CCI Phase I: NSF Center for the Chemistry of Molecularly Optimized Networks

合成聚合物和塑料构成了一个价值1000亿美元的产业，几乎影响着日常生活的方方面面：从交通运输到消费品再到医疗保健。这些材料是由长而独立的聚合物分子组成的，它们以网络的形式连接在一起，形成了大块材料。近年来，化学家们已经学会了如何在单个聚合物分子中制造出非凡的特性，并控制它们之间的联系。分子优化网络化学中心（MONET）正在开发知识和方法，将目前在分子水平上可用的显着性质转化为聚合物网络的新性质。它推动了配方和制造方面的创新，有可能导致坚韧、寿命更长的材料的开发，这些材料既能减少浪费，又能完美地适应其用途。该中心更广泛的影响包括为聚合物化学新兴领域的年轻科学家提供跨学科技术培训，以及为中心学员未来的职业生涯提供沟通和创业经验。最后，该中心与社区大学合作，提高公众对科学创新的社会影响的认识，同时通过向不同的社区大学人口宣传可获得的各种职业机会，鼓励更广泛地参与科学。MONET的范围包括将聚合物网络韧性与单个网络链的韧性、网络的分子结构以及动态链交换反应的机制和空间组织联系起来的定量构效关系。这些目标是通过一系列独特的方法来实现的，包括精密聚合物合成，单分子光谱，配位化学，光化学开关，以及新的理论模型和方法的开发和应用。此外，正在建立聚合物条目的原型数据库和数字符号（GIGA -凝胶属性全球索引）。在基础知识，技术能力和信息学战略方面的综合收益解决了主要的化学知识差距。MONET解决了精确控制聚合物链长度的作用，聚合物链的分子力学响应，聚合物链在动态网络中交换的机制，以及分子尺度网络缺陷对每条链的影响。通过将聚合物网络视为复杂但可理解的化学系统，可以利用它们产生目前无法获得的集体特性，从而为聚合物网络带来卓越性能的策略提供了知识。该奖项的主要广泛影响包括开发聚合物网络数据库，为发展中科学家提供技术培训和专业发展，以及向不同受众传播科学。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Synthetic polymers and plastics make up a $100 billion industry and impact almost every aspect of daily life: from transportation to consumer products to health care. These materials are made up of long, individual polymer molecules that are connected in a network that forms the bulk material. In recent years, chemists have learned how to produce remarkable properties in the individual polymer molecules and control the connections between them. The Center for the Chemistry of Molecularly Optimized Networks (MONET) is developing the knowledge and methods to translate the remarkable properties now available at the molecular level to new properties of polymer networks. It fuels innovation in formulation and manufacturing, potentially leading to the development of tough, longer-lived materials that reduce waste while being perfectly tailored to their use. The broader impacts of the Center include interdisciplinary technical training for young scientists across emerging areas of polymer chemistry, and communication and entrepreneurship experiences that position Center trainees for future careers. Finally, the Center partners with community colleges to increase public awareness of the societal impact of science innovation while simultaneously encouraging broader participation in the sciences by communicating the range of career opportunities available to the diverse community college population.The scope of MONET comprises quantitative structure-activity relationships that relate polymer network toughness to the toughness of individual network strands, the molecular architecture of the network, and the mechanism and spatial organization of dynamic strand exchange reactions. These objectives are pursued through a unique combination of methods, including precision polymer synthesis, single molecule spectroscopy, coordination chemistry, photochemical switching, and the development and application of new theoretical models and methods. In addition, a prototype database and digital notation for polymer entry (GIGA - the Global Index of Gel Attributes) is being established. The combined gains in fundamental knowledge, technical capability, and informatics strategy address a major chemical knowledge gap. MONET addresses the role of precisely controlled polymer chain length, the molecular mechanical response of a polymer chain, and the mechanisms by which polymer strands exchange in dynamic networks, as well as the influence of molecular scale network defects on each. The knowledge gained informs strategies to bring remarkable properties to polymer networks, by treating them as complex but understandable chemical systems that can be harnessed to produce currently inaccessible collective properties. Key broader impacts of this award include the development of a polymer network database, technical training and professional development for developing scientists, and science communication to diverse audiences.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.