Molecular assemblies in solution and on surfaces.

Kraatz小组的研究计划活跃在生物化学和电化学的交界处，同时进行溶液和表面研究。研究的重点是发展多肽生物结合物的化学，了解它们的性质，包括它们形成软凝胶的相互作用和聚集，金属结合部位，以及如何将这些材料用于生物分析或材料应用，包括二氧化碳捕获和还原。基于我们对解开与稳定的多肽折叠分子的设计和使用、它们在凝胶材料中的聚集以及使用电化学方法来探索这些材料的性质和反应性相关的基本问题的兴趣，本研究计划集中在两个广泛的领域-凝胶材料和二氧化碳电还原。在这两种情况下，我们都在利用分子的组装来获得额外的功能。具体而言，该计划将侧重于：a)创新刺激响应性多肽结合物的制备、表征和研究，通过调节结合物内的亲水-疏水平衡来研究序列-结构-功能控制，凝胶动力学与热力学的研究，以及新型杂化凝胶材料的研究。B)研究改良表面，并详细研究二氧化碳捕获和减少的环境影响。这项研究计划将使人们对软凝胶材料有更全面的了解，并产生一种更系统的方法来根据特定的应用定制水凝胶材料，从去除水中的有机污染物到影响细胞生长到药物输送和组织支架。以直接大气捕获和减少相结合为重点的二氧化碳电减少研究有望为现有的二氧化碳问题提供创新的解决方案。拟议的研究计划为来自不同背景的HQP创造了独特的、具有启发性的跨学科培训机会，使其能够在涉及电化学、生物化学、材料化学以及表面科学的研究领域工作，并为加拿大的知识经济培养下一代HQP。

The research program in the Kraatz group is active at the interface of biological chemistry and electrochemistry, pursuing solution and surface studies in tandem. Research focuses on developing the chemistry of peptide bioconjugates, understanding their properties, including their interactions and aggregation forming soft gels, metal binding sites, and how these materials can be exploited for bioanalytical or materials' applications, including CO2 capture and reduction. Based on our interest to unravel fundamental issues related to the design and use of stable peptide foldamers, their aggregation into gel materials, and the use of electrochemical methods to probe the properties and reactivities of these materials, this research program focuses on two broad areas - gel materials and CO2 electroreduction. In both cases, we are exploiting the assembly of molecules to gain additional functions. Specifically this program will focus on: a) the preparation, characterization, and study of innovative stimuli responsive peptide conjugates and an investigation into the sequence-structure-function control through modulation of the hydrophilic-hydrophobic balance within the conjugate, a study of gel kinetics versus thermodynamics, and the study of new hybrid gel materials. b) the study of modified surfaces and a detailed study of the environmental effects for carbon dioxide capture and reduction. This research program will result in a more comprehensive understanding of soft gel materials and lead to a more systematic approach to tailor hydrogel materials to a given application, ranging from the removal of organic pollutants from water to influencing cell growth to drug delivery and tissue scaffolding. Research on CO2¬ electroreduction with a focus on combining direct atmospheric capture and reduction is expected to innovative solutions to the existing CO2 problem. The proposed research program creates unique and stimulating cross- disciplinary training opportunities for HQP from diverse backgrounds to work in an area of research that involves electrochemistry, biological chemistry, material chemistry as well as surface science and train the next generation of HQP for Canada's knowledge economy.