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

William Marsh Rice大学的Angel A. Martí教授和Matteo Pasquali教授得到了化学系大分子、超分子和纳米化学（MSN）项目的支持，开发化学策略来控制结构，并赋予纳米结构理想的特性，特别是氮化硼纳米管。这是通过对表面进行化学修饰、在纳米管内包裹金属有机配合物和表面活性剂覆盖表面来实现的。氮化硼具有一系列独特的材料性能，包括良好的导热性、大带隙、化学惰性和高拉伸强度。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、防腐涂层和轻质坚固材料铺平道路，以实现广泛的应用。在进行拟议研究的过程中，研究生、本科生和高中生将通过参与该项目进行培训。特别强调的是在莱斯大学通过机构项目和在波多黎各通过路易斯·斯托克斯少数民族参与联盟等项目向未被充分代表的少数民族成员伸出援手。此外，该项目还包括与美国宇航局兰利研究中心和一家初创公司BNNT llc的合作。氮化硼纳米结构被认为是惰性的，非常稳定，耐化学操作。本项目主要研究氮化硼纳米管（BNNTs）和其他氮化硼纳米结构的化学改性，以控制其组织并赋予其潜在的实际应用性能。这一目标是通过研究未开发的功能化技术，如Vilsmeier反应和重氮盐的光分解，在温和的条件下功能化BN纳米结构来实现的。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。bnnt将装载金属配合物和金属氧化物纳米颗粒以产生混合结构，并允许调整bnnt和封装基团的性质。本研究还将通过尝试利用多种表面活性剂制备液晶相来解决氮化硼纳米结构的组织和自组装问题。然后用小角中子散射来研究bnnt周围表面活性剂的结构。基于氮化硼纳米结构的新的科学技术进步和应用有望在此研究过程中实现。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，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。

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.