Interfacial Self Assembly of Nanoparticles and Their Interactions

该奖项由化学部门的大分子、超分子和纳米化学项目颁发，获奖者是托莱多大学的Terry Bigioni和Jacques Amar。本研究的目的是研究控制配体钝化胶体纳米颗粒自组装的力和动力学的作用。实验和理论的结合将提高我们对纳米粒子相互作用的认识，从而使不同的胶体纳米粒子与一系列配体和溶剂形成高质量的二维薄膜。绝大多数非水纳米颗粒是配体钝化的，但目前还没有全面的理论来描述它们的相互作用。通过研究亚单层和多层生长，可以阐明控制二维和三维组装的相互作用和动力学。在这些实验中，可以在团簇扩散和聚结显著的情况下实现外延，从而打开了将外延生长理论应用于纳米尺度的机会。界面胶体自组装的推广有望使纳米级物体的快速、廉价和容易的图案远远超过传统光刻的限制。重大影响涉及超薄膜涂层，催化，光电子，传感器和超高密度磁存储等领域。此外，组装新型纳米复合薄膜和结构的理论和建模策略是广泛的技术相关材料设计的范例。该项目通过培训研究生、本科生、高中生和高中教师在纳米技术方面提供教育机会。这项研究的成果被用来丰富本科和研究生的课程，包括开设显微镜、表面科学和软凝聚态物质的新课程。

This award is made by the Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry program of the Chemistry Division and the recipients are Terry Bigioni and Jacques Amar of the University of Toledo.The objective of this research is to investigate the role of forces and kinetics that control the self-assembly of ligand-passivated colloidal nanoparticles. Experiment and theory working together are to advance our knowledge of nanoparticle interactions for assembling high-quality 2D films of different colloidal nanoparticles with a range of ligands and solvents. The vast majority of non-aqueous nanoparticles are ligand-passivated, yet no comprehensive theory exists to describe their interactions. By studying both sub-monolayer and multilayer growth, the interactions and kinetics that control 2D and 3D assembly may be elucidated. Epitaxy in a regime where cluster diffusion and coalescence are significant is attainable in these experiments, thus opening the opportunity to adapt epitaxial growth theory to the nanoscale. The generalization of interfacial colloidal self assembly promises to enable fast, inexpensive and facile patterning of nanoscale objects far exceeding the limits of conventional lithography. Significant impact reaches fields such as ultra-thin film coatings, catalysis, optoelectronics, sensors, and ultra-high density magnetic storage. Further, the theoretical and modeling strategies for assembling novel nanocomposite thin films and structures is a paradigm of materials design for a wide range of technologically relevant materials. This project provides educational opportunities by training graduate students, undergraduate students, high school students, and high school teachers in nanotechnology. The outcome of this research is used to enrich undergraduate and graduate courses, including the creation of new courses on microscopy, surface science and soft condensed matter.