Exploiting the Low Dimensional Physics of Incompressible Particles to Tailor the Stability and Morphology of Finite Phases Through Designed Surface Energies

该奖项由阿克伦大学材料研究部的聚合物项目颁发，旨在研究由不可压缩纳米颗粒和均聚物(包括可结晶和均聚物)制备的杂化材料的结构-功能关系。研究平面和曲面上的二维相变，以及利用与这些新型均聚物-纳米颗粒杂化相关的二维相变来控制胶束的稳定性、形态和过渡路径是该项目的一部分。利用特殊设计和合成的颗粒的片状晶体--可结晶的均相颗粒--和在稀溶液中生长的共聚物，这项拟议的研究将利用这些夹层？创建一个与表面紧密捆绑的颗粒的扁平衬底。单晶。随着分子量接近单一分散，被拴住的粒子将在表面具有均匀且可控的体积分数。监测晶片在不同结晶温度下的厚度变化将有助于定量研究具有重要理论和技术意义的二维相变。将生长杂化线型两嵌段共聚物的片状单晶，其中两个不相容、不可结晶的末端将位于单晶的相对基面。新开发的使用颗粒可结晶聚合物创建系留颗粒衬底的方法将提供精确控制的系统，这将使人们对低维相变有重要的了解，这将是对先前发展的理论的重要贡献。此外，将粒子物理和聚合物物理的知识结合起来，将能够开发出精确控制粒子界面体积分数、嵌段分子量、嵌段化学和分子结构的材料。该项目有望加强对软材料物理及其在晶体、表面和胶束中行为的进一步了解的知识库。拟议的研究将使研究生和本科生接触先进软材料的主题，同时促进跨学科的研究方法。作为该项目的一部分，还计划通过“向上的数学/科学”和“有天赋的高中生暑期荣誉学院”计划招收和培训有天赋的和代表不足的高中生。

This award by the Polymer program in the Division of Materials Research to University of Akron is to study the structure-functional relationships of hybride materials prepared from incompressible nanoparticles and homopolymers - both crystallizable and homopolymers. Study of 2-D phase transitions on flat and curved surfaces, and use of the 2-D phase transitions associated with these novel homopolymer-nanoparticle hybrides to control the stability, morphology and transitional pathways of micelles are parts of this project. Using lamellar crystals of specifically designed and synthesized particles-crystallizable homo- and copolymers grown in dilute solution, the proposed research will create a flat substrate with particles closely tethered to the surface using these ?sandwiched? single crystals. With near monodispersed molecular weight, the tethered particle will possess a uniform and controllable volume fraction on the surface. Monitoring the lamellar crystal thickness changes at different crystallization temperatures will enable a quantitative investigation of theoretically and technologically important 2-D phase transitions. Lamellar single crystals of hybride linear diblock copolymers, where the two immiscible, non-crystallizable ends will be located at opposite basal surfaces of the single crystal, will be grown. The newly developed method to create the tethered particle substrates using particle-crystallizable polymers would provide precisely controlled systems that will give significant insight into low dimensional phase transitions which will be an important contribution to the previously developed theories. In addition, combining knowledge from both particle and polymer physics would enable the development of materials with accurately controlled particle interfacial volume fractions, block molecular weights, block chemistries, and molecular architectures.The project is expected to enhance the knowledge base in developing additional understanding of soft materials physics in general and their behavior in crystals, on surfaces and on micelles. The proposed research would be exposing graduate and undergraduate student to topics in advanced soft materials while promoting an interdisciplinary approach to research. Recruiting and training of gifted and underrepresented high school students through "Upward Bound Math/Science" and "Summer Honors Institute for Gifted High School Students" programs are also planned as part of this project.