NIRT: Nanoscale Engineering and Manufacture Effected Through Molecular Architecture and Structure

这项研究的目的是开发技术，允许分散和精确控制组装成聚合物材料的纳米物体为下一代的纳米结构材料和设备。该方法是整合一个团队，具有合成化学，表征，理论，计算机模拟和工程技能的技能，谁可以迅速响应团队最近的发现，这表明不寻常的热力学在nanoscale. NIRT活动的更广泛的教育和推广方面被认为是至关重要的，这个计划的最终成功，将跨越几个学科：化学，物理和工程.为了创造一个真正的多学科的环境中，学生可以茁壮成长，合成有机/聚合物化学（伍利，霍克）与物理/纳米系统理论（托马内克，弗里施克内希特），聚合物科学（塞利纳，阿辛克）和工程（麦凯）的整合将通过各种机制完成：学生交流，年会，定期电话会议或网络会议和参加国家会议。纳米技术的教学模块已经由该NIR团队的成员开发，除了我们以前成功的外展活动（如Mackay和Wooley与小学儿童的会谈）外，其他课程正在开发中，并在网上（www.nanoeverything.com）提供题为“纳米技术儿童”的试用演示。我们建议通过与位于密歇根州立大学校园内的科学剧院合作，为公众创作舞台表演，扩大对K-12和公众的宣传。最后，这个NIR团队由专门的研究人员组成，他们也将做出基础科学发现，并有能力将这些知识转化为工业现实。

The objective of this research is to develop technology that allows for dispersion and accurate control over assembly of nano-objects into polymeric materials for the next generation of nanostructured materials and devices. The approach is to integrate a team that has skills in synthetic chemistry, characterization, theory, computer simulation and engineering skills who can rapidly respond to recent discoveries made by the team which suggests unusual thermodynamics at the nanoscale.The broader educational and outreach aspects of the NIRT activities are considered critical to the ultimate success of this program and will cross several disciplines: chemistry, physics and engineering. To create a truly multidisciplinary environment in which students can thrive, integration of synthetic organic/polymer chemistry (Wooley, Hawker) with physics/theory of nanosystems (Tomanek, Frischknecht), polymer science (Celina, Assink) and engineering (Mackay) will be accomplished through a variety of mechanisms: exchange of students, an annual meeting, regular teleconferences or cyber meetings and participation in national meetings. Teaching modules in nanotechnology have already been developed by members of this NIRTeam and other courses are under development in addition to our previous successful outreach activities such as talks to elementary School children by Mackay and Wooley and a trial presentation entitled, "Nanotech Kids," is available on the web (www.nanoeverything.com). We propose to expand the outreach to K-12 and the general public by teaming with the Science Theatre located on the campus of Michigan State University to create stage shows for the public. Finally, this NIRTeam consists of dedicated researchers who will also make fundamental scientific discoveries and have the ability to translate this knowledge to industrial reality.