Discovery and Applications of Nonlinear Chemical Processes

自然界中无处不在的非线性现象，从海浪到磁性材料，从疾病的传播到心脏组织的螺旋波，化学振荡器的研究对它们的理解做出了重大贡献，从理论和应用的角度来看都具有重要意义。该计划将开发和研究新型光敏化学振荡器，可以与纳米材料的生长相互作用。我们将利用非线性化学动力学作为一种创新的工具来实现由各种贵金属组成的微/纳米晶体的形状和面选择性合成。控制贵金属纳米颗粒的形态和表面能的能力将导致新的或改进的应用（例如，在燃料电池，有机合成，化学传感器等）。除了深入了解复杂介质中的集体反应行为外，该研究还将导致非线性科学和纳米科学之间的新的协同作用。它还将在弥合微观过程和宏观特性之间的知识差距方面发挥重要作用，例如如何利用分子水平的非线性动力学来定制材料的整体特性。对醌类化合物的光电化学聚合的研究将为有机污染物的解毒提供一种创新的绿色途径。从这些研究中获得的知识也将为导电聚合物薄膜的合理设计奠定必要的基础，导电聚合物薄膜是制造新型化学传感器和廉价有机催化剂的有希望的候选者，用于燃料电池的环保能源生产。在基础研究方面，与纳米材料生长相结合的化学振荡器将为化学家、物理学家、生物学家和数学家提供一个宝贵的平台，以测试非线性动力学中的新思想和新技术。

Nonlinear phenomena are everywhere in Nature, from ocean waves to magnetic materials, from the spread of disease to spiral waves in cardiac tissue, the study of chemical oscillators has made significant contributions to their understanding, which is of fundamental importance both from the theoretical and the applicative point of view. This program will develop and investigate novel photosensitive chemical oscillators that can interact with the growth of nanomaterials. We will exploit nonlinear chemical dynamics as an innovative tool to achieve shape- and facet-selective synthesis of micro/nanocrystals comprising various noble metals. The ability to control the morphology and surface energy of noble metal nanoparticles will lead to new or improved applications (e.g., in fuel cells, organic synthesis, chemical sensors, etc.). In addition to gaining insights into collective reaction behavior in complex media, the study will lead to new synergies between nonlinear science and nanoscience. It will also play an important role in bridging the gap in the knowledge between microscopic processes and macroscopic properties, such as how molecular level nonlinear dynamics can be exploited to tailor the bulk properties of materials. The proposed research on photoelectrochemical polymerization of quinones will lead to the development of an innovative green approach for detoxifying organic pollutants. The knowledge derived from such studies will also form the foundation necessary for the rational design of conductive polymer films, which are promising candidates for fabricating novel chemical sensors and inexpensive organic catalysts for environmentally friendly production of energy in fuel cells. In terms of fundamental studies, chemical oscillators coupled to the growth of nanomaterials will provide an invaluable playground for chemists, physicists, biologists and mathematicians to test new ideas and techniques in nonlinear dynamics.