RAPID: Characterization of the shear stress enhanced electric field gradients in MOF/Polymers composite thin films and multilayered fibers.

非技术总结：该RAPID项目由材料研究部门的固态和材料化学计划支持，专注于基础研究，旨在提高我们对具有纳米级过滤能力的材料的认识，这些材料可能应用于开发更持久的制冷剂，增加了易磨损性。由于当前的冠状病毒（COVID-19）大流行，这种类型的研究变得非常必要，其中生命损失，经济生计减少和生活质量下降只是已经显现的后果中的一部分。为了重新获得安全的生活和工作环境，所需的主要物品之一是个人防护设备，如面罩和呼吸器。不幸的是，世界范围内存在短缺，这导致这些防护设备的过度重复使用，通常不仅对穿戴者有害，而且对其他人有害。此外，由于固有的大压力梯度和相对低的水蒸气透过率，对于大多数人来说，佩戴加湿器也是不舒服的。该项目为参与过滤介质开发和应用的学术界和工业界的研究人员提供特定的调整程序，从而通过改善我们的健康，生活和环境条件来促进社会福利。除了个人防护设备，更好的纳米级过滤介质的好处还扩展到包括水膜处理，纳米反应器和化学催化在内的应用。该项目涉及来自不同社会经济和教育水平的学生的参与，由于其跨学科性质，他们获得了涉及化学，工程，物理和材料科学方面的知识和研究经验。 技术总结：在材料研究部门的固态和材料化学计划的支持下，该RAPID研究项目的重点是从根本上表征复合聚合物/金属有机框架（MOFs）薄膜和多层电纺纤维材料中的可变剪切应力增强局部电场梯度。主要研究者和她的研究小组研究具有更大电场梯度（EFG）的材料是否表现出上级过滤/吸附性能。通常，复合聚合物的过滤性能可以通过改变其表面形态（直径、表面粗糙度等）来调节。并且实现这一点的一种方法是通过并入MOF。为了进一步提高纳米过滤性能，必须增强静电特性，该项目通过使用可变剪切应力的局部电场梯度的定向对准和增强来实现这一点。多核（1H、2 H和17 O）磁共振（NMR）和扫描电子显微镜（SEM）提供了关于各种聚合物之间以及MOF和聚合物之间的局部相互作用的信息。通过四极2 H和17 O核和它们的大小与所施加的剪切应力的程度相关的电场梯度的信息被访问。聚合物的类型、结晶度和形态也会被研究，沿着的是不同的MOF类型和含量，以及用于构建多层纤维复合材料的分层顺序。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并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，被认为值得支持。

Non-technical Summary: This RAPID project, supported by the Solid State and Materials Chemistry Program in the Division of Materials Research, is focused on fundamental investigations, aimed at advancing our knowledge about materials with nanoscale-level filtration capabilities that have possible applications in the development of longer lasting respirators with increased ease-of-wear. This type of research has become necessary due to the current coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, of which the loss of lives, reduced financial livelihoods and reduced quality of lives are just a few of the already manifested consequences. In order to regain safe living and working environments, one of the main things needed is personal protective equipment such as facemasks and respirators. Unfortunately, there are worldwide shortages which have resulted in excessive reuse of these protective equipment, oftentimes to the detriment of not only the wearer, but others. Additionally, respirators are also uncomfortable to wear for most people, due to the inherent large pressure gradients and relatively low water vapor transmission. This project provides researchers in academia and industries involved in the development and application of filtration media with specific tuning procedures, which will in turn advance the welfare of society through improvements in our health, living and environmental conditions. Beyond personal protective equipment, the benefits of better nanoscale filtration media also extend to applications including water membrane treatments, nanoreactors, and chemical catalysis. The project involves the participation of students from various socioeconomic and education levels, and because of its interdisciplinary nature, they gain the knowledge and research experience involving aspects of chemistry, engineering, physics and material science. Technical Summary: With support from the Solid State and Materials Chemistry Program in the Division of Materials Research, this RAPID research project focuses on fundamentally characterizing the variable shear stress enhanced local electric field gradients in composite polymers/metal organic frameworks (MOFs) thin films, and multilayered electrospun fibrous materials. The principal investigator and her research group study whether materials that have greater electric fields gradients (EFGs) exhibit superior filtration/adsorption properties. Generally, the filtration properties of composite polymers can be tuned by modification of their surface morphology (diameter, surface roughness, etc.) and one way to accomplish this is by the incorporation of MOFs. To further increase nano-filtration properties, the electrostatic characteristics must be enhanced, and this project accomplishes this by the directional alignment and enhancement of the local electric field gradients using variable sheer stresses. Multinuclear (1H, 2H, and 17O) Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) provide information about the local interactions between the various polymers, as well as between the MOFs and the polymers. Information about the electric field gradients is accessed through the quadrupole 2H and 17O nuclei and their magnitudes correlated with the degree of shear stress applied. Polymer type, crystallinity and morphology are also investigated, along with different MOF types and content as well as the order of layering used to construct the multilayered fibrous composites.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.