Regulation of Polymer Blend Morphology using Nanospheres and Nanorods

技术总结：“使用纳米球和纳米棒调节聚合物共混物形态”的拟议研究旨在了解聚合物共混物膜中的相分离如何影响纳米颗粒（NP）的分散，以及NP如何影响相演变、润湿和膜稳定性。 而以前的研究集中在纯共混物，目前的studywill调查颗粒特性，特别是表面化学和形状，如何影响NP分散和组织在多相形态。 将研究二氧化硅纳米球和CdSe纳米棒。 为了控制它们的位置，NP被酸性基团、中性刷和吸引刷官能化。 通过调节控制分配和组织的表面性质，NP可以被驱动到一个域或朝向相之间的界面。 NP的位置决定了膜的特性，包括润湿层生长速率、形貌、相演变和膜的稳定性。 通过对纳米粒子位置的控制，有望为工程相尺寸的设计提供一条新的途径。 例如，稳定的生物连续结构可以通过NP“干扰”产生，从而产生高效的光伏器件。 拟议中的研究需要一个调色板的互补深度和横向profilingtechniques包括离子束蚀刻结合扫描电子microscopic.NON-TECHNICAL摘要：聚合物纳米复合材料（PNC）被发现在日常材料，如轮胎和高尔夫球以及高科技设备的能量转换和传感器应用. PNC是纳米材料的例子，它正在推动纳米技术的革命。 这一爆炸性领域在2004年获得了全球投资总额80亿美元，预计到2014年将产生2.6万亿美元的影响。 尽管PNC具有高度的通用性和广泛的应用，但人们对PNC缺乏基本的了解，并且需要基础科学来生产基于PNC的可靠，高效和经济的设备。在过去的3.5年中，NSF项目为25名工程本科生（10名女性）和6名高中教师（2名女性，2名少数民族）提供了研究培训。 其中两人获得了NSF研究生奖学金。 在费城学区，针对教师的聚合物科学讲座引发了人们对为科学货车开发实验室的热情，这将接触到在中学中代表性不足的nimorites。 在大学的鼓励下，科学货车项目正处于规划阶段。 与来自英国和捷克共和国的科学家的国际合作将使学生更好地了解这些国家的研究。

TECHNICAL SUMMARY:The proposed research on "Regulation of Polymer Blend Morphology Using Nanospheres and Nanorods, "aims to understand how phase separation in polymer blendfilms affects the dispersion of nanoparticles (NP) and how NP affect phase evolution,wetting and film stability. Whereas prior studies focus on neat blends, the current studywill investigate how particle characteristics, in particular, surface chemistry and shape,influence how NP disperse and organize in a multi-phase morphology. Nanospheres ofsilica and nanorods of CdSe will be investigated. To control their location, NP arefunctionalized by acid-groups, neutral brushes, and attractive brushes. By tuning the surface properties, which control partitioning and organization, NP can be driven into onedomain or towards the interface between phases. The location of NP dictates filmcharacteristics including wetting layer growth rate, mprphology, phase evolution, andfilm stability. By controlling the location of NP, a new route for engineering phase size isexpected from these systematic studies. For example, stable biocontinuous structures canbe produced by NP "jamming" resulting in highly efficient photovoltaic devices. Theproposed research requires a palette of complementary depth and lateral profilingtechniques including ion beam etching combined with scanning electron microscopy.NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY:Polymer nanocomposites (PNC) are foundin everyday materials such as tires andgolfballs as well as high technology devices for energy conversion and sensorapplications. PNC are examples of nano-based materials, which are driving therevolution in nanotechnology. This exploding field has received worldwide investmentstotaling $8 billion in 2004 with an anticipated impact of $2.6 trillion by 2014. Althoughhighly versatile and widely used, a fundamental understanding of PNC is lacking andbasic science is necessary to produce PNC based devises that are reliable, efficient andeconomical.During the past 3.5 years, this NSF project has provided research training for 25engineering undergraduates (10 females) and 6 high school teaching (2 female, 2minority). Two of these have received NSF Graduate Fellowships. Lectures aboutpolymer science to teachers in the Philadelphia School District has lead to greatenthusiasm about developing laboratories for a Science Van that will reach out to underrepresented nimorites in middle school. With University encouragement, the Science Van project is in the planning stages. International collaborations with scientistsfrom the United Kingdom and the Czech Republic will provide students with a betterunderstanding about research in these countries.