Shapeshifting Molecular Materials

变形分子材料

• 批准号: EP/V047817/2
• 负责人: Paul McGonigal
• 金额: $ 3.53万
• 依托单位: University of York
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2023 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=EP%2FV047817%2F2
• 关键词: Shapeshifting; Molecular; Materials

This research will investigate the properties of 'shapeshifting molecules' - single molecules that rapidly rearrange their structures. As an analogy, these molecular rearrangements can be likened to twisting a Rubik's cubes in different dimensions. After each 'twist' occurs, the next 'twist' can occur in any of three dimensions. As a result, the structure can very quickly 'scramble' between thousands of possibilities, each with subtly different shapes. We hypothesise that the unusual shapeshifting rearrangements of these molecules will give rise to unique materials properties. To investigate this idea, we will synthesise liquid crystals, surfactants, and polymers containing shapeshifting units. By analysing these materials, we will determine if the shape changing at the molecular level leads to dynamic shapes at larger length scales.By the end of the grant, we will have established whether shapeshifting units have potential to be exploited in soft materials. These fundamental, chemical advances will establish a new research area that will have broad impacts in materials physics and engineering.

这项研究将研究“变形分子”的特性，即迅速重新排列其结构的单个分子。类比，可以将这些分子重排比作扭曲不同维度的魔方。每次“扭曲”发生后，下一个“扭曲”都可以在三个维度中的任何一个中发生。结果，结构可以很快“争夺”数千种可能性，每个可能性都不同。我们假设这些分子的异常变形重排将产生独特的材料特性。为了研究这个想法，我们将合成含有变形单元的液晶，表面活性剂和聚合物。通过分析这些材料，我们将确定在分子水平上的形状发生变化是否会导致较大长度尺度的动态形状。授予的末端，我们将确定变形单元是否有可能在软材料中利用。这些基本的化学进步将建立一个新的研究领域，该研究领域将对材料物理和工程产生广泛的影响。