CAREER: An Integrated Research and Education Program in Engineering Functional Block Copolymers

该提案旨在解决唯一来自活性自由基聚合技术的功能嵌段共聚物的管理物理-相行为和结构-功能相互关系，并在选定的高级应用中利用这些新材料的物理性能。 具体来说，将检查两类材料：含有氟化嵌段的聚合物，以及浓缩的聚电解质嵌段共聚物溶液和凝胶。含氟嵌段共聚物提供了在中等分子量下探索相图的非常强的分离状态的机会。在这些材料中掺入牺牲块将产生具有固有低介电常数的纳米多孔薄膜，使其成为微电子中金属间绝缘体的有吸引力的候选者。至于浓缩的水溶液和凝胶，它们的两亲性和离子特性使其具有额外的形态丰富性和复杂性。加入适量的选择性溶剂（例如，水）和调节pH可以引起微区尺寸的变化，甚至引起有序相之间的转变。这些材料的多功能性将通过构造刺激响应装置和装置组件（例如机械开关和阀）来进一步证明。对这些材料--它们的纳米级结构以及这些结构如何影响宏观性能--的更好理解将使我们能够先验地设计具有定制性能的功能嵌段共聚物。%该研究计划是高度跨学科的;参与的学生将完全沉浸在聚合物合成，结构表征，器件设计，制造和测试中。他们接触到的广泛的概念和技术将建立自信，并将在未来的职业生涯中提供灵活性。 这项建议的教育推广部分的核心是本科生和研究生课程的制定。当前和新兴的研究概念，表征技术和相关的拟议工作的处理技术将在本科核心化学工程实验室课程实施，以准确地反映行业的变化趋势。同时还将开发一门关于聚合物表征的研究生调查课程，该课程强调利用校园内现有的最先进设施进行动手实验。拟议的教育计划的任务之一是通过鼓励动手，探究式学习来加强和巩固奥斯汀公立小学和中学的科学课程。正在开发的学习材料和评估工具将在互联网上发布，以便其他地方的小学科学教师可以使用。为了提高学生的科学和工程意识，奥斯汀儿童博物馆将设立一个纳米探索展览。PI和她的团队还将通过“Nano@Border”教育外展计划接待来自UT Pan America，UT布朗斯维尔和UT El Peso的交换学生和教师。

This proposal seeks to address the governing physics - phase behavior and structure-function interrelationships - of functional block copolymers uniquely derived from living free radical polymerization techniques, and to exploit the physical properties of these novel materials in selected advanced applications. Specifically, two classes of materials will be examined: polymers containing fluorinated blocks, and concentrated polyelectrolyte block copolymer solutions and gels. Fluorine-containing block copolymers provide the opportunity to explore the very strongly-segregated regime of the phase diagram at moderate molecular weights. Incorporation of a sacrificial block within these materials will produce nanoporous thin films with inherently low dielectric constants, making them attractive candidates for intermetal insulators in micro-electronics. As for concentrated polyelectrolyte solutions and gels, their amphiphilicity and ionic character render additional morphological richness and complexity. Adding moderate amounts of selective solvents (e.g., water) and adjusting pH can induce changes in microdomains sizes, and even transformations between ordered phases. The versatility of these materials will be further demonstrated through the construction of stimulusresponsive device and device components, such as mechanical switches and valves. An improved understanding of these materials - their nanoscale structures and how these structures affect macroscopic properties - will lead to the ability to engineer functional block copolymers with tailored properties a priori.%%%This research program is highly interdisciplinary; students involved will be fully immersed in polymer synthesis, structural characterization, device design, fabrication, and testing. The broad range of concepts and techniques they are exposed to will build self-confidence, and will provide flexibility in their future careers. Central to the educational outreach component of this proposal is undergraduate and graduate curriculum development. Current and emerging research concepts, characterization techniques, and processing technologies relevant to the proposed work will be implemented in an undergraduate core Chemical Engineering laboratory course to accurately reflect the changing trends in the profession. A graduate survey course on polymer characterization that emphasizes hands-on experimentation with existing state-of-the-art facilities on campus will be developed simultaneously. One of the missions of the proposed educational program is to strengthen and solidify the science curriculum in Austin's public elementary and middle schools by encouraging hands-on, inquiry-based learning. The learning materials and assessment tools that are being developed will be published on the internet so they are accessible to elementary school science teachers elsewhere. To promote science and engineering awareness among school children, a Nano-Exploratory Exhibit will be set up in Austin's Children Museum. The PI and her group will also be hosting exchange students and teachers from UT Pan America, UT Brownsville, and UT El Peso through the "Nano@Border" Educational Outreach Program.***