SusChEM: Cellulose Nanomaterials Modified with Conjugated Polymers

本项目的目标是制备可用作高级功能材料的纤维素纳米材料。纳米纤维(NFC)和纳米晶纤维素(NC)等可持续发展的纳米纤维素原料将成为开发新型先进功能纳米材料的平台。这些纳米材料代表了一个吸引人的平台，可以连接特殊设计的聚合物链，允许将简单、可再生和丰富的纤维素转化为可用于技术应用的材料。这些新材料的先进性能将在选定的传感器应用中得到展示。纤维素是大多数绿色植物细胞壁的主要成分，因此也是地球上最丰富的有机物质。由于其有用的材料特性，它是人类使用最广泛的自然资源之一。开发以丰富的纤维素纳米材料为原料的先进产品可以减少我们对以石油为基础的聚合物的依赖，并有助于生态的可持续性。该项目将为学生提供研究培训和教育，他们将被教授新技术和先进的表征方法，以及将纳米材料应用到与工业相关的制造过程中。该项目还将有助于吸引本科生参加该项目，并增强STEM领域中代表性不足的群体的多样性。该项目的研究和教育旨在帮助美国在可持续纳米技术的新领域保持竞争力。技术总结该项目的主要科学目标是制备可用作高级功能材料的纤维素纳米材料。在本项目中，纳米纤维(NFC)和纳米晶纤维素(NC)等可持续的纳米纤维素原料将成为开发新型先进功能纳米材料的平台。这些纳米材料代表了一个吸引人的平台，用于连接半导体聚合物部分，使简单、可再生和丰富的天然材料能够用于先进的光学和电子应用。这一目标将通过一个精心设计的项目来实现，其中：(A)将探索新的接枝化学；(B)将表征新的半导体聚合物/纤维素纳米材料复合材料；(C)将实现对附着在纤维素支架上的半导体聚合物性能的影响；以及(D)将在选定的传感器应用中展示这些新材料的先进性能。将开发对制造方法和限制的理解，并将探索选定的应用，以展示该材料的潜在技术价值。这些材料可以实现许多应用--例如传感器、功能纸、电池和放大电容器、显示器、电致变色器件、光伏器件等。该项目将为学生提供研究培训和教育，他们将被教授新技术和先进的表征方法，以及将纳米材料应用到工业相关的制造过程中。作为这项教育的一部分，将鼓励学生参加科学区域和国家会议。该项目将有助于吸引本科生参加该项目，并增强STEM领域中代表性不足的群体的多样性。该项目的研究和教育旨在帮助美国在可持续纳米技术的新领域保持竞争力。

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARYThe goal of this project is to prepare cellulose nanomaterials that perform as advanced functional materials. Sustainable feedstocks of nanocellulose such as nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) and nanocrystalline cellulose (NC) will be the platform for the development of a new class of advanced functional nanomaterials. These nanomaterials represent an appealing platform for the attachment of specially designed polymer chains that will allow for the transformation of simple, renewable, and abundant cellulose into materials that can be used for technological applications. The advanced properties of these new materials will be demonstrated in selected sensor applications. Cellulose is the primary component in the cell wall of most green plants, and therefore the most abundant organic material on the planet. Because of its useful materials properties it is one humankind's most widely used natural resources. The development of advanced products based on abundant cellulose nanomaterials as a feedstock could reduce our reliance on petroleum-based polymers and contribute also to ecological sustainability. The project will provide research training and education to students who will be taught new techniques and advanced characterization methods, as well as implementation of nanomaterials into industrially relevant fabrication processes. The project also will serve to attract undergraduate students to the program and to enhance diversity of underrepresented groups in STEM fields. The research and education in this project is designed to help maintain US competitiveness in new areas of sustainable nanotechnology. TECHNICAL SUMMARYThe primary scientific goal of this project is to prepare cellulose nanomaterials that perform as advanced functional materials. In this project, sustainable feedstocks of nanocellulose such as nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) and nanocrystalline cellulose (NC) will be the platform for the development of a new class of advanced functional nanomaterials. These nanomaterials represent an appealing platform for the attachment of semiconducting polymer moieties to enable the utilization of simple, renewable, and abundant natural materials for advanced optical and electrical applications. This goal will be accomplished through a carefully crafted project where (a) new grafting chemistries will be explored, (b) new semiconducting polymer/cellulose nanomaterial composites will be characterized, (c) an understanding on how semiconducting polymer properties are affected by attachment to cellulose scaffolds will be realized, and (d) the advanced properties of these new materials will be demonstrated in selected sensor applications. An understanding of methods and limitations to fabrication will be developed and selected applications will be explored as a demonstration of the material's potential technological value. Numerous applications may be enabled by these materials -- e.g., sensors, functional papers, batteries & capacitors, displays, electrochromic devices, photovoltaic devices, etc. The project will provide research training and education to students who will be taught new techniques and advanced characterization methods, as well as implementation of nanomaterials into industrially relevant fabrication processes. As part of this education, the students will be encouraged to attend scientific regional and national meetings. The project will serve to attract undergraduate students to the program and to enhance diversity of underrepresented groups in STEM fields. The research and education in this project is designed to help maintain US competitiveness in new areas of sustainable nanotechnology.