Design and self-assembly of amphiphilic supracolloidal analogues of bimolecular and trimolecular compounds

化学家可以极其精确地排列分子中的原子。然而，对纳米颗粒的结构和组成施加相同水平的控制是极其具有挑战性的，纳米颗粒是数百到数千个通常不同的原子的集合体。纳米颗粒中这些原子的精确组织对于确定其整体性质和潜在应用至关重要。在这个项目中，马里兰州大学帕克分校的聂博士开发了新的策略来控制纳米颗粒的定向键合，以形成类似于小分子几何形状的结构。从纳米颗粒创建这种分子状结构的一个目标是使新技术能够应用于医学、光电子学、能源生产和/或能量存储。聂博士还积极参与培训学生在聚合物和纳米科学的基本原理不同层次。该项目的外展活动包括接待本地高中生进行暑期研究项目、为大学一年级学生设立研究职位，以及为初中至高中生举办为期一天的科学、技术、工程和数学活动。该项目由化学系大分子、超分子和纳米化学项目资助，Nie博士设计了一类新的极性分子化合物的supracolloidal类似物，包括两个或多个元素。该项目探讨了这些supracolloids在接口和解决方案中的组装行为。实验和计算工具的组合用于实现胶体相互作用和性质的深刻的基本理解。要解决的一些主要问题是如何打破球形纳米粒子的对称性，以产生不对称的supracolloids，这些supracolloids在组装中的行为，以及可以预期的光学性质。这项工作可能会在从材料科学到光电子学的许多领域带来新的研究机会。聂博士积极参与外展活动，包括为大学预科科学，技术，工程和数学（K-12 STEM）学生举办的活动。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Chemists can arrange atoms within molecules with extraordinary precision. However, it is extremely challenging to exert the same level of control over the structure and composition of nanoparticles, which are assemblies of hundreds to thousands of often diverse atoms. The precise organization of those atoms within nanoparticles is crucial in determining their overall properties and potential applications. In this project, Dr. Nie of the University of Maryland College Park develops new strategies to control the directional bonding of nanoparticles to form structures that resemble the geometry of small molecules. One goal of creating such molecule-like architectures from nanoparticles is to enable new technologies for applications in medicine, optoelectronics, energy production, and/or energy storage. Dr. Nie is also actively engaged in training students at different levels in the fundamental principles of polymers and nanoscience. Outreach activities of this project include hosting local high-school students for summer research projects, creating research positions for first-year undergraduate students and organizing one-day science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) events for middle to high school students.With funding from the Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry Program of the Chemistry Division, Dr. Nie designs a new class of supracolloidal analogues of polar molecular compounds comprising two or more elements. The project explores the assembly behaviors of these supracolloids at interfaces and in solutions. A combination of experimental and computational tools are used to achieve a deep fundamental understanding of colloidal interactions and properties. Some of the major questions to be addressed are how to break the symmetry of spherical nanoparticles to produce asymmetric supracolloids, how these supracolloids behave in assembly, and what optical properties can be expected. This work may lead to new research opportunities in many fields ranging from materials science to optoelectronics. Dr. Nie is actively engaged in outreach activities involving events for pre-college science, technology, engineering and mathematics (K-12 STEM) students. His group provides high-school student summer internships and undergraduate research positions with or without course credit.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.