Assembly of Novel Branched Ionic Polymers: Chirality Induction and 2D Heterostructures

非技术性SUMMARYIONIC聚合物(由含有离子基团的长分子链组成的材料)具有独特的内部形态，由离子基团的分子间和界面相互作用指导，并具有广泛应用的导电性能。这里将研究这些材料以及相关的支化聚电解质，对于这些材料，可以进一步利用丰富的可电离基团引起的分子间和分子内相互作用来控制聚合物的形态、形状和导电性。具体地说，本项目将合成和研究的合成支化大分子的手性螺旋结构和有序的二维纳米材料，对新型复合材料及其在储能、能量转换和相关节能方面的高级应用具有潜在的兴趣。在这些离子聚合物复合材料的潜在未来科学和工程应用中，包括用于高级可穿戴电池的灵活、轻质的固体和液体电解液，以及用于改善人类性能和福祉的无动力设备。技术摘要本项目专注于具有多种功能的支化离子聚合物以及手性支化聚电解质和2D异质堆叠，这些材料在从单个大分子到多组分组件和形状持久材料的多个长度尺度上组织。首先，利用末端手性基团的弱离子相互作用或共价键在支化聚合物胶束溶液中诱导新型的手性向列型螺旋结构，并在不同的底物和纳米结构上进行自组装。其次，将探索离子聚合物和功能化2D材料(如具有互补功能的MXenes)的共同组装，以实现堆叠式有机-无机异质结构和具有多种功能的Janus星形聚合物。这项研究将影响我们对多相离子聚合物与功能化纳米片定向共组装的理解，并将推动具有特殊有序性和性能的新型有机-无机功能纳米复合材料领域的发展。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。

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARYIonic polymers (materials made of long molecular chains with ion-containing groups) possess unique internal morphologies guided by intermolecular and interfacial interactions of ionic groups and conductive properties for a wide range of applications. These materials will be studied here, as well as related branched polyelectrolytes, for which inter- and intra- molecular interactions resulting from the abundant ionizable groups can be further utilized to control the polymer morphology, shape, and conductivity. Specifically, the chiral helical organization of synthetic branched macromolecules and organized two-dimensional nanomaterials, which will be synthesized and studied in this project, are of potential interest for novel composite materials and advanced applications involving energy storage, energy conversion, and related energy saving. Among potential future science and engineering applications of these ionic polymeric composite materials are flexible, lightweight solid and liquid electrolytes for advanced wearable batteries and powerless devices for improved human performance and well-being.TECHNICAL SUMMARYThis project is focused on branched ionic polymers with multiple functionalities and chiral branched polyelectrolytes and 2D heterostacks organized across multiple lengthscales from individual macromolecules to multicomponent assemblies and shape-persistent materials. First, weak ionic interactions or covalent bonding of terminal chiral groups will be exploited to induce novel helicoidal organization of chiral nematic type in branched polymer micellar solutions and upon self-assembly on different substrates and nanostructures. Second, co-assembly of ionic polymers and functionalized 2D materials such as MXenes with complementary functionalities will be explored for stacked organic-inorganic heterostructures and Janus star polymers with multiple functionalities. The research will impact our understanding of directed co-assembly of multi-phase ionic polymers with functionalized nanosheets and advance the field of novel organic-inorganic functional nanocomposites with special ordering and properties. .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.