Super-Resolution Photochromic Switching for Bicontinuous Nanostructures

双连续纳米结构的超分辨率光致变色切换

• 批准号: 2003491
• 负责人: Chaitanya Ullal
• 金额: $ 44.49万
• 依托单位: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2020-09-01 至 2024-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2003491&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Super; Resolution; Photochromic; Switching; Bicontinuous

In this project, funded by the Macromolecular, Supramolecular, and Nanochemistry Program in the Division of Chemistry, Professors Chaitanya Ullal and Edmund F. Palermo at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are using visible light to precisely direct the synthesis of large nanostructures. The synthesis method utilizes a combination of several different light-based techniques and is reminiscent of classical photography, with the exception that it does not require a projected image using a photomask. The approach can create extremely small patterns, down to a few tens of nanometers in size. Precise control of the shape and size of the objects it creates is also provided. Additionally, patterns can be printed over an entire surface cost-effectively. Research associated with this award has the potential to enable super-resolution printing in 3D without the need to utilize expensive state-of-the art equipment. The new techniques could advance the design of biomedical devices and other advanced manufacturing applictions. The research team is continuing their commitment to education and community outreach, with a particular emphasis on promoting women and under-represented minorities in science through innovative family-based learning activities and design projects. The educational broader impacts include the creation of hands-on learning activities, the development of educational videos, and the mentorship of K-12 students, all of which inspire and promote participation of under-represented students in STEM fields. The central goal of this research is to create 3D bicontinuous nanostructured materials using a combination of functional macromolecular chemistries and advanced optics, especially super-resolution optics and interference lithography. In the first objective, a deeper fundamental understanding of the underlying chemical kinetics needed to enable super-resolution 3D interference lithography is developed. A library of spirothiopyran derivatives with systematically varied structural features is synthesized in order to precisely tune the kinetics of photo-switching and click reactions leading to a cross-linked polymer gel or thermoset. The second objective focuses on the development of a self-consistent computational model that captures the coupled interaction of the three dimensionally varying light and chemical concentration fields as a function of time. Self-consistent solution of differential equations results in an electromagnetic simulation at each time step of the chemical concentration evolution; This is a departure from conventional finite-element (FEA) or finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) techniques (prohibitively long computation times). The last objective concentrates on bicontinuous super-resolution nanostructures in which the configuration of 3D super-resolution interference lithography consists of a uniform excitation exposure and a depletion pattern that is obtained by the interference of multiple beams of coherent light. Control over the formation of nanostructured materials using unmasked light, with precision over large areas, has a potential to advance the development of photonic crystals, microtrusses and biomedical devices.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.

在这个由化学系的大分子、超分子和纳米化学项目资助的项目中，Chaitanya Ullal教授和Edmund F。伦斯勒理工学院的巴勒莫正在使用可见光来精确地指导大型纳米结构的合成。 合成方法利用了几种不同的基于光的技术的组合，并且让人想起经典摄影，除了它不需要使用光掩模的投影图像。这种方法可以产生非常小的图案，尺寸小到几十纳米。还提供了对它创建的对象的形状和大小的精确控制。此外，可以在整个表面上成本有效地印刷图案。与该奖项相关的研究有可能实现3D超分辨率打印，而无需使用昂贵的最先进设备。新技术可以推进生物医学设备和其他先进制造应用的设计。研究小组继续致力于教育和社区外联，特别强调通过创新的家庭学习活动和设计项目，促进妇女和代表性不足的少数群体参与科学。更广泛的教育影响包括创建实践学习活动，制作教育视频，以及对K-12学生的指导，所有这些都激励和促进了STEM领域代表性不足的学生的参与。这项研究的中心目标是使用功能性大分子化学和先进光学的组合，特别是超分辨率光学和干涉光刻，来创建3D双连续纳米结构材料。在第一个目标，一个更深层次的基本理解所需的化学动力学，使超分辨率三维干涉光刻的发展。合成了具有系统变化的结构特征的螺噻喃衍生物的库，以精确地调节光开关和点击反应的动力学，从而产生交联的聚合物凝胶或热固性材料。第二个目标的重点是发展一个自洽的计算模型，捕捉耦合相互作用的三维变化的光和化学浓度场作为时间的函数。 微分方程的自洽解导致在化学浓度演变的每个时间步长的电磁模拟;这与传统的有限元（FEA）或时域有限差分（FDTD）技术（过长的计算时间）不同。最后一个目标集中在双连续超分辨率纳米结构中的配置的3D超分辨率干涉光刻包括一个均匀的激发曝光和耗尽模式，这是通过多束相干光的干涉获得。利用无掩模光控制纳米结构材料的形成，在大面积上实现精确控制，具有推动光子晶体、微桁架和生物医学设备发展的潜力。该奖项反映了NSF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。