Polymer Nanocomposites using Discrete Nanoparticles and Bicontinuous Scaffolds: New Strategies for Connective Morphologies and Property Control

使用离散纳米粒子和双连续支架的聚合物纳米复合材料：连接形态和性能控制的新策略

• 批准号: 2407300
• 负责人: Russell Composto
• 金额: $ 51万
• 依托单位: University of Pennsylvania
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2024
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2024-09-01 至 2027-08-31
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2407300&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Polymer; Nanocomposites; using; Discrete; Nanoparticles

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY:Polymer nanocomposites are mixtures of flexible long-chain molecules (polymers) and hard functional particles. Although found in everyday materials from tires to paints, polymer nanocomposites also have future potential as advanced functional materials in applications from energy storage to water purification. This research will provide a fundamental understanding of chemistry, physics and engineering principles that can be brought together to investigate a new type of composite containing a mixture of charged polymers and particles coated with similar or different charged polymers to achieve properties not possible with traditional composites. In short, the overall goal is to promote the progress of science leading to new and improved advanced materials. One fundamental issue is controlling molecular interactions that determine how particles are distributed in a composite material. One challenge with this “mixing” approach is a tendency for particles to aggregate. To overcome this limitation, a second fundamental issue in this study is the fabrication of highly loaded composites where the polymer is incorporated into a scaffold, analogous to water swelling a sponge. To accelerate the discovery of new materials, a smart experimental approach will be used where data will be characterized and fed back immediately to formulate a new composite. This process is continued until the optimum formulation is found. Students performing this research will gain valuable skills in data science, enhancing career opportunities, and learn to utilize valuable resources (materials, equipment) sustainably. Graduate and undergraduate students also participate in annual public events including Nanotechnology Day at Penn, Philly Materials Day, and the Philadelphia Science Festival. A particularly unique program is “First Exposure to Research in STEM,” which provides a structure for introducing first-generation, low-income students to their first research project. TECHNICAL SUMMARY:Polymer nanocomposite (PNC) structure determines their properties. However, the full potential of PNCs is hindered by lack of control over structure-property relationships, partly due to the prevalence of non-equilibrium structures. Here, PNCs containing discrete nanoparticles (NP) in a polymer matrix or those fabricated from bicontinuous, nanoporous scaffolds are designed, processed and characterized to understand their fundamental thermodynamic, interfacial, and dynamic principles. The objectives of this work are to (1) elucidate how brush charge density affects NP dispersion in polyelectrolyte (PE) matrices of varying charge and polarity and explore kinetic pathways towards percolated structures, (2) investigate infiltration kinetics of polar polymers into scaffolds, and (3) develop autonomous experimentation (AE) to accelerate discovery of PNCs with distinct structures. Aim 1 investigates PE-NPs in polymer matrices of increasing polarity. Aim 1a studies PE-NP/matrix miscibility to provide insight into brush-matrix electrostatic interactions. Aim 1b studies phase separation to guide the identification of kinetic pathways that produce percolation of charged brushes. Aims 2a and 2b investigate bicontinuous metal and polymer scaffolds, respectively, infiltrated with polar matrix polymers. Infiltration kinetics and properties are studied as a function of pore confinement and scaffold type. The significance of these studies involves the discovery of pathways for fabricating (bi)continuous structures for enhanced energy storage or water purification applications. In Aim 3, AE-optical microscopy will be used to map the phase diagram of PNCs, whereas AE-GISAXS, in collaboration with scientists from Brookhaven National Laboratory, will identify materials and processing conditions that produce percolated PNC structures with advantageous mechanical properties and conductivity. In summary, fundamental studies of PNCs) combined with data-science-driven characterization will act synergistically to advance knowledge for materials discovery in this project..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.

非技术摘要：聚合物纳米复合材料是柔性长链分子（聚合物）和硬功能颗粒的混合。尽管在从轮胎到油漆的材料中发现，聚合物纳米复合材料在从储能到水净化的应用中也具有未来的潜力。这项研究将提供对化学，物理和工程原理的基本理解，可以汇集在一起​​，以研究一种新型的复合材料，其中包含带有带电的聚合物和带有类似或不同带电聚合物的聚合物的混合物，以实现传统组合物的性质。简而言之，总体目标是促进科学的进步，从而导致新的和改进的先进材料。一个基本问题是控制分子相互作用，这些相互作用决定了颗粒在复合材料中的分布方式。这种“混合”方法的一个挑战是粒子聚集的趋势。为了克服这一局限性，这项研究中的第二个基本问题是制造高载的组合物，将聚合物掺入脚手架中，类似于水肿胀赞助商。为了加速新材料的发现，将使用一种智能的实验方法，在该数据将立即进行表征和馈回以形成新的复合材料的情况下。继续此过程，直到找到最佳公式为止。进行这项研究的学生将获得数据科学的宝贵技能，增强职业机会，并学会可持续利用宝贵的资源（材料，设备）。研究生和本科生还参加年度公共​​活动，包括在宾夕法尼亚州，费城材料日和费城科学节的纳米技术日。一个特别独特的计划是“首次接触STEM研究”，该计划为将第一代低收入学生引入其第一个研究项目提供了一种结构。技术摘要：聚合物纳米复合材料（PNC）结构确定其性质。然而，由于缺乏对结构 - 特性关系的控制，PNCS的全部潜力受到阻碍，部分原因是非平衡结构的流行。在这里，PNC在聚合物基质中包含离散的纳米颗粒（NP），或设计，处理和表征由双连续的，纳米多孔支架制造的PNC，以了解其基本的热力学，界面和动态原理。这项工作的目的是（1）阐明刷子电荷密度如何影响多电解质（PE）不同电荷和极性的条件中的NP分散体，并探索了通向渗透结构的动力学途径，（2）研究聚合物对caffolds的渗透动力学的渗透动力学，并（3）划分自动化的实验（3）对PRENONATIC进行了自动化（3），以实现自动化（3）。 AIM 1研究了极性增加的聚合物矩阵中的PE-NP。 AIM 1A研究PE-NP/矩阵的不可错过，可洞悉刷子矩阵静电相互作用。 AIM 1B研究阶段分离，以指导产生带电刷子渗透的动力学途径的鉴定。 AIMS 2A和2B分别研究了用极性基质聚合物浸润的双连续金属和聚合物支架。研究了渗透动力学和性质作为孔隙限制和支架类型的函数。这些研究的重要性涉及发现用于制造（BI）连续结构的途径，以增强能量存储或净水应用。在AIM 3中，AE光学显微镜将用于映射PNC的相图，而AE-Gisaxs与Brookhaven国家实验室的科学家合作，将确定具有具有优势机械性能和电导率的渗透PNC结构的材料和加工条件。总而言之，PNCS的基本研究与数据科学驱动的特征结合将协同行动，以提高该项目中的材料发现知识。该奖项反映了NSF的法定任务，并被认为通过基金会的知识分子和广泛的影响审查标准来评估通过评估而被认为是珍贵的支持。