NSF Center for Layered Polymeric Systems

分层聚合物系统科学和技术中心(CLIPS)旨在通过凯斯西储大学(CASE)开发的独特微层和纳米层处理技术，创建一个广泛集成的研究和教育计划。为了创建综合中心，凯斯与德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校、菲斯克大学、南密西西比大学和海军研究实验室合作，由中心主任安妮·希尔特纳教授全面领导。她将由一名联席主任和一名副主任、一名教育执行主任、一名研究教席和两名现场主任协助。一个外部咨询委员会将审查该中心的战略计划，并就其综合运作提供指导。智力价值拟建的中心将专注于三个研究平台：1.独特的加工技术，能够制造多功能、层次化、微层化和纳米层状的聚合物结构和系统。2.开发利用分层层次实现独特传输特性的膜和屏障系统。3.发展基于先进层状材料的具有特殊性能的电光器件。这项工作将产生基于聚合物的全新系统，具有以下卓越能力：(1)通过强制组装将聚合物加工成不超过单个聚合物分子旋转半径的层；(2)将这些聚合物与有机染料、无机和杂化有机/无机颗粒以及具有高度分子识别能力的导电/光反应材料结合；以及(3)将聚合材料组织成纳米级多层膜，以通过传统技术生产新型功能器件。作为设计和生产这种层状薄膜过程的一部分，将在不同聚合物的强制组装、具有分子识别的分子的自组装以及杂化材料的性质等领域产生广泛的基础知识。该中心将通过一项工业协会计划与工业部门对接，将中心的技术转化为商业应用。广泛影响该中心的方法将聚合物科学和工程与纳米技术、光学、激光物理、薄膜、生物医学工程、设备开发和其他科学学科的研究战略性地整合在一个“聚合物+”的概念中。因此，研究项目的多学科性质自然而然地进入了研究生和本科教育。该合作伙伴关系的综合教育方法反映了聚合物+的想法，即在新兴的跨学科领域引入课程，如聚合物+纳米技术、聚合物+电光学和聚合物+生物材料。该中心的研究活动将通过凯斯大学和德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校开设的新课程“纳米科学和分层系统”纳入本科课程。一些旨在扩大妇女和代表人数不足的少数群体在各级的参与并影响高中科学教育的新倡议将建立在参与大学已有的基础上。多层次的研究和教育合作将利用并进一步发展凯斯大学和菲斯克大学之间现有的战略伙伴关系。“聚合物特使计划”将邀请克利夫兰市学区的学生探索将聚合物科学和工程作为学术追求和最终职业；该计划将成为其他合作机构与当地公立高中建立联系的典范。认识到人际交往对大学毕业生职业选择的重要影响，凯斯已经与5所非授予博士学位的学校建立了联系，这些学校提供强大的本科科学和工程课程，以刺激美国学生进入该中心的研究生课程。将与伙伴机构和附属学校合作，开发聚合物科学的三个单元“基础”课程，向中心的所有学生介绍基础知识，并为他们参与研究活动做好准备。所有级别的辅导是该中心的另一个重要组成部分。虽然学生和他们的教师导师将有独特的机会追求研究道路，但更高级的学生也将在与年轻学生的工作中获得指导机会。因此，该中心将由相互关联的导师和学生关系组成，旨在实现其培养创造性科学家和工程师的长期目标。将根据既定的时间表评估综合教育倡议的实施情况。该中心将有助于在科学和工程的十字路口发展“聚合物+”的概念。它将促进学术界和工业界之间的联系，并加快新产品倡议的开发。在某些情况下，这些联系将刺激创新的创业企业和小企业。该中心致力于成为层状聚合物体系研究和教育的国际权威联络点。包括互动网站、流媒体技术和互联网协议电视在内的知识传播工具旨在地方、州和国家各级的内部和外部支持者之间共享信息。

The Science and Technology Center for Layered Polymeric Systems (CliPS) aims to create a broadly integrated program of research and education through the vehicle of a unique microlayering and nanolayering processing technology developed at Case Western Reserve University (Case). To create the integrated Center, Case is partnering with the University of Texas at Austin, Fisk University, the University of Southern Mississippi, and the Naval Research Laboratory under the overall leadership of the Center Director, Professor Anne Hiltner. She will be assisted by a Co-Director and a Deputy Director, an Executive Director for Education, a Research Chair, and two Site Directors. An external Advisory Board will be reviewing the strategic plans of the Center and providing guidance on its integrated operations.Intellectual MeritThe proposed Center will focus on three research platforms:1. Unique processing technology that enables fabrication of versatile hierarchical microlayered and nanolayered polymer-based structures and systems. 2. Development of membrane and barrier systems that exploit the layered hierarchy to achieve unique transport properties. 3. Development of electro-optical devices with special properties based on the advanced layered materials. This work will result in radically new polymer-based systems with exceptional capabilities to: (1) process polymers into layers no thicker than the radius of gyration of individual polymer molecules by forced assembly; (2) combine these polymers with organic dyes, inorganic and hybrid organic/inorganic particles, and conductive/photoreactive materials that possess high levels of molecular recognition; and (3) organize the aggregate materials into nanoscale multi-layers to produce new functional devices by conventional technologies. As part of the process of designing and producing such layered films, broad fundamental knowledge will be generated in the areas of forced assembly of different polymers, self-assembly of molecules possessing molecular recognition, and properties of hybrid materials. The Center will interface with the industrial sector through an Industrial Associates Program to translate Center technologies into commercial applications.Broader ImpactsThe Center's approach strategically integrates polymer science and engineering with research in nanotechnology, optics, laser physics, membranes, biomedical engineering, device development and other scientific disciplines in a "polymers-plus" concept. Accordingly, the multidisciplinary nature of the research program flows naturally into graduate and undergraduate education. The partnership's integrated educational approach mirrors the polymers-plus idea to introduce coursework in emerging cross-disciplinary areas such as polymers-plus-nanotechnology, polymers-plus-electro-optics, and polymers-plus-biomaterials. The Center's research activities will be integrated into the undergraduate curriculum through a new course concentration in "Nanoscience and Layered Systems" at Case and the University of Texas at Austin. A number of new initiatives designed to expand participation of women and underrepresented minorities at all levels and to impact high-school science education will build on foundations already in place at the participating universities. A multi-level research and education collaboration will exploit and further develop an existing strategic partnership between Case and Fisk University. The "Polymer Envoys Program" will engage students from the Cleveland Municipal School District in the exploration of polymer science and engineering as academic pursuits and eventual careers; this program will serve as a model for the other Partner institutions to form linkages with local public high schools. Recognizing that personal contacts are an important influence in the career choice of college graduates, Case has established affiliations with 5 non PhD-granting schools that offer strong undergraduate science and engineering programs to stimulate enrollment of American students in the Center's graduate programs. Three modular "foundation" courses in polymer science will be developed in collaboration with the Partner institutions and the Affiliate schools to introduce the basics to all students in the Center and prepare them for participation in the research activities. Mentoring at all levels is another important component of the Center. While students and their faculty mentors will have unique opportunities to pursue research paths, more advanced students will also have mentoring opportunities in their work with younger students. Therefore, the Center will consist of interlocking mentor-student relationships that are designed to achieve its long-term goal of nurturing creative scientists and engineers. Implementation of the integrated educational initiatives will be evaluated against an established timetable. The Center will be instrumental in developing the concept of "polymers plus" at the crossroads of science and engineering. It will foster linkages between academia and industry, and accelerate the development of new product initiatives. In some instances, these linkages will stimulate innovative entrepreneurial ventures and small businesses. The Center endeavors to become the definitive contact point internationally for research and education in layered polymeric systems. Knowledge-transfer vehicles including an interactive website, streaming technology and Internet Protocol television are designed to share information among internal and external constituencies at the local, state and national levels.