Materials World Network: Ordering Transitions of Liquid Crystals in Contact with Polyelectrolyte Multilayer Films

这个材料世界网络奖给威斯康星大学麦迪逊分校是一个联合研究和教育计划之间的教授尼古拉斯雅培在威斯康星大学麦迪逊分校，美国和教授弗兰克卡鲁索在墨尔本，澳大利亚大学。 该奖项由材料研究部的固态化学计划和国际科学与工程办公室的东亚和太平洋计划共同资助。该研究建立在美国科学家先前的观察基础上，即液晶中的合作有序转变可以耦合到热致液晶和不混溶水相之间界面处的表面活性剂，脂质和蛋白质的组装，从而提供了一种新的手段，通过这种手段将这些界面事件动态放大为光学信号。该研究的科学目标是由聚电解质多层膜（PEMS）提供一种通用且简便的方法来控制水-液晶界面的纳米级结构和化学功能性的命题所激发的。 关于液晶和聚合物的界面性质的基本问题将被调查，包括有关其动态特性和这些材料之间的顺序耦合的问题。 此外，该奖项还将促进威斯康星州大学和墨尔本大学之间研究生和年轻研究人员的交流。由于两个校区都有大量的纳米科学和工程研究，该项目也为两个国际纳米科学和工程领域的研究人员提供了一座桥梁。在这个补助金申请中提出的主题在于美国团队在表征界面附近液晶有序性方面的专业知识和澳大利亚研究团队对用于制备和表征多层膜的方法的深入和详细的知识的自然交叉。 有了这个奖项，将在理解多层聚电解质薄膜的渗透性方面取得重大进展，这对于合理开发需要在传感器，分离或药物输送系统中选择性传输分子的技术至关重要。本提案中描述的研究将为美国研究生和美国更广泛的学术界提供出色的教育机会。通过这些交流，他们还将有不寻常的机会体验美国以外的科学文化和实践。

This Materials World Network award to University of Wisconsin-Madison is a joint research and education program between Professor Nicholas Abbott at University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA and Professor Frank Caruso at University of Melbourne, Australia. This award is co-funded by the Solid State Chemistry Program in the Division of Materials Research, and the East Asia and Pacific Program in the Office of International Science and Engineering. The research builds from prior observations made by the US scientist that cooperative ordering transitions in liquid crystals can be coupled to the assembly of surfactants, lipids, and proteins at interfaces between thermotropic liquid crystals and immiscible aqueous phases, thus providing a novel means by which to dynamically amplify these interfacial events into optical signals. The scientific goals of the research are motivated by the proposition that multilayer films of polyelectrolytes (PEMS) offer a general and facile method to control the nanometer-scale structure and chemical functionality of aqueous-liquid crystals interfaces. Fundamental questions regarding the interfacial properties of liquid crystals and polymers will be investigated, including questions regarding their dynamic properties and the coupling of order between these materials. In addition, this award will facilitate exchanges of graduate students and young researchers between University of Wisconsin and University of Melbourne. As both campuses host substantial research on nanoscale science and engineering, this project also provides a bridge between two international communities of researchers working in the field of nanoscale science and engineering. The topic proposed in this grant application lies at the natural intersection of the expertise of the US team in characterizing the ordering of liquid crystals near interfaces and the Australian research teams deep and detailed knowledge of methods used to prepare and characterize polyelectrolyte multilayers. With this award, significant advances would be made in understanding the permeability of multilayer polyelectrolytes films that are essential for the rational development of technologies requiring selective transport of molecules in sensors, separations or drug delivery systems. The research described in this proposal will provide outstanding educational opportunities for US graduate students and the broader academic community at US. Through these exchanges, they will also have the unusual opportunity to experience scientific cultures and practices outside of the United States.