Design and Engineering of Polymer Crystal Surfaces and Interfaces

这一跨学科项目发展了表面和纳米技术所需的聚合物晶体表面和界面的设计和工程科学，如表面纳米图案和响应性化学传感器。研究的核心思想是利用设计的非晶态(A)-晶态(C)二嵌段和三嵌段共聚物的片状单晶来控制聚合物单晶的表面性质。A-C两嵌段共聚物单晶将被用来确定系链过度拥挤和拉伸的理论和技术上的重要开始。它们还将被用来确定在纳米限制下系链链密度和缺陷对结晶的影响。A-A-C线性和Y形三块单晶将被用来研究近二维的纳米相分离、相变和形貌。A-C-A线性三嵌段共聚物将被用来创造可切换/可调谐的扭曲和卷曲的晶体形态，以构建具有先进的光学或生物仿生性能的超分子结构。除了本科生、研究生和博士后的培训和课程开发外，还将汇编晶体结构和形态的文献档案并在互联网上提供。%这个跨学科项目开发了表面和纳米技术所需的聚合物晶体表面和界面的设计和工程科学，如表面纳米图案、响应性化学传感器和具有先进光学或生物模拟特性的超分子结构。这项任务将通过利用特别设计的聚合物与创新的结晶技术相结合来完成，以在纳米尺度上创造高度通用和功能强大的晶体模板。这些模板，以及由此衍生的科学，将形成一个基础，在此基础上将进行纳米科学和纳米技术的整个分支。在这项研究过程中，研究生和博士后助理将接受尖端合成和晶体生长技术方面的培训，而本科生将获得宝贵的研究经验，并被鼓励继续追求科学。此外，来自世界各地科学家的已发表和未发表的晶体结构和形态将被收集、分类、计算机化，并通过互联网向公众提供。

This interdisciplinary project develops the science of designing and engineering the polymer crystal surfaces and interfaces needed for surface- and nano-technologies such as surface nano-patterns and responsive chemical sensors. The core idea of the research is to utilize lamellar single crystals of designed amorphous(A)-crystalline(C) di- and triblock copolymers to control polymer single crystal surface properties. A-C diblock copolymer single crystals will be used to determine the theoretically and technologically important onset of tethered chain overcrowding and stretching. They will also be used to determine the affect of tethered chain density and defects on crystallization under nano-confinement. Single crystals of A-A-C linear and "Y" shaped triblocks will be used to investigate near two-dimensional nano-phase separation, phase transitions, and morphologies. A-C-A linear triblock copolymers will be used to create switchable/tunable twisted and scrolled crystal morphologies for constructing supra-molecular structures with advanced optical or bio-mimetic properties. In addition to the undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral training and course development, documentary archives of crystal structures and morphologies will be compiled and made available on the Internet.%%%This interdisciplinary project develops the science of designing and engineering polymer crystal surfaces and interfaces needed for surface- and nano-technologies such as surface nano-patterns, responsive chemical sensors, and supra-molecular structures possessing advanced optical or bio-mimetic properties. This task will be accomplished by utilizing specially designed polymers in conjunction with innovative crystallization techniques to create highly versatile and functional crystal templates on the nanoscale. These templates, along with the science derived from them, will form a foundation upon which an entire branch of nanoscience and nanotechnology will be conducted. During the course of this research, graduate and post-doctoral associates will be trained in cutting edge synthesis and crystal growth techniques, while undergraduates will gain valuable research experience, and be encouraged to continue the pursuit of science. Additionally, published and unpublished crystal structures and morphologies from scientists world-wide will be collected, categorized, computerized, and made available to the public through the Internet.