RUI-Collaborative Research-Electrokinetic Transport and Electric Field Control of Ion Motion through the Interior of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

乌尔西努学院化学系的马克·埃里森博士和迈克尔·S。Strano和马萨诸塞州理工学院（MIT）化学工程系的研究人员在化学系的大分子、超分子和纳米化学（MSN）项目的支持下，研究离子和分子在碳纳米管内部的运动。在这些维度上的物质流动与我们的日常经验完全不同，因此这项研究有望提高我们对这些离子和分子如何通过直径不比物体本身大得多的管道传输的理解。这项工作最初集中在氨基酸和神经递质的运输上，包括乙酰胆碱和多巴胺通过纳米管。在稍后的阶段，纳米管配备了微小的金电极，以控制通过电子信号管的流量。如果成功，该项目可能会影响生物传感，医学测试和电子纳米器件的发展。 它也有可能提高我们对生物通道和合成纳米孔（如人脑）中生物重要分子运动的理解。 在进行这项研究的过程中，一组不同的本科生以及女高中生提供了在乌尔西诺学院的研究经验。此外，学生们还可以参观麻省理工学院，在麻省理工学院研究生的帮助下准备纳米管设备并进行实验。该项目研究了小离子和分子通过单壁纳米管（SWNTs）传输的基本过程。化学气相沉积（CVD）用于在硅晶片上存款SWNT，并且该装置配备有电极以进行所需的离子电流测量。这与SEM和拉曼光谱测量相结合，提供了必要的数据，以表征设备，并提供信息的离子和分子物种通过纳米管的运输机制。Ursinus的本科生前往麻省理工学院使用设备和仪器，如化学气相沉积炉，扫描电子显微镜和拉曼显微镜，以构建单壁碳纳米管设备。 这些设备被带回乌尔西诺进行离子传输的电压钳测量。这项工作最初集中在氨基酸和神经递质的运输，包括乙酰胆碱和多巴胺，通过纳米管。在稍后的阶段，纳米管配备有金电极，以通过电信号控制流经管的流速。该实验旨在提供所需的数据，以提高我们对离子和分子通过单壁碳纳米管纳米孔传输的理解，并探索使用单壁碳纳米管作为管道，将氨基酸和神经递质输送到特定目标。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估来支持。

Dr. Mark Ellison of the Department of Chemistry, Ursinus College and Dr. Michael S. Strano of the Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are supported by the Macromolecular, Supramolecular, and Nanochemistry (MSN) Program of the Division of Chemistry to study the motion of ions and molecules through the interior of carbon nanotubes. Flow of material at these dimensions is quite different from our everyday experience, so this research is expected to improve our understanding of how these ions and molecules are transported through tubes that are not much bigger in diameter than the objects themselves. The work is initially focused on the transport of amino acids and neurotransmitters, including acetylcholine and dopamine through the nanotubes. At a later stage, the nanotubes are outfitted with tiny gold electrodes to control the rate of flow through the tubes using an electric signal. If successful, the project is likely to impact the development of biosensing, medical testing, and electronic nanodevices. It is also likely to improve our understanding of the motion of biologically important molecules in biological channels and synthetic nanopores such as in the human brain. During the course of conducting this research, a diverse group of undergraduate students as well as female high school students are afforded a research experience at Ursinus College. In addition, the students benefit from visits to MIT to prepare nanotube devices and conduct experiments with the help of MIT graduate students. The project investigates the fundamental processes of the transport of small ions and molecules through single wall nanotubes (SWNTs). Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is used to deposit SWNTs on silicon wafers and the devices are equipped with electrodes to conduct the needed ion current measurements. This, combined with SEM and Raman spectroscopy measurements, provides the necessary data to characterize the devices and to provide information on the mechanisms involved in the transport of ionic and molecular species through the nanotubes. The Ursinus undergraduate students travel to MIT to use equipment and instruments such as a chemical vapor deposition oven, scanning electron microscope, and a Raman microscope to construct the SWNT devices. The devices are brought back to Ursinus to conduct the voltage clamp measurements of ion transport. The work is initially focused on the transport of amino acids and neurotransmitters, including acetylcholine and dopamine, through the nanotubes. At a later stage, the nanotubes are outfitted with gold electrodes to gate and control the rate of flow through the tubes by an electric signal. The experiments are designed to provide the data needed to improve our understanding of ion and molecule transport through SWCNT nanopores and to explore the use of SWCNTs as conduits for the delivery of amino acids and neurotransmitters to specific targets.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.