Micro- and Nano-Scale Anisotropic Organic Materials via Self-Organization of Lyotropic Chromonic Liquid Crystals

本研究项目旨在探索一种新的“自下而上”的方法，通过利用模板上的慢性液晶的自组织来产生各向异性有机材料的微图案。最终，这些方法将扩展到纳米图案各向异性有机材料的制造。本研究对材料化学专业的本科生和研究生具有重要的教育和培训意义。本研究的具体目标是：1)进一步了解离子芳香族化合物的结构-性质关系，努力揭示控制超分子相互作用、光学性质和相性质（特别是溶致变色液晶相和结晶相）的结构因素；2)设计和合成长波长和近红外（NIR）吸收化合物，自组织成慢性LC相或结晶相；3)利用分子组分之间的超分子相互作用，为功能各向异性（方向依赖）材料的微纳米制备开发新方法，研究这些材料的性质，并探索其潜在的应用前景。研究将集中于使用具有二向色、荧光和半导体特性的芳香化合物作为分子成分；4)继续努力将材料化学融入有机化学的研究和教学。社会对多样化和明亮色彩的需求继续推动着对发色团系统的研究。二向色和荧光染料的设计和合成及其在材料中的分子顺序控制是一个重要而有用的命题。许多有用的材料（例如，二色偏光镜）和器件（例如，液晶显示器）依赖于有机化合物在制造过程中的某些步骤或在器件的功能期间自组织成有序的晶体相或LC相。从这项研究中获得的知识可以进一步推动极化和显示技术。除了在微电子领域的潜在用途外，微图型各向异性材料还可以应用于全息薄膜、可视角度依赖的光学材料和立体显示器。制备各向异性有机材料纳米图案的新方法的发展可能为纳米科学和纳米技术的快速发展提供新的机会。此外，由于长波染料和近红外材料的重要用途，从基础科学到高科技应用，这项研究的成功将广泛影响社会。随着与发展中技术高度相关的新型有机材料的迅速出现，工业界和学术界对有机和材料研究各方面培训的学生的需求不断增加。这个综合的教学和研究项目向学生介绍了研究有机材料的基本知识和技术，并为研究生和本科生（包括代表性不足的群体）提供了研究机会，为他们的职业生涯做好准备，可能包括有机材料研究，并改善他们在科学领域的教学生涯。现代科学仪器也是科学教育和培训的重要工具。这项研究所需的设备将加强内华达大学里诺分校的教育和研究基础设施。

This research project aims to explore novel "bottom-up" approaches to generating micropatterns of anisotropic organic materials by exploiting the selforganization of chromonic liquid crystals on templates. Ultimately, these approaches will be extended to the fabrication of nanopatterned anisotropic organic materials. This research will provide important education and training to undergraduate and graduate students in materials chemistry. The specific objectives of this research are: 1) To further our understanding of the structure-property relationships of ionic aromatic compounds and to strive to reveal the structural factors governing supramolecular interactions, optical properties, and phase properties (especially the lyotropic chromonic liquid-crystalline (LC) phase and the crystalline phase); 2) To design and synthesize long-wavelength and near infrared (NIR) absorbing compounds that self-organize into a chromonic LC phase or a crystalline phase; 3) To develop novel approaches to the micro-and nano-fabrication of functional anisotropic (direction-dependent) materials by exploiting the supramolecular interactions of the molecular constitutents, to study the properties of these materials, and to explore their potential applications. The research will focus on using aromatic compounds that possess dichroic, fluorescent, and semiconducting properties as the molecular constituents; 4) To continue with efforts on integrating materials chemistry into organic chemistry research and education.%%%Society's demand for diverse and bright colors continues to drive research on chromophore systems. The design and synthesis of dichroic and fluorescent dyes and the control of their molecular order in materials is an important and useful proposition. Many useful materials (e.g., dichroic polarizers) and devices (e.g., liquid crystal displays) depend on the self-organization of organic compounds into an ordered crystalline phase or a LC phase at some step in the manufacturing process or during the functioning of the device. The knowledge gained from this research could further polarization and display technologies. In addition to potential uses in the microelectronics field, micropatterned anisotropic materials may have applications as holographic films, as viewing angle-dependent optical materials, and in stereoscopic displays. The development of novel approaches to generating nanopatterns of anisotropic organic materials may offer new opportunities to the rapidly advancing fields of nanoscience and nanotechnology. Furthermore, the success of this research will broadly impact society because of the important uses of long-wavelength dyes and NIR materials that range from basic science to high technology applications. As new classes of organic materials highly relevant to developing technologies are rapidly emerging, there is an increasing demand in both industry and academia for students trained in various aspects of organic and materials research. This integrated teaching and research program introduces to students the basic knowledge and techniques for studying organic materials and provides research opportunities to both graduate and undergraduate students (including underrepresented groups) preparing them for a career that may include organic materials research, and improving their access to a teaching career in science. Modern scientific instrumentation is also an essential tool for science education and training. The equipment requested for this research will strengthen the infrastructure for education and research at the University of Nevada, Reno.