Chemically-functionalized nanoparticles for generating novel nanoparticle-polymer hybrid assemblies and robust structures

马萨诸塞州阿默斯特大学的托德埃姆里克得到了化学系大分子、超分子和纳米化学项目的支持，研究聚合物-纳米粒子组装。 大分子和纳米级化学中的关键挑战包括迫切需要发现朝向混合纳米级结构的稳健路线，该混合纳米级结构有效且精确地将联合收割机合成有机聚合物与无机纳米颗粒结合。该项目旨在开发半导体四脚体，纳米棒和球形纳米颗粒以及富勒烯和石墨烯片等碳基颗粒的表面化学功能化，以实现自组装系统和混合材料。这需要实现聚合物/纳米级化学的三个主要方面，包括：1）有效的纳米颗粒接枝化学，由此通过开发新的配体化学来增强金属和半导体纳米材料的常规合成，从而得到具有定制的溶解性、反应性和可加工性的功能颗粒; 2）功能化纳米颗粒与聚合物的溶液组装，使得可以通过简单的加工方法实现良好组织的杂化材料;和3）表征所得杂化材料对理解纳米复合材料形态和电子/电物理性质之间的关系的影响。该项目将导致纳米粒子功能化化学的许多进展，例如长串的纳米粒子/纳米棒，它们在溶液中自组装，并使用易于获得的显微技术在表面上相分离。此外，该项目产生的平台材料将导致实现新型自组装混合系统，该系统与利用电荷携带材料和纳米级印刷技术的下一代设备相关。塑料）和微小金属物体（纳米颗粒），以满足至关重要的社会需求，包括太阳能电池、存储设备和复杂图案的印刷。合成化学对于在这些领域取得进展至关重要。该项目特别针对“有序”材料的制造，其中聚合物链端被“标记”，使得它们被吸引到（具有结合端）纳米颗粒。使用这些方法组织聚合物和纳米颗粒将使太阳能电池设备更有效地发挥作用，并更经济地开发复杂的图案（用于制造微芯片的类型）。该项目将以强有力的教育组成部分进行，涉及研究生（博士）。本课程将向学生（小学水平）和本科生研究人员介绍纳米化学的概念、重要性和影响，同时让年轻学生（小学水平）参与演示和易于理解的教程，传达科学的兴奋之处。

Todd Emrick at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is supported by the Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry program in the Division of Chemistry in research on polymer-nanoparticle assembly. Key challenges in macromolecular and nanoscale chemistry include a pressing need to uncover robust routes towards hybrid nanoscale structures that effectively, and precisely, combine synthetic organic polymers with inorganic nanoparticulates. This project seeks to develop the surface chemical functionalization of semiconductor tetrapods, nanorods, and spherical nanoparticles, as well as carbon-based particles like fullerenes and graphene sheets, in facile routes to self-assembled systems and hybrid materials. This requires implementing three primary aspects of polymer/nanoscale chemistry, including: 1) effective nanoparticle grafting chemistry, whereby conventional syntheses of metal and semiconductor nanomaterials are enhanced through the development of novel ligand chemistry, giving functional particles with tailored solubility, reactivity, and processibility; 2) solution assembly of functionalized nanoparticles with polymers, such that well-organized hybrid materials can be realized through simple processing methods; and 3) characterization of the impact of the resultant hybrid materials towards understanding the relationship between nanocomposite morphology and electronic/photophysical properties. The project will lead to numerous advances in the chemistry of nanoparticle functionalization, such as long strings of nanoparticles/nanorods that self-assemble in solution and phase separate on surfaces using easily accessible microscopic techniques. Moreover, the platform materials emanating from this project will lead to a realization of novel self-assembled hybrid systems that are relevant for the next generation of devices that utilize charge carrying materials and nanoscale printing techniques.This project seeks to improve the performance of polymers (i.e., plastics) and tiny metal objects (nanoparticles) for critically important societal needs, including solar cells, memory devices, and printing of complex patterns. Synthetic chemistry is critically important to making advances in these areas. This project especially targets the fabrication of 'well-ordered' materials, whereby polymeric chain-ends are 'tagged' such that they become attracted to (have binding ends for) nanoparticles. The organization of polymers and nanoparticles using these methods will allow solar cell devices to function more efficiently, and complex patterns (of the types used to make microchips) to be developed more economically. The project will be carried out with a strong educational component, involving graduate (Ph.D. level) and undergraduate researchers, while engaging young students (grade school level) with demonstrations and easily comprehensible tutorials that convey the excitement of the science, and enable the students to grasp the concepts, importance, and impact of nanoscale chemistry.