这些挑战，拟议的研究涉及合成带负电荷的BNNTs或氮化硼纳米管(BNNTds)。BNNTD的性质提供了对BNNTs的可分配性、化学性质和溶液动力学的控制。本项目研究如何通过化学还原制备BNNTDS，并通过BNNTDS与烷基和芳基卤化物的反应对BNNT表面进行功能化处理。用显微技术研究了BNNTs的溶液动力学。这项研究的结果将加速BNNT科学和技术的成熟，有望提供具有独特性能组合的新超分子结构(例如，坚固、柔软、电绝缘、导热的纤维)。这项研究不仅促进了纳米科学的知识状况，也促进了研究生和本科生对先进纳米技术概念的发现和理解。该教育计划包括向从K-12到研究生院的少数族裔学生提供关于纳米技术研究、科学和工程职业以及研究生院等不同主题的讲座。

The Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry Program of the Chemistry Division supports the project by Professor Angel A. Martí and Professor Matteo Pasquali of Rice University to study the properties of tubular nanostructures made of boron and nitrogen known as boron-nitride nanotubes (BNNTs). The goals of this research are to develop methods to chemically modify the surface of BNNTs and to study their solution behavior. Controlling the surface chemistry and organization of BNNT in solution will allow their utilization as building blocks for a variety of applications including high strength materials, water purification membranes, heat dissipation materials, and antifouling agents. While exploring the chemistry of BNNTs, the PIs pursue broader impact activities to broaden the participation of underrepresented minorities in science and engineering careers and to disseminate chemistry, engineering, and nanoscience concepts to the larger community. BNNTs are the ultimate building blocks for the manufacture of nanoarchitectures and novel macroscopic assemblies. However their chemical functionalization, dispersion, and phase behavior in liquids, and thus their self-assembly into supramolecular ordered structures, are still challenges in this field of research. In order to address these challenges, the proposed research involves synthesizing negatively charged BNNTs, or boron nitrides nanotubides (BNNTDs). The BNNTD properties provide control over the dispensability, chemical properties, and solution dynamics of BNNTs. This project involves studying how to prepare BNNTDs by chemical reduction and the functionalization of the BNNT surface by reaction of BNNTDs with alkyl and aryl halides. The solution dynamics of BNNTs are studied using microscopy techniques. The results of this research will accelerate the maturation of BNNT science and technology, which is expected to provide new supramolecular structures with unusual combinations of properties (e.g., strong, flexible, electrically insulating, thermally conductive fibers). The research not only advances the state-of-knowledge in nanoscience, but also promotes the discovery and understanding of advanced nanotechnology concepts by graduate and undergraduate students. The educational plan includes offering talks to underrepresented minority students from K-12 to graduate school about different topics such as nanotechnology research, careers in science and engineering, and graduate school.