Percolated morphologies of branched-star poly(ionic liquid)s

本项目将考虑一类复杂的分子支化离子聚合物，这些聚合物具有不同的化学组成、形态和可调的物理性质，以了解组成-结构-性质的关系，并提高离子基团的迁移率。这些新型的含离子聚合物材料将被合成成含有高度有序的带电基团。它们将被加工成连续的形态，并用各种先进的技术进行研究。这种方法将提供一个有组织的材料平台，具有潜在的高和可控的离子传输，以及具有低温和机械稳定性的液体电解质。这种有序的、连续形态可控的多功能聚合物材料是未来新型固体聚电解质介质的重要组成部分。这些可能会为新的轻质、坚固、温度稳定和安全的电池提供潜力，以取代目前的液体电池。这项研究将与面向研究生和本科生的多方面教育计划相结合，并向高中生和普通公众推广，以培养他们对纳米材料和更广泛的STEM职业的兴趣。第二部分技术总结本项目将考虑新合成的具有不同功能核、离子种类和电离度的支化聚(离子液体)S。Pi的研究小组将探索不同的化学结构，以促进不同的胶束形态及其组装成跨越多个空间尺度的连续渗流网络，从单个大分子开始，一直延伸到形成远程相互连接的各向异性核壳形态。该项目的重点是了解新型多组分支化离子聚合物的高度不对称组成所起的作用。这些将被量身定做，通过出现远程和网络组织来产生连续的结构域形态，例如扩展的相互连接的圆柱形和纳米管状胶束。这项研究的一般假设是，具有多种官能度的支化大分子结构可以被用来调节聚(离子液体)S的组织，并引导它们组装成不同于离散纳米结构中常见的可预测的、互连结构域的渗流形态。该实验计划将使人们能够系统地和预测性地了解这些复杂材料的组分-结构-性能关系。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并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。

PART 1. NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARYThis project will consider a class of complex molecularly branched ionic polymers with various chemical compositions, morphologies and tunable physical properties in order to understand composition-structure-property relationships and enhance ion-group mobility. These novel ion-containing polymeric materials will be synthesized to contain a high concentration of well-ordered charged groups. They will be processed into continuous morphologies and investigated by various advanced techniques. This approach will provide an organized material platform with potentially high and controlled ionic transport, as well as liquid electrolytes with low temperature and mechanical stability. Such organized multi-functional polymeric materials with controlled continuous morphologies are important for prospective novel solid polyelectrolyte media. These could offer potential for new lightweight, robust, temperature-stable, and safe batteries to replace current liquid-based batteries. This research will be integrated with a multifaceted educational program for graduate and undergraduate students, as well as outreach to high school students and the general public to cultivate their interest in nanomaterials and more broadly STEM careers. PART 2. TECHNICAL SUMMARYThis project will consider newly synthesized branched poly(ionic liquid)s with different functional cores, ion species, and degrees of ionization. The PI's group will explore different chemical architectures to promote various micellar morphologies and their assembly into continuous percolated networks across multiple spatial scales starting from individual macromolecules and extending to the formation of long-range interconnected anisotropic core-shell morphologies. The project is focused on understanding the role of highly asymmetric compositions of new multicomponent branched ion-containing polymers. These will be tailored to yield continuous domain morphologies via emergence of long-range and network organization such as expanded interconnected cylindrical and nanotubular micelles. The general hypothesis of the proposed research is that branched macromolecular architectures with multiple functionalities can be leveraged to mediate the organization of poly(ionic liquid)s and guide their assembly into predictable, percolated morphologies of interconnected domains that are distinct from those normally encountered in discrete nanostructures. The experimental plan will enable a systematic and predictive understanding of component-structure-property relationships for these complex materials. .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.