Elucidation of the Structure-Property Relations of Hybrid Particles and Their Assembly Structures

该基金的研究目标是阐明决定聚合物接枝颗粒组装结构和内聚特性的控制参数，并建立知识库，使纳米颗粒的有效分子工程能够形成机械坚固的阵列结构。将纳米颗粒组装成阵列结构对于将纳米颗粒系统集成到从光伏到固态照明等应用的器件架构中至关重要。自组装颗粒阵列结构可扩展生产的一个主要障碍是颗粒固体的脆性，在加工过程中会促进裂纹的形成。该研究将建立一种新的方法，通过聚合物配体与纳米颗粒表面的结合来增强颗粒之间的内聚相互作用。如果成功，这项研究将为聚合物纳米复合材料的简单制造提供新的机会，这些材料具有规定的微观结构和增强的性能，并推动一系列变革性的技术创新，例如，到2013年，仅在固态照明领域，市场就预计将增长到143亿美元。这项研究经费将为一名研究生和几名本科生在聚合物和纳米材料的关键领域提供跨学科培训。与由国家科学基金会资助的正在进行的项目合作，将促进少数民族学生和代表性不足的群体的参与。这笔研究经费将支持一门新课程的教学，并包括“可持续能源技术的纳米技术”教师研讨会的发展，以及旨在支持匹兹堡地区资金不足的学校STEM教育的“科学车”项目的新模块。

The research objective of this grant is to elucidate the governing parameters that determine the structure and cohesive properties of polymer-grafted particle assemblies and to establish the knowledge base that will enable the efficient molecular-engineering of nanoparticles that are capable to form mechanically robust array structures. The assembly of nanoparticles into array structures is of central importance to the integration of nanoparticle systems into device architectures for applications ranging from photovoltaics to solid state lighting. A major barrier in the scalable production of self-assembled particle array structures is the brittle nature of particle solids that promotes crack formation during the processing. The proposed study will establish a novel methodology to enhance the cohesive interactions between particles by binding of polymeric ligands to nanoparticle surfaces.If successful, the proposed research will provide new opportunities for the facile fabrication of polymer nanocomposites with prescribed microstructure and enhanced performance and fuel a range of transformative technological innovations, for example, in the area of solid state lighting for which alone the market is estimated to grow to $14.3B by 2013. This research grant will enable cross-disciplinary training for one graduate student and several undergraduate students in the critical areas of polymer and nanoscale materials. Collaboration with ongoing programs funded through the National Science Foundation will promote the participation of minority students and underrepresented groups. This research grant will support the teaching of a new course and encompass the development of a teacher workshop on "nanotechnologies for sustainable energy technologies" as well as a new module to "The Science Van" program that is aimed at supporting STEM education in underfunded schools in the Pittsburgh area.