Soft Materials Research Center

****非技术摘要**** SMRC软材料研究中心的研究分为两个跨学科研究小组：液晶前沿（LCF）和点击核酸（CNA）。LCF研究的方向是创造、理解、发展和应用新型软材料，以液晶有序为基本主题。该IRG以令人兴奋的新方式扩展了LC科学的视野和应用，不断发展具有活性，功能性和响应性的材料。这些特性长期以来在液晶显示器（包括液晶显示电光）中得到重视，将在软材料的新结构表现和应用中得到寻求。CNA IRG提出了一个令人兴奋的新领域，该领域使用广泛可用的巯基点击化学物质，这是一种以其强大，干净的反应而闻名的化学物质，来连接核酸，从而开发出称为CNAs的DNA合成类似物。CNAs的一个优点是它们比天然核酸具有更广泛的化学性质。SMRC运作并继续发展国家认可的教育推广活动，旨在提高科学素养和成就。其中包括科罗拉多大学的材料科学，K-12旅游科学课程，共有约80,000名CO学生；促进少数族裔学生从高中走向本科成功的途径项目，以及与少数族裔服务本科院校的合作伙伴关系，使本科生转向STEM研究生职业。该中心已经形成了一个充满活力的博尔德/丹佛工业活动，与lc相关的初创公司和衍生公司，许多雇用中心毕业生，取得的成就包括LC-On-Si （LCOS）微显示器的商业化。****技术摘要****液晶前沿（LCF）和点击核酸（CNA） IRGs将材料设计、合成、建模和物理研究融合成一个无缝的网络，推动和促进新材料的发展。LCF研究中特别感兴趣的是利用手性和极性相互作用的新LC结构主题，如螺旋向列相和螺旋纳米细丝相；新型液相色谱相的胶体板和棒，包括铁磁向列线图；LC与拓扑复杂胶体的相互作用；用于电解质和有机光伏的纳米多孔LC聚合物；活性界面lc用于生物检测；慢性LC混合物；以及纳米dna的分层自组装。IRG2，即CNA IRG，将利用CNA提供的机会，采用合成方法，重点开发高度可扩展的CNA合成工艺，扩展碱基字母，控制主链和侧链以定制分子相容性。CNA自组装重点将强调利用CNA提供的增强的可编程性和设计灵活性，在应用中包括纳米模板和纳米图案、纳米颗粒组织、嵌段共聚物和水凝胶。SMRC运作并继续发展国家认可的教育推广活动，旨在提高科学素养和成就。该中心已经形成了一个充满活力的博尔德/丹佛工业活动，与lc相关的初创公司和衍生公司，许多雇用中心毕业生，取得的成就包括LC-On-Si （LCOS）微显示器的商业化。

****Nontechnical abstract****The research of the Soft Materials Research Center, SMRC is organized into two Interdisciplinary Research Groups: Liquid Crystal Frontiers (LCF), and Click Nucleic Acids (CNA). LCF research is directed toward the creation, understanding, development, and application of novel soft materials, with liquid crystal ordering as an underlying theme. This IRG expands the horizons and application of LC science in exciting new ways, evolving materials that are active, functional, and responsive. These attributes, long appreciated in LCs, including LC display electro-optics, will be sought in new structural manifestations and applications of soft materials. The CNA IRG proposes an exciting new area that uses broadly accessible thiol-ene click chemistries, a family of chemistries know for their robust, clean reactions, to link nucleic acids thus developing synthetic analogs of DNA called CNAs. An advantage of CNAs is that they have a greater range of chemical properties than those exhibited by natural nucleic acids. The SMRC operates and continues to develop nationally recognized education outreach activities directed toward the enhancement of science literacy and achievement. These include Materials Science from CU, K-12 traveling science classes that have reached ~80,000 CO students; Pathways Programs which facilitate the passage of under-represented minority students from high school to undergraduate success, and partnerships with under-represented minority-serving undergraduate institutions transitioning undergraduate students toward STEM graduate careers. The Center has nucleated a vibrant Boulder/Denver industrial activity of LC-related start-up and spin-off companies, many employing Center graduates, with achievements that include commercialization of LC-On-Si (LCOS) microdisplays.****Technical abstract****The Liquid Crystal Frontiers (LCF), and Click Nucleic Acids (CNA) IRGs meld materials design, synthesis, modeling, and physical study into a seamless web that drives and facilitates the evolution of new materials. Of particular interest in LCF research are new LC structural themes that exploit the interplay of chirality and polarity, such as the heliconical nematic and helical nanofilament phases; novel LC phases of colloidal plates and rods including ferromagnetic nematics; LC interaction with topologically complex colloids; nanoporous LC polymers for electrolytes and organic photovoltaics; active interfacial LCs for biodetection; chromonic LC mixtures; and hierarchical self-assembly of nanoDNA. IRG2, the CNA IRG, will pursue the opportunities presented by CNA with a synthetic approach that focuses on the development of highly scalable synthetic processes for CNAs, on expansion of the base alphabets, and on control of the backbone and side chains to tailor molecular compatibility. The CNA self-assembly thrust will emphasize taking advantage of the enhanced programmability and design flexibility afforded by CNAs, in applications including nanotemplating and nanopatterning, nanoparticle organization, block copolymers, and hydrogels. The SMRC operates and continues to develop nationally recognized education outreach activities directed toward the enhancement of science literacy and achievement. The Center has nucleated a vibrant Boulder/Denver industrial activity of LC-related start-up and spin-off companies, many employing Center graduates, with achievements that include commercialization of LC-On-Si (LCOS) microdisplays.