Smart formulations for manufacturing of functional three-dimensional hierarchical structures

这项研究计划弥合了新兴功能材料和我们使用先进技术(如添加剂制造和宏观结构的定向组装)加工这些材料的能力之间的差距。这种桥梁对那些从事能源研究的人特别感兴趣，因为英国在材料发现方面拥有世界领先的活动，但这些新材料很少被集成到功能结构和设备中。在过去的几年里，我们见证了加法制造(AM)和其他先进加工技术的巨大增长。基于油墨的3D打印可以对一系列材料进行图案设计，以制造打印电池、超级电容器、人体器官的组件，甚至形状变形或4D打印结构。由于其相对简单，基于挤压的3D打印(也称为直接墨水写入、DIW或机器人铸造)是最可行的AM技术，可以将先进的功能材料引入复杂的设计，并创建结合不同材料的高分辨率多材料3D结构。这项技术的发展前景看好，但仍然存在一些根本性的科学和技术挑战，需要从多学科和跨学科的角度加以解决。我们需要开发设计和理解DIW屈服应力流体的整体和局部行为的能力；我们需要发展这种能力，以设计和理解DIW(那些在屈服点以下具有类似固体行为的流体，超过屈服点就开始流动)的能力；并推动技术进步，以创造真正的多材料结构(那些结合不同类别材料的结构)。我将采用多学科交叉的方法对定制添加剂(响应性表面活性剂)进行基础研究，以设计复杂的(屈服应力)流体。我将开发新的整体和微观流变学方法，以了解它们的行为和微观结构，以提供一个可打印配方库，以创建具有增强性能的设计。这项基础性研究将为屈服应力流体在DIW中的直接应用创造复杂的多材料结构铺平道路。这项研究将由医疗保健和能源领域的关键应用推动并进一步发展。例如，在跨多个尺度长度和界面的结构控制至关重要的地方，这项研究将使组合材料科学成为可能，例如在人工光催化系统(Z方案)中结合半导体的共轭聚合物光催化剂(一种在全球范围内迅速成为高度研究的新型材料)。在医疗保健领域，我的研究将通过材料开发和标准化来推进3D生物打印，同时为该领域的特定应用创建复杂的可降解和不可降解结构。例如，开发3D打印聚合物结构的策略，使其具有可调的性能，以促进一系列材料诱导的组织再生。我将建立一个新的复杂流体小组，在材料科学、材料化学和化学工程之间工作。我将通过职业发展计划发展我的领导技能，重点放在多样性、平等和包容(EDI)上，随着团队的发展，我将逐步过渡到博士后研究指导。我的导师安迪·库珀(AIC)教授和史蒂夫·兰纳德(SR)教授将就大型研究团队的管理和与行业建立长期关系提供指导。我将在当地(Jude Curran博士，JC；流体工程研究小组Robert J Poole教授和David JC Dennis博士，DJCD)、全国(AG，拉夫堡)和国际(与合作者Patrick Spicer博士，悉尼)建立新的合作和伙伴关系。

This research program bridges the gap between emerging functional materials and our ability to process these materials using advanced techniques such as additive manufacturing and directed assembly of macroscopic structures. Such bridging is of particular interest to those working in energy focused research as the UK has world-leading activity in materials discovery, but few of these new materials have been integrated into functional structures and devices. In the past few years, we have witnessed an enormous growth in additive manufacturing (AM) and other advanced processing techniques. Ink based 3D printing can pattern a range of materials to create printed batteries, supercapacitors, components of human organs and even shape morphing or 4D printed structures. Due to its relative simplicity, extrusion-based 3D printing (also known as Direct Ink Writing, DIW or Robocasting) is the most viable AM technique for introducing advanced functional materials into complex designs, and creating high resolution multi-material 3D structures combining dissimilar materials. The development of this technique is promising, however there remain fundamental scientific and technological challenges that need to be addressed from a multi and interdisciplinary perspective. We need to develop the ability to design and understand the bulk and local behaviour of yield stress fluids for DIW (those with solid-like behaviour at stresses below the yield point, beyond which they start to flow); and to advance the technology to create truly multi-material structures (those that combine different classes of materials). I will apply a multi and interdisciplinary approach to fundamental research on bespoke additives (responsive surfactants) to design complex (yield stress) fluids. I will develop new bulk and micro rheology methodologies to understand their behaviour and micro-structure to deliver a library of printable formulations to create designs with enhanced performance. This fundamental research will pave the way for the direct application of yield stress fluids in DIW to create complex multi-material structures. This research will be driven by, and evolve further, key applications in both healthcare and energy. For example, where architecture control across multiple scale lengths and interfaces is crucial, this research will enable combinatorial materials science, such as conjugated polymer photocatalysts (a new class of materials that has rapidly become highly researched worldwide) combined with semiconductors in an artificial photocatalytic system (Z-scheme). In healthcare, my research will advance 3D bioprinting through material development and standardisation, whilst at the same time creating complex degradable and non-degradable structures for specific applications within the field. For example, developing strategies for 3D printing polymer constructs with tuned properties to facilitate a range of material induced tissue regeneration.I will establish a new Complex Fluids group working at the boundaries between Materials Science, Materials Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. I will develop my leadership skills through a career development plan with a strong focus on Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion (EDI), and I will gradually transition to postdoctoral research supervision as the group grows. My mentors Professors Andy Cooper (AIC) and Steve Rannard (SR) will provide guidance on management of large research groups and establishing long-term relationships with Industry. I will forge new collaborations and partnerships locally (Dr Jude Curran, JC; and the Fluids Engineering Research Group Prof Robert J Poole, RJP and Dr David JC Dennis, DJCD); nationally (Dr Andy Gleadall, AG, Loughborough); and internationally (with collaborator Dr Patrick Spicer, PS, Sydney).