Scanning probe microscopy of polymer surface nanostructures

沃克团队将研究聚合物分子如何与表面相互作用。在这项研究中，将检查分子的粘附力有多强，分子如何使其形状适应表面，以及它们之间的电子连接。蛋白质和合成聚合物将使用测量和施加机械和电力的仪器进行探测。沃克是单分子粘合机制和高分辨率化学成像技术的领先开发商。 了解聚合物分子如何在表面自我组织，将有助于设计可用于粘合剂、光伏设备、医疗植入物、传感器、化学分离技术和记忆存储设备的新材料。例如，高级聚合物是飞机机翼复合材料、汽车保险杠涂层和高级织物的粘合剂。这些粘接界面通常很薄，以更好地控制连接表面之间的机械力和电动力。有用的性能，如韧性、导电性和导热性、光敏性和生物相容性，预计将取决于聚合物分子的延伸形状和构象。 设计、观察和改善聚合物创造的性能需要新的测量工具，这些工具具有足够高的灵敏度，可以检查单个分子，沃克的团队将开发这样的工具。 沃克在培养高素质人才方面有着卓越的记录，在这个项目中，研究生和本科生将学习设计和应用先进的聚合物材料，并帮助满足国家对创新高科技的熟练劳动力的需求。

The Walker team will study how polymer molecules interact with surfaces. In this research, how strongly the molecules adhere, how the molecules adapt their shapes to surfaces, and the electrical connections between them, will be examined. Proteins and synthetic polymers will be probed using instruments that measure and apply mechanical and electrical forces. Walker is a leading developer of techniques for single molecule adhesion mechanics and high resolution chemical imaging. Understanding how polymer molecules organize themselves at surfaces will enable the design of new materials that can serve in adhesives, photovoltaic devices, medical implants, sensors, chemical separations technologies, and memory storage devices. For example, advanced polymers are the glue in the composites of aircraft wings, coatings in car bumpers, and advanced fabrics. These adhesive interfaces are often quite thin, to better control the mechanical and electrical forces between the joined surfaces. Useful properties like toughness, electrical and thermal conductivity, photosensitivity and biocompatibility are expected to depend on the extended shapes and conformations of the polymer molecules. Designing, observing, and improving the properties created by the polymers requires new measurement tools that have sensitivity great enough to examine individual molecules, and Walker's group will develop such tools. Walker has an outstanding record for training highly qualified personnel, and in this project graduate and undergraduate students will learn to design and apply advanced polymer materials, and help meet the national need for a skilled work force that innovates high technology.