Actively Controlled Transport with Molecular Assemblies

这项名为“分子组装的主动控制传输”的项目由伊利诺伊大学厄巴纳-香槟分校的Paul Bohn指导，并得到分析和表面化学计划的支持。这项工作的重点是开发和表征表面，通过受控生产，具有微尺度的非均质性。通过控制几何结构和表面自由能，可以操纵和研究分子和超分子的输运。这里提出的基础研究包括：(1)控制吸附导致二维组装的单层膜；(2)结构异质性的表征；(3)改善分子组装的空间控制；(4)使用可控的化学势梯度来指导表面运动。表面等离子激元共振、近场扫描光学显微镜以及交流和直流电阻率测量将用于表征表面。对化学势梯度的动态操纵将被用来影响表面上液滴等超分子物种的运动。这一研究将使人们更深入地理解同时表现出结构非均质性和化学势梯度的二维表面的受控生产。这项研究的成功将对理解复杂的界面结构具有重要意义，这些结构在先进材料、化学传感和细胞间通信的研究中具有应用价值。

This project entitled "Actively Controlled Transport with Molecular Assemblies" is directed by Paul Bohn at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and is supported by the Analytical and Surface Chemistry Program. This work focuses on the development and characterization of surfaces which, through controlled production, have microscale heterogeneity. By controlling the geometry and surface free energy, molecular and supermolecular transport can be manipulated and studied. The fundamental studies proposed here include (1) controlled adsorption of monolayer films that result in two-dimensional assemblies; (2) characterization of the structural heterogeneity; (3) improving the spatial control of molecular assembly; and (4) using controlled chemical potential gradients to direct surface motion. Surface Plasmon Resonance, near-field scanning optical microscopy, and ac and dc resistivity measurements will be used to characterize the surfaces. Dynamic manipulation of the chemical potential gradient will be used to affect motion of supermolecular species such as droplets on the surface.This research will result in a deeper understanding of the controlled production of two- dimensional surfaces that exhibit both structural heterogeneity and chemical potential gradients. The success of this research will have implications for understanding complex interfacial structures, which have applications in the studies of advanced materials, chemical sensing, and intercellular communication.