Studies in nanoscale interface and materials science

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The proposal describes a broad program of nanoscale surface, interface and materials science with emphasis: i) on the coupling of quantitative mechanical and chemical properties at nanometer (nm) length scales in tribology and in soft and hard materials; ii) on the development of new methods of manipulating live cells and studying them with high temporal, spatial (10s of nm) and spectroscopic resolutions at sensitivities approaching single molecule detection, and iii) the study of the dynamics of the formation of water on metal surfaces. The nanotribology studies are focused on understanding the basic mechanisms of friction, lubrication and wear, and involve synchrotron-based XANES imaging, imaging nanoindation, and, most recently, unique new methods of measuring wear at the nm/hr rate. The nanoscale biology work involves creation of patterned, optically transparent substrates contained within microfluidic channels in which labeled live cells can be temporarily immobilized/patterned for study by confocal and near field optical techniques after chosen chemical and physical perturbations, before release and replacement. The Discovery Grant component of my research program will therefore support research in several main areas: 1) the study of ultralow wear-rates of materials; study of the temperature dependence of mechanical properties of materials and antiwear films (nanoscale creep); development of much more sensitive (~ 10 pN) (force compensated probes for materials research using interferometric detection methods; 2) the development and application of the new force-compensated probes for force measurements and for use as platforms for optical and other probes for the study of trafficking of molecules at the membranes of live cells (single molecule; < 10exp-18 L volume sampling); patterning of surfaces within microfluidic channels for biocompatibility and bioactivity; 3) joint developments with Hepburn at UBC of techniques to probe the internal energy state of water produced by the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen on platinum surfaces.