RUI: Exploring Synthesis, Tailoring Structure, Evaluating Properties, and Enabling Patterning of Surface-Anchored Framework Assemblies

弗曼大学化学系的玛丽·伊丽莎白安德森教授得到化学系大分子、超分子和纳米化学（MSN）项目的支持，研究表面锚定金属有机框架和共价有机框架的组装。 这些新兴材料在各种技术中的应用潜力已经导致数千种这些框架系统被合成，通常作为微米级粉末。 在这个项目中，定制这些材料组装成纳米级薄膜的合成条件，以及组装后薄膜的化学改性进行了研究和优化。 了解薄膜形成的机制对于有效制造利用这些材料特性的设备至关重要。 最终目标是开发图案化方法和结构特征，这些方法和结构特征对于将这些表面锚定框架并入实际应用的器件架构中是必要的，例如气体存储、化学催化、化学传感和能量存储。 该项目吸引本科生，并在弗曼大学研究丰富的本科文科环境中，在化学，材料科学，物理和工程的界面上培养未来的科学家。 该研究的多个方面被整合到整个化学课程中，并作为基于课程的学生研究项目纳入其中。该项目研究了指导金属有机框架（MOFs）和共价有机框架（COFs）在薄膜中自下而上的溶液相组装的主要化学和物理机制。 本研究项目的目标是定制和图案的表面锚定的框架集成到设备架构。 实验条件进行了探索，通过评估性能的表面锚定的组件，如膜的形态和厚度，孔隙率，润湿性，粘附性和变形。该评估的核心是通过原子力显微镜、椭圆偏振法、接触角测角法、红外和拉曼光谱、石英晶体微天平和循环伏安法进行表征。 进行方法开发以通过非常规光刻技术（例如压印光刻和微接触印刷）图案化表面锚定框架。 该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，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。

Professor Mary Elizabeth Anderson of the Chemistry Department at Furman University is supported by the Macromolecular, Supramolecular, and Nanochemistry (MSN) Program of the Division of Chemistry to investigate the assembly of surface-anchored metal-organic frameworks and covalent organic frameworks. The potential for the application of these emerging materials in a wide range of technologies has led to thousands of these framework systems being synthesized, typically as microscale powders. In this project, the synthetic conditions for tailoring the assembly of these materials as nanoscale films, as well as for the chemical modification of the films post-assembly are investigated and optimized. Understanding the mechanisms of film formation is crucial for the effective fabrication of devices that harness the properties of these materials. The ultimate goal is to develop patterning methods and structural features that are necessary for the incorporation of these surface-anchored frameworks within device architectures for practical applications, such as gas storage, chemical catalysis, chemical sensing, and energy storage. The project engages undergraduate students and trains future scientists in science and technology at the interface of chemistry, material science, physics, and engineering in a research-rich undergraduate liberal arts setting at Furman University. Multiple facets of this research are integrated throughout the chemistry curriculum and incorporated as course-based student research projects.The project investigates the major chemical and physical mechanisms that direct the bottom-up solution-phase assembly of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent-organic frameworks (COFs) in thin films. The objective of this research project is to tailor and pattern the surface-anchored frameworks for integration into device architectures. Experimental conditions are explored by evaluating properties of the surface-anchored assemblies, such as film morphology and thickness, porosity, wettability, adhesion, and deformation. Central to this evaluation is characterization by atomic force microscopy, ellipsometry, contact angle goniometry, infrared and Raman spectroscopy, quartz crystal microbalance, and cyclic voltammetry. Method development is undertaken to pattern surface-anchored frameworks by nonconventional lithographic techniques, such as imprint lithography and microcontact printing. The results are expected to contribute to the fields of surface science, engineering science, nanotechnology, and material chemistry.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.