GOALI-Silica Polyamine Composites: Hybrid Materials for Nanotechnology and Catalysis

化学系的高分子、超分子和纳米化学(MSN)计划和工程局的GOALI计划，并将支持蒙大拿大学爱德华·罗森伯格教授的研究计划。Rosenberg教授和他的学生与当地一家公司Pure Systems Inc.合作，开发了一种新型的非晶态二氧化硅-聚合物复合材料，该材料正在商业化生产，并用于采矿和修复行业。在这个项目中，罗森博格教授和他的学生将合成发光二氧化硅多胺复合纳米颗粒，并将其用作金属阳离子的发光探针。这些颗粒的发光响应是基于硅多胺复合纳米颗粒的发光硅核与表面结合的Ru络合物之间的共振能量转移(RET)。发光颗粒将被合并到水过滤膜中，并在放置在受污染的水样中时用于监测金属与这些膜的结合。二氧化硅多胺复合纳米粒子也将作为多相加氢反应的新型催化剂。新型发光纳米材料将在饮用水净化和废水处理等关键环境应用中得到广泛应用。这项技术的商业化将对采矿和金属加工业产生重大影响。该研究项目将为在工业领域寻求研究和开发职业的复合材料领域的学生提供极好的培训机会。罗森博格教授将邀请本科生和研究生参与这项拟议的研究，其中包括美洲原住民学生。

The Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry (MSN) program in the Division of Chemistry and the GOALI program of the Engineering Directorate and will support the research program of Prof. Edward Rosenberg of the University of Montana. Prof. Rosenberg and his students, in collaboration with a local company, Purity systems Inc. has developed a novel class of amorphous silica-polymer composite materials that are being commercially produced and are being used in the mining and remediation industries. In this project, Prof. Rosenberg and his students will synthesize luminescent silica polyamine composite nanoparticles and use them as luminescent probes for metal cations. The luminescence response of these particles is based on resonance energy transfer (RET) between the luminescent silicon core of the silica polyamine composite nanoparticles and surface bound ruthenium complexes. The luminescent particles will be incorporated incorporate into water filtration membranes and used to monitor metal binding to these membranes when placed in contaminated water samples. Silica polyamine composite nanoparticles will also be used novel catalysts in heterogeneous hydrogenation reactions. The new class of luminescent nanomaterials will be used widely in critical environmental applications like drinking water purification and waste water treatment. Commercialization of this technology will have a significant impact on the mining and metal processing industry. The research program will provide excellent training opportunities to students in the area of composite materials who seek research and development careers in industry. Prof. Rosenberg will involve undergraduate and graduate students, including Native American students in the proposed research.