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

福尔曼大学化学系玛丽·伊丽莎白·安德森教授在化学系高分子、超分子和纳米化学(MSN)计划的支持下，研究表面锚定的金属有机骨架和共价有机骨架的组装。这些新兴材料在广泛的技术中应用的潜力导致了数千个这样的框架系统被合成，通常是作为微米级的粉末。在本项目中，研究并优化了将这些材料组装成纳米薄膜的合成条件，以及组装后的薄膜的化学修饰。了解薄膜的形成机制对于有效制造利用这些材料的性能的器件至关重要。最终目标是开发必要的图案化方法和结构特征，以便将这些表面锚定框架整合到实际应用中，如气体存储、化学催化、化学传感和能量存储。该项目吸引了本科生，并在富含研究的福尔曼大学本科生文科环境中，培养化学、材料科学、物理和工程领域的科学和技术方面的未来科学家。这项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。该项目调查了指导薄膜中金属有机骨架(MOF)和共价有机骨架(COF)自下而上组装的主要化学和物理机制。该研究项目的目标是定制和设计表面锚定框架，以便集成到设备体系结构中。通过评估表面锚定组件的性能，如薄膜形态和厚度、孔隙率、润湿性、附着力和变形，探索了实验条件。通过原子力显微镜、椭偏仪、接触角测角仪、红外和拉曼光谱、石英晶体微天平和循环伏安法对其进行了表征。通过非传统的光刻技术，如压印光刻和微接触印刷，进行了表面锚定框架的图案化方法的开发。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，通过使用基金会的智力优势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.