Self-Assembly of Block Copolymers in Supercritical Fluids, U.S.-Turkey Cooperative Research

该奖项旨在支持纽约州立大学石溪分校化学系Ben Chu博士和土耳其伊斯坦布尔Bogazici大学聚合物研究中心Burak Erman博士的合作研究。在这项研究中，两位科学家将结合现代分析方法（如同步加速器超小角度x射线散射）和现代计算机模拟技术（如分子动力学），更深入地了解嵌段共聚物在超临界流体中自组装行为的结构/性质关系。提出了在超临界二氧化碳中使用F3C(CF2)m-(CH2)nCH3短链二嵌段，并通过计算机模拟、实验和模型研究了聚合物浓度、总链长、链长比、温度和CO2压力对其自组装行为的影响。范围：该奖项部分资助美国私家侦探和一名美国研究生访问Bogazici大学，以及土耳其科学家访问纽约州立大学石溪分校。埃尔曼博士将向土耳其政府寻求资金，以支付在该国的部分费用。该项目带来了两位在聚合物化学领域非常有经验的科学家合作，以了解聚合过程。预期的结果可以帮助改善聚合物的生产，而不使用对环境有害的有机硫。该项目还允许在土耳其最好的技术大学之一的国际环境中培训一名美国研究生。这个项目非常符合国际项目司的目标。

Description: This award is to support collaborative research by Dr. Ben Chu, Chemistry Department, State University of New York at Stony Brook and Dr. Burak Erman, Polymer Research Center, Bogazici University in Istanbul, Turkey. In this research the two scientists will use a combination of modern analytical methods (e.g synchrotron ultrasmall angle x-ray scattering) and modern computer simulation techniques (e.g. molecular dynamics) to provide deeper understanding of the structure/property relationship for the self-assembly behavior of block copolymers in supercritical fluids. It is proposed to use short-chain diblocks of F3C(CF2)m-(CH2)nCH3 in supercritical Carbon dioxide and to investigate the self-assembly behavior as a function of polymer concentration, total chain length, chain length ratio, temperature and CO2 pressure by means of computer simulations, experiment and modeling. Scope: This award is to partially fund visits by the U.S. P.I. and a U.S. graduate student to Bogazici University, and the visit of the Turkish scientist to SUNY,Stony Brook. Dr. Erman will be seeking funds from the Turkish Government to cover part of the costs in that country. The project brings two very experienced scientists in the field of polymer chemistry to collaborate on understanding the process of polymerization. The expected results could help improve the production of polymers without the use of organic sulfurs which are an environmental hazard. The project also allows for the training of a U.S. graduate student in an international setting at one of Turkey's best technical universities. The project fits well with the objectives of the Division of International Programs.