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

离子聚合物（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，受离子基团的分子间和界面相互作用的引导，具有广泛的导电性能。本文将对这些材料以及相关的支链聚电解质进行研究，其中由丰富的可电离基团引起的分子间和分子内相互作用可以进一步利用来控制聚合物的形态，形状和导电性。具体而言，本项目将合成和研究的合成支链大分子的手性螺旋组织和有组织的二维纳米材料，对新型复合材料和涉及储能、能量转换和相关节能的先进应用具有潜在的兴趣。在未来的科学和工程应用中，这些离子聚合物复合材料是柔性的，轻质的固体和液体电解质，用于先进的可穿戴电池和无电源设备，以改善人类的表现和福祉。技术概述：该项目专注于具有多种功能的支化离子聚合物和手性支化聚电解质，以及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组织的2D异质堆。首先，将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手性向列型螺旋结构，并在不同的底物和纳米结构上自组装。其次，将探索离子聚合物与具有互补功能的功能化二维材料（如MXenes）的共组装，用于堆叠有机-无机异质结构和具有多种功能的Janus star聚合物。该研究将影响我们对多相离子聚合物与功能化纳米片的定向共组装的理解，并推动具有特殊有序和性能的新型有机-无机功能纳米复合材料的研究。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。

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.