Colloidochromism: Optical Measurement of Surface Electrostatic Potential

在该项目中，北卡罗莱纳州立大学的Stefan Franzen教授将在化学学部的实验物理化学项目资助下开展一项研究项目，以DNA寡核苷酸为结构支架，开发并使用一组分子作为纳米颗粒在溶液和有序结构中的环境探针。纳米粒子的静电环境导致探针分子的光学带发生位移。这些变化反过来又作为纳米粒子表面电场的指示器。基于这种现象的方法称为胶体变色。这项提议的工作需要创造适当制备的纳米颗粒来调节表面电位，以及开发作为探针的新分子。对这些体系的胶色性进行了研究。此外，纯化的dna -纳米颗粒二聚体将被制备和类似的研究。这项工作的结果可以应用于利用DNA的纳米粒子的自组装。这项研究将与波兰的一位合作同事一起进行。学生将参与这项研究。

In this project, funded by the Experimental Physical Chemistry Program of the Chemistry Division, Prof. Stefan Franzen of the North Carolina State University will conduct a research program to develop and use a set of molecules as probes of the environment of nanoparticles in solution and in ordered structures using DNA oligonucleotides as the structural scaffold. The electrostatic environment of nanoparticles causes shifts of the optical bands of the probe molecules. These shifts in turn serve as indicators of the surface electric field of the nanoparticles. The method based on this phenomenon is called colloidochromism. The proposed work entails the creation of nanoparticles suitably prepared to modulate the surface potential, as well as the development of new molecules to serve as probes. The colloidochromism of these systems will be investigated. In addition, purified DNA-nanoparticle dimers will be prepared and similarly studied. The results of this work has applications to the self-assembly of nanoparticles using DNA. This research will be conducted with a collaborating colleague in Poland. Students will participate in this research.