Inter-american collaboration in materials research: engineering new materials built from molecules containing boron

当前科学中最大的挑战之一是了解单个分子的结构和性质如何决定由大量分子缔合组成的材料的结构和性质。对这种关系的充分理解将使人们能够通过设计制造出具有理想性能的分子材料，为许多技术领域的突破创造机会。不幸的是，发展这种理解仍然是一个难以实现的目标，部分原因是分子间相互作用通常很弱、复杂和难以控制。一般来说，即使使用当前最强大的计算技术，分子材料的结构和性质也不可能得到可靠的预测。为了帮助在这个具有挑战性的领域取得更快的进展，我们成立了一个由三位国际分子科学领先者组成的加拿大/美国/墨西哥团队。这个团队的成员已经有了许多联系，但还没有正式的合作，共同出资和共同的目标。我们的团队从NSERC支持美洲材料研究合作(CIAM)的计划中寻求资金。我们团队的成员在合成、设计有序材料以及分析这些材料的性能方面有着互补的技能。特别是，该团队汇集了世界一流的含硼化合物超分子化学方面的专业知识，这是特别有希望的新材料来源。

One of the greatest challenges in current science is to learn how the structure and properties of individual molecules determine those of materials composed of large numbers of molecules in association. A full understanding of this relationship will allow molecular materials with desirable properties to be made by design, creating opportunities for breakthroughs in many areas of technology. Unfortunately, developing this understanding remains an elusive goal, in part because intermolecular interactions are typically weak, complex, and hard to control. In general, the structures and properties of molecular materials are impossible to predict reliably, even when the most powerful current computational techniques are used.To help make more rapid progress in this challenging field, we have formed a Canada/US/Mexico team composed of three international leaders in molecular science. The members of this team already have many ties but do not yet have a formal collaboration with joint funding and shared objectives. Our team seeks funding from the NSERC program supporting Inter-American Collaboration in Materials Research (CIAM). The members of our team have complementary skills in synthesis, engineering ordered materials, and analyzing the properties of these materials. In particular, the team brings together world-class expertise in the supramolecular chemistry of compounds containing boron, which are particularly promising sources of new materials.