Design of Complex Materials from Structurally Simple Gelators, Ionic Liquids, and Polymers and their Applications

在这个项目中，共同资助的大分子，超分子和纳米化学计划和化学结构，动力学和机制计划的化学部，理查德G。乔治敦大学的韦斯将研究从天然羟基链烷酸衍生的分子自组装成纤维状物体和凝胶的结构和动力学，以及产生新的离子液体、离子液晶和聚合物的其他分子。 一些材料将是手性的和/或基于中性三原子分子（例如二氧化碳）的吸收和损失的热或化学可逆的。 通过关联聚集和成核过程的结构和时间演化，将在纳米尺度和宏观尺度物体之间建立相关性。 溶剂的影响，特别是当它涉及到的对象的聚集和增长，也将被调查。 总体目标是创建分子如何以及为什么聚集成各种一维物体的图片，以便这些过程的规则可以应用于各种各样的系统。 更广泛的影响包括培训研究生、本科生和博士后解决跨学科问题。 此外，这项研究将使年轻科学家接触美国和发展中国家其他机构的研究人员。 虽然这项研究将主要影响基础化学科学，但其成果对凝胶的重要应用也将非常重要，例如石油回收，艺术保护和食品科学。凝胶由分子的延伸聚集体组成，在自然界和工业产品中都有发现。 该研究项目将增强我们对分子如何组装成凝胶形成结构的理解，并将为理解更复杂的自然和工程系统奠定基础，例如淀粉样蛋白纤维如何在大脑中形成，血凝块如何形成以及如何设计更好的保护涂层。

In this project, co-funded by the Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry Program and the Chemical Structure, Dynamics and Mechanisms Program of the Chemistry Division, Richard G. Weiss of Georgetown University will investigate the structure and dynamics of self-assembly of molecules derived from naturally hydroxyalkanoic acids into fibrillar objects and gels and other molecules yielding new ionic liquids, ionic liquid crystals, and polymers. Some of the materials will be chiral and/or thermally or chemically reversible based on the uptake and loss of neutral triatomic molecules, such as carbon dioxide. By relating the structural and temporal evolution of the aggregation and nucleation processes, a correlation between nanoscale and macroscale objects will be made. The influence of solvent, especially as it pertains to the aggregation and growth of the objects, will be investigated as well. The overall objective is to create a picture of how and why molecules aggregate into the various one-dimensional objects so that the rules for such processes can be applied to a wide variety of systems. The broader impacts involve training graduate and undergraduate students and postdocs to solve interdisciplinary problems. In addition, the research will expose the young scientists to researchers from other institutions within the United States and in developing countries. While the research will primarily impact fundamental chemical science the outcomes will also be important for applications in which gels are important, such as oil recovery, art conservation and food science.Gels are composed of extended aggregates of molecule, and are found in nature as well as industrial products. This research project will enhance our understanding of how molecules assemble into gel-forming structures and will form the basis for understanding more complex natural and engineered systems, such as how amyloid fibers form in the brain, how blood clots form and how better protective coatings can be engineered.