Collaborative Research: Surfing the order parameter - assembling nanoparticle structures through phase transitions in liquid crystal solvents

合作研究：探索有序参数——通过液晶溶剂中的相变组装纳米颗粒结构

• 批准号: 2104574
• 负责人: Linda Hirst
• 金额: $ 39.32万
• 依托单位: University of California - Merced
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2021-08-01 至 2024-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2104574&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Surfing; order; parameter

Non-technical Abstract This project is focused on understanding how nanoparticles can be used to form novel structures such as capsules and foams by dispersing them in a liquid crystal. Liquid crystals are ordered fluids commonly used in LCD displays, but this project uses the liquid crystal in an unconventional way - as a solvent for nanoparticles. The novel process the team are investigating offers a rapid, scalable and largely unexploited alternative for particle assembly. They are using a custom particle design, with high-speed microscopy and new computational approaches to tune the interactions between the nanoparticles and the liquid crystal. The work plan focuses on three fundamental scientific questions: 1) How are particles transported by the fluid? 2) How does particle surface treatment control structure formation? And 3) What range of structures are possible and how are they selected? They are testing a range of particle sizes, and process and compositional parameters in a close collaboration of experiment and theory. Gaining fundamental understanding of these novel material systems will be transformative in enabling rational design of multiscale structures from simple components. The process is relevant to a wide range of applications, including encapsulation technologies in medicine, skincare, cosmetics and food science. UCM is a Hispanic Serving Institution and serves a diverse yet educationally disadvantaged part of the state. The project team is committed to mentoring students in STEM at all levels and through this collaboration numerous graduate and undergraduate students are receiving cutting-edge training to enhance their competitiveness in the workforce. Undergraduate research is an integral part of physics programs at research intensive UCM and Tufts and at SCU, a primarily undergraduate institution with a strong tradition of chemistry research. UCM is partnering with the Tufts Visiting and Early Research Scholars Experience program (VERSE) to recruit students from underrepresented groups to begin research early in their careers. Partnerships created by this project are building a strong link between three higher education institutions in both research and education. Technical Abstract This project is focused on understanding physical transport mechanisms for nanoparticles in liquid crystals and specifically how they can be leveraged to sculpt nanoparticle-based structures. The process the team investigate exploits the liquid crystal in an unconventional way, by using this anisotropic fluid as a solvent for nanoparticles and tuning interactions between these two materials. This process offers a rapid, scalable and largely unexploited alternative for particle assembly. The team is investigating this assembly process using custom particle design in a collaboration between The University of California, Merced and Santa Clara University, with high-speed fluorescence microscopy experiments at Merced and new computational approaches performed at Tufts University. The work plan focuses on three inquiry-based specific aims to be performed collaboratively 1) How are particles transported by moving phase boundaries? 2) How does particle surface treatment control structure formation? And 3) What range of structures are possible and how are they selected? This project has the potential to develop a range of novel nanoparticle-based structures, however, as well as illuminating the fundamental mechanisms governing structure selection which are still largely unknown. Gaining fundamental understanding will be transformative in enabling rational design of multiscale structures from simple components. The project has a broad scientific impact on the soft matter community and beyond by providing fundamental insights into a novel process relevant to a wide range of applications in particle transport, aggregation and nanoscience. The team takes advantage of liquid crystal’s ability to spontaneously segregate and organize nanoparticles by their chemical and/or physical properties using well known materials. A key feature of the process is that the structures (and formation mechanisms) depend only on particle size – not composition. This means that any suitably functionalized nanoparticle can be assembled – broadening the project’s impact beyond the specific aims. It should be possible to achieve similar structures in a broad range of chemical environments, opening up encapsulation technologies in medicine, skincare, cosmetics and food science. Simulation codes from this project will impact the scientific soft matter community as a resource for future investigations. These codes will be disseminated as open-source software.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.

非技术摘要该项目的重点是了解如何通过将纳米颗粒分散在液晶中来形成新型结构，例如胶囊和泡沫。液晶是在LCD显示中常用的有序液体，但该项目以非常规的方式使用液晶 - 作为纳米颗粒的溶剂。该团队正在研究的新过程为粒子组装提供了快速，可扩展且在很大程度上没有开发的替代方案。他们正在使用具有高速显微镜和新计算方法的自定义粒子设计来调整纳米颗粒与液晶之间的相互作用。工作计划重点介绍了三个基本科学问题：1）流体如何运输粒子？ 2）颗粒表面处理控制结构如何形成？ 3）可以选择哪些结构范围？如何选择它们？他们正在测试一系列粒径，以及在实验和理论的密切协作中的过程和组成参数。对这些新型材料系统的基本了解将具有变革性，从而使简单组件的多尺度结构合理设计。该过程与广泛的应用有关，包括医学，护肤，化妆品和食品科学领域的封装技术。 UCM是一家西班牙裔服务机构，为该州的各种弱势群体服务。项目团队致力于在各个级别的STEM中指导学生，并且通过这次合作，许多研究生和本科生正在接受尖端的培训，以增强他们在劳动力中的竞争力。本科研究是研究密集的UCM和Tufts以及SCU的物理学计划的组成部分，SCU是一家具有强烈化学研究传统的初级本科机构。 UCM正在与Tufts访问和早期研究学者经验计划（Verse）合作，以招募来自代表性不足的团体的学生，以开始在职业生涯的早期开始研究。该项目建立的伙伴关系正在研究和教育中的三个高等教育机构之间建立牢固的联系。技术摘要该项目的重点是理解液晶中纳米颗粒的物理传输机制，特别是如何将它们利用到基于纳米颗粒的结构上。该过程通过将这种各向异性流体用作纳米颗粒的解决方案并在这两种材料之间进行调整相互作用，以非常规的方式利用液晶的过程。该过程为粒子组装提供了快速，可扩展性的替代方案。该团队正在使用自定义粒子设计在加利福尼亚大学，默塞德大学和圣塔克拉拉大学之间的合作中调查这一组装过程，并在梅塞德和塔夫茨大学进行了高速荧光显微镜实验。该工作计划重点介绍了三个基于询问的特定目标，以协作进行1）如何通过移动相位边界运输粒子？ 2）颗粒表面处理控制结构如何形成？ 3）可以选择哪些结构范围？如何选择它们？但是，该项目有可能开发一系列新型的基于纳米颗粒的结构，并阐明基本机制管理结构选择的基本机制，这些机制仍在很大程度上未知。获得基本的理解将具有变革性的变革性，从而使简单组成部分的多尺度结构合理设计。该项目通过对与粒子运输，聚合和纳米科学相关的广泛应用相关的新型过程提供基本见解，对软物质社区及其他地区产生广泛的科学影响。该团队利用了液晶使用良好的材料通过化学和/或物理特性来赞助并组织纳米颗粒的能力。该过程的一个关键特征是结构（和形成机制）仅取决于粒径，而不是组成。这意味着可以组装任何合适的纳米颗粒 - 扩大项目的影响超出了具体目标。应该可以在广泛的化学环境中实现相似的结构，开辟医学，护肤，化妆品和食品科学方面的封装技术。该项目的仿真代码将影响科学软件社区，作为未来研究的资源。这些代码将作为开源软件传播。该奖项反映了NSF的法定任务，并被认为是值得通过基金会的知识分子优点和更广泛影响的评论标准来评估值得支持的。