Structure and Mechanics of Self-Assembled Polymer Films at Liquid Interfaces

ARRA声明该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案(公法111-5)提供资金的。技术概述通过将聚合物分子、纳米颗粒或这些组分的组合吸附到液/液或液/固界面，可以制备各种有用的功能材料。这些材料的应用要求它们具有足够的机械强度，这通常源于它们的聚合成分。目前，控制这些材料的详细结构和机械完整性的许多因素还不是很清楚。该项目将发展界面力学领域，以便了解和控制聚合物基界面层的加工参数、结构特征和力学性能之间的关系。成功完成拟议的研究将使界面结构能够设计出具有必要的机械强度。一般的方法包括应用材料科学范式，成功地导致了新的大宗材料的发展。明确定义的模型系统将与专门为研究这些类型的界面膜而开发的实验技术相结合。三种类型的体系将被研究：相反带电的聚电解质层之间的界面，由相反带电的物种在两水相流体之间的界面上络合形成的界面组装体，以及在二维范围内经历自组装或自组织的材料。研究生将在材料科学的一个重要的新兴子领域接受相关科学技术方面的培训。这项工作还将通过与墨西哥同事的联合项目促进国际合作。另一项题为“自然界对机械问题的解决办法”的倡议将提供一种手段，向非常广泛和不同的受众传达力学中的重要基本概念。该项目这一部分的一个主要目标是在科学界和广大公众之间建立一座桥梁，科学界越来越注重理解和模拟生物系统的机械行为，而更广泛的公众天生对自然环境感兴趣，但不熟悉这些领域的科学文献。第二个目标是利用这些例子来发展批判性思维技能，交流“我们如何知道我们所知道的”，并教科学家和非科学家区分有理性基础的主张和没有理性基础的主张。这一努力得到了与芝加哥地区当地博物馆的合作，从芝加哥植物园和谢德水族馆开始。这些机构提供了在最广泛和最一般的层面上接触公众的专业知识。西北大学的本科生和芝加哥地区的高中科学教师将在PI的指导下参与这部分工作。

ARRA STATEMENT This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5). TECHNICAL SUMMARY A variety of useful functional materials can be produced by adsorption of polymeric molecules, nanoparticles, or a combination of these components to liquid/liquid or liquid/solid interfaces. Applications of these materials require that they have sufficient mechanical strength, which generally originates from their polymeric component. Currently, many of the factors that control the detailed structure and mechanical integrity of these materials are not well understood. This project will develop the field of interfacial mechanics so that the relationships between the processing parameters, structural features and mechanical properties of polymer-based interfacial layers can be understood and controlled. Successful completion of the proposed research will enable interfacial structures to be engineered with the necessary mechanical strength. The general approach involves application of the materials science paradigm that has successfully led to the development of new bulk materials. Well defined model systems will be utilized in conjunction with experimental techniques developed specifically for the investigations of these types of interfacial films. Three types of systems will be investigated: interfaces between oppositely charged polyelectrolyte layers, interfacial assemblies formed by the complexation of oppositely charged species at the interface between two aqueous fluids, and materials undergoing self-assembly or self-organization while confined to two dimensions.NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY The research will result in the development of an important new class of materials with applications in materials and health-related areas. Graduate students will be trained in the relevant scientific techniques in an important, emerging subfield of materials science. The work will also foster international collaboration through joint projects with colleagues in Mexico. An additional initiative entitled "Nature's Solutions to Mechanical Problems" will provide a means for communicating important fundamental concepts in mechanics to a very broad and diverse audience. A primary goal of this portion of the project is to develop a bridge between the scientific community, which is increasingly focused on understanding and mimicking the mechanical behavior of biological systems, and the broader public who are inherently interested in their natural surroundings but are not familiar with the scientific literature in these areas. A secondary goal is to use these examples to develop critical thinking skills, to communicate 'how we know what we know', and to teach both scientists and non-scientists to distinguish between claims that have a rational basis and those that do not. This effort is leveraged by collaborations with local museums in the Chicago area, beginning with the Chicago Botanic Garden and Shedd Aquarium. These institutions bring expertise in reaching the public at the broadest and most general level. Undergraduate students at Northwestern University and high school science teachers in the Chicago area will be involved in this part of the effort under the guidance of the PI.