Block Copolymer Directed Hybrid Nano Structures: From Equilibrium to Non-Equilibrium Structure Formation Principles

非技术概述：PI将研究先进纳米结构材料的制备和表征，这些材料的结构是在新的非平衡条件下由聚合物形成的。这种非平衡过程允许获得水过滤膜所需的具有梯度或不对称结构的新材料，这些材料不能通过平衡途径获得。这些新材料可能在分离、催化、能量转换和存储等领域产生重大影响。这个跨学科的研究项目包括化学合成、使用各种微观和散射技术表征材料以及膜性能测试。它还将促进各层次学生的跨学科教学、培训和学习。该方案将涉及人力资源培训和发展的其他组成部分，包括代表性不足的群体的参与、加强研究和教育基础设施以及工业外联。为此，PI还将利用由nsf资助的康奈尔材料研究中心（CCMR）提供的平台。努力将包括向高中教师推广材料科学和工程，以及旨在扩大代表性不足的少数民族参与科学和工程的活动。技术概述：在嵌段共聚物导向的杂化纳米结构项目中，PI将研究聚合物导向纳米结构材料的合成/制备和表征，使用从平衡状态转向非平衡状态的形成原理。将采用三种不同的自下而上的自组装方法，所有方法均采用各种ABC三嵌段三元聚合物作为金属、氧化物和有机添加剂的结构导向剂。该课程的目的是了解潜在的基本化学，物理和动力学形成原理，使一般和相对便宜的湿聚合物化学方法能够有效地创造具有新型性能概况的多尺度功能材料。拟议的研究包括所有组件的合成，使用各种散射和电子显微镜技术表征组装结构，以及包括膜性能测试在内的特定性能研究。跨学科将是这项工作的核心特征。它将通过各种合作以及使用国家设施（如康奈尔高能同步加速器源（CHESS）和纳米制造设施（CNF））来促进。

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY:The PI will investigate the preparation and characterization of advanced nanostructured materials whose structures are formed from polymers using novel non-equilibrium conditions. Such non-equilibrium processes allow access e.g. to new materials that have graded or asymmetric structures required in water-filtration membranes, which are not accessible via equilibrium routes. These new materials may have major impact in areas of separation, catalysis, and energy conversion and storage. This interdisciplinary research program includes chemical synthesis, characterization of the materials using various microscopic and scattering techniques, and membrane-performance tests. It will also promote interdisciplinary teaching, training, and learning for students of all levels. The program will involve other components of training and development of human resources, including the participation of underrepresented groups, enhancement of the infrastructure for research and education, and industrial outreach. To this end, the PI will also utilize the platform provided by the NSF-funded Cornell Center for Materials Research (CCMR). Efforts will include promotion of materials science and engineering to high school teachers and outreach aimed at broadening participation of underrepresented minorities in science and engineering. TECHNICAL SUMMARY:With a program on block-copolymer-directed hybrid nanostructures, the PI will investigate the synthesis/preparation and characterization of polymer-directed nanostructured materials using formation principles which move away from equilibrium towards non-equilibrium conditions. Three distinct bottom-up-type self-assembly approaches will be pursued, all employing various ABC triblock terpolymers as structure-directing agents of metals, oxides, and organic additives. The aim of this program is to understand the underlying fundamental chemical, physical, and kinetic formation principles enabling general and relatively inexpensive wet-polymer chemistry methodologies for the efficient creation of multiscale functional materials with novel property profiles. The proposed research includes synthesis of all components, characterization of assembly structures using various scattering and electron microscopy techniques, as well as study of specific properties including membrane performance tests. Interdisciplinarity will be a central feature of the effort. It will be promoted by various collaborations as well as by the use of national facilities such as the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS) and the Nanofabrication Facility (CNF).