Functionalization, Supramolecular Encapsulation, and Order in Boron-Nitride Nanostructures

威廉·马什·赖斯大学的Angel A.Martí和Matteo Pasqui教授得到了化学系大分子、超分子和纳米化学(MSN)计划的支持，他们开发化学策略来控制结构并赋予纳米结构理想的性能，特别是氮化硼纳米管。这将通过对表面进行化学修饰、将金属-有机络合物包裹在纳米管中以及用表面活性剂覆盖表面来实现。氮化硼具有一系列独特的材料性能，包括良好的导热系数、较大的带隙、化学惰性和高抗拉强度。更好地了解这些独特的纳米结构及其性能可以为开发新的传感器、防腐涂层以及广泛应用的轻质和坚固材料铺平道路。在进行拟议研究的过程中，将通过参与该项目对研究生、本科生和高中生进行培训。特别强调通过机构方案在莱斯大学和在波多黎各通过路易斯·斯托克斯少数族裔参与联盟等方案向代表性不足的少数族裔成员进行外联。此外，该项目还包括与NASA兰利研究中心和一家初创公司BNNT LLC的合作。众所周知，氮化硼纳米结构是惰性的，非常稳定，耐化学操纵。本项目的重点是对氮化硼纳米管(BNNTs)和其他BN纳米结构进行化学修饰，以努力控制它们的组织并赋予其潜在的实际应用性能。这一目标是通过研究尚未探索的官能化技术来实现的，例如Vilsmeier反应和重氮盐的光分解，以在温和的条件下使BN纳米结构功能化。功能化的目的是调整BN纳米结构的表面性质，以改变表面能和分散性和/或实现剥离。BNNTs将被负载金属络合物和金属氧化物纳米颗粒，以产生杂化结构，并允许调节BNNTs和被包裹的基团的性质。这项研究还将通过利用一些表面活性剂制剂来尝试形成液晶相来解决BN纳米结构的组织和自组装问题。然后将使用小角中子散射来研究BNNTs周围的表面活性剂的结构。在这项研究过程中，基于BN纳米结构的新的科学和技术进步和应用有望实现。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。

Professors Angel A. Martí and Matteo Pasquali of William Marsh Rice University are supported by the Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry (MSN) Program in the Division of Chemistry to develop chemical strategies to control the structure and to impart desirable properties to nanostructures, particularly boron nitride nanotubes. This is to be accomplished through chemical modification of the surface, encapsulation of metal-organic complexes within the nanotubes and surface coverage with surfactants. Boron-nitrides possess a unique set of material properties that include good thermal conductivity, a large band gap, chemical inertness, and high tensile strength. Better understanding of these unique nanostructures and their properties could pave the way for the development of new sensors, anti-corrosive coatings, and light and robust materials for a wide range of applications. In the course of conducting the proposed research, graduate, undergraduate and high school students will be trained through participation in the project. Particular emphasis is on outreach toward members of underrepresented minorities at Rice University through institutional programs and in Puerto Rico through programs such as the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation. In addition, the project includes collaboration with NASA Langley Research Center and a startup company, BNNT LLC.Boron nitride nanostructures are known to be inert and extremely stable and resistant to chemical manipulation. This project focuses on the chemical modification of boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) and other BN nanostructures in an effort to control their organization and impart properties for potential practical applications. This goal is to be achieved by studying unexplored functionalization techniques such as the Vilsmeier reaction and the photo-decomposition of diazonium salts to functionalize BN nanostructures under mild conditions. Functionalization is designed to tune the surface properties of the BN nanostructures to modify the surface energy and dispersibility and/or achieve exfoliation. The BNNTs will be loaded with metal complexes and metal oxide nanoparticles to produce hybrid structures, and allow for the tuning of the properties of BNNTs and the encapsulated group. This research will also address the organization and self-assembly of BN nanostructures through attempts to form liquid crystalline phases by utilizing a number of surfactant preparations. The structure of the surfactants around the BNNTs will then be investigated using small angle neutron scattering. New scientific and technological advances and applications based on BN nanostructures are expected to be realized in the course of this research.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.