CAREER: Polymeric ligands with tunable affinities to enable selective f-element separations

f元素（镧系元素和锕系元素）在核技术的几个和平应用中发挥着至关重要的作用，包括发电，清洁能源技术和癌症治疗。这些元素可以通过传统的采矿方法或通过加工工业废物来源从自然资源中收获。在许多情况下，镧系元素必须与锕系元素分离，如铀和钍，然后才能用于最终应用。镧系元素和锕系元素目前通过溶剂萃取方法分离-这是一种具有较大物理和碳足迹的化学过程，并且还产生混合放射性废物。基于膜的分离是溶剂提取的替代方法，可以具有较小的物理足迹，并最大限度地减少所产生的废物量。因此，设计可以选择性地实现这些分离的膜材料是提高这些过程的可持续性和成本效益的关键步骤。在这个项目中产生的基础知识将指导未来的膜，将用于从各种原料中分离镧系元素/锕系元素的设计。通过膜选择性分离镧系元素和锕系元素的能力将增强国家安全，提高资源回收和水处理的效率。这项研究计划是与教育计划，将开发服务学习的机会，为研究生，参与当地克利夫兰社区通过以核为重点的外展活动，并建立一个培训计划，为未来的STEM教育工作者专注于包容性的教学strategies.The的目标，这项研究是了解分子水平的现象，支持离子-离子选择性的共聚物配体用于f-元素分离。这一目标将通过合成具有受控组成的聚合物配体来实现，以作为研究配体-配体和配体-离子相互作用的平台。分子间的相互作用将通过计算建模和光谱学相结合的方法进行研究。最后，将聚合物配体涂覆在膜表面上。这些研究将揭示分子间相互作用对亲和力、动力学和选择性的实际意义。这项研究将与研究生水平的放射化学课程相结合，学生将开发教学工具，向非科学受众传达放射化学概念。这些工具将通过与伦纳德Gelfand STEM中心和东北俄亥俄州女童子军的合作，部署在针对克利夫兰K-12学生的外联活动中。最后，为研究生提供的新的指导教学经验将作为将包容性教学技术融入其教学组合的实习机会。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为值得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来支持。

The f-elements (lanthanides and actinides) play a crucial role in several peaceful applications of nuclear technology, including electricity generation, clean energy technologies, and cancer treatment. These elements can be harvested from natural resources through traditional mining approaches or by processing industrial waste sources. In many cases, the lanthanides must be separated from the actinides, like uranium and thorium, before they can be used in the final application. Lanthanides and actinides are currently separated by solvent extraction approaches - a chemical process with large physical and carbon footprints and also generates mixed radioactive waste. Membrane-based separations are an alternative to solvent extraction that can have a smaller physical footprint and minimize the volume of waste generated. Thus, designing membrane materials that can selectively achieve these separations is a key step in improving the sustainability and cost-effectiveness of these processes. The fundamental knowledge generated in this project will guide the design of future membranes that will be used in lanthanide/actinide separations from various feedstocks. The ability to selectively separate lanthanides from actinides via membranes will enhance national security and improve the efficiency of resource recovery and water treatment. This research program is integrated with an educational program that will develop service-learning opportunities for graduate students, engage the local Cleveland community through nuclear-focused outreach activities, and build a training program for future STEM educators focusing on inclusive teaching strategies.The goal of this research is to understand the molecular-level phenomena that underpin ion-ion selectivity in copolymer ligands used for f-element separations. This goal will be achieved by synthesizing polymer ligands with controlled compositions to serve as a platform for studying ligand-ligand and ligand-ion interactions. Molecular interactions will be investigated through a combined approach of computational modeling and spectroscopy. Finally, the polymer ligands will be coated on membrane surfaces. These studies will reveal the practical implications of intermolecular interactions on affinity, kinetics, and selectivity. This research will be integrated with a graduate-level radiochemistry course in which students will develop teaching tools to communicate radiochemistry concepts to non-scientific audiences. These tools will be deployed at outreach events that target K-12 students in Cleveland through partnerships with the Leonard Gelfand STEM Center and the Girl Scouts of Northeast Ohio. Finally, a new mentored-teaching experience for graduate students will serve as a practicum to integrate inclusive pedagogical techniques into their teaching portfolios.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.