Dispersion, Chemical Functionalization and Dynamics of Boron-Nitride Nanotubides

化学系的大分子，超分子和纳米化学项目支持Angel A教授的项目。Martí和莱斯大学的Matteo Pasquali教授研究了由硼和氮制成的管状纳米结构的特性，称为氮化硼纳米管（BNNT）。本研究的目的是开发化学修饰BNNT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将允许它们用作各种应用的结构单元，包括高强度材料、水净化膜、散热材料和防垢剂。 在探索BNNT的化学过程中，PI追求更广泛的影响活动，以扩大代表性不足的少数民族在科学和工程职业中的参与，并向更大的社区传播化学，工程和纳米科学概念。BNNT是制造纳米结构和新型宏观组装体的最终构建块。然而，它们在液体中的化学功能化，分散和相行为，从而它们自组装成超分子有序结构，仍然是该领域研究的挑战。为了应对这些挑战，拟议的研究涉及合成带负电荷的BNNT或氮化硼纳米管（BNNTD）。BNNTD性质提供对BNNT的可分散性、化学性质和溶液动力学的控制。本项目涉及研究如何通过化学还原制备BNNTDs以及通过BNNTDs与烷基和芳基卤化物的反应使BNNT表面官能化。 溶液动力学的BNNTs的研究使用显微镜技术。这项研究的结果将加速BNNT科学和技术的成熟，预计将提供具有不寻常性能组合的新超分子结构（例如，坚固、柔性、电绝缘、导热纤维）。这项研究不仅推进了纳米科学的知识状态，而且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。教育计划包括为从K-12到研究生院的代表性不足的少数民族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.