Nanoparticle interactions with swollen polymer networks

纳米粒子与膨胀聚合物网络的相互作用

• 批准号: RGPIN-2020-05162
• 负责人: Hill, Reghan
• 金额: $ 2.84万
• 依托单位: McGill University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=747142
• 关键词: Nanoparticle; interactions; swollen; polymer; networks

Hydrogels are soft polymer networks that take on striking amounts of water, making them highly porous to molecules-similarly to liquid water-but with solid-like mechanical properties. They are used in a vast range of domestic and industrial applications, including food, cosmetics, medicine, agriculture, and enhanced oil recovery. While hydrogel properties are often tailored to specific applications via polymer chemistry, another approach is to modify the microstructure using nanoparticles, thus forming ``hydrogel nano-composites''. The motivation may be to reduce costs, particularly for large-scale industrial applications, or to achieve very specific properties for niche applications. However, nanoparticle doping brings with it a plethora of new practical and fundamental scientific challenges. These arise from the complicated and poorly understood manner in which nanoparticles interact with cross-linked polymer networks. The proposed research will tackle several fundamental scientific challenges-using theoretical, computational, and experimental methodologies-that will help to address important industrial and societal questions arising from nanoparticle use in hydrogel technologies. Envisioned is a ``diagnostic toolbox''-featuring electroacoustic, dielectric and rheological spectroscopy-and a nanoparticle assay to unambiguously quantify how nanoparticles interact with hydrogel networks. The mechanistic insights required to develop and apply this platform-in advanced-materials, environmental, and human-health fields-will be sought in the next five years by integrating (i) experimental model systems, (ii) novel applications of elactro-acoustic, dielectric and rheological spectroscopy, (iii) continuum-scale computation, and (iv) molecular-scale simulation. This program of research will generate fundamental knowledge to strengthen Canada's advanced materials and bio-technology industries, provide rigorous scientific input on nanoparticle release, transport and human-health concerns, and empower a new generation of engineers with expert knowledge and practical expertise for industrial and academic leadership.

水凝胶是柔软的聚合物网络，具有惊人的水量，使其高度与分子相似，与液态水相似，但具有固体样的机械性能。它们用于广泛的家庭和工业应用，包括食品，化妆品，医学，农业以及增强的石油回收率。虽然水凝胶性能通常是通过聚合物化学量身定制的，但另一种方法是使用纳米颗粒修改微观结构，从而形成``hydropel nano-composites''。动机可能是降低成本，尤其是对于大型工业应用，或为利基应用程序实现非常具体的特性。但是，纳米颗粒掺杂带来了许多新的实用和根本科学挑战。这些来自复杂且知之甚少的方式，纳米颗粒与交联聚合物网络相互作用。拟议的研究将解决一些基本科学挑战，利用理论，计算和实验方法 - 这将有助于解决纳米粒子在水凝胶技术中的使用引起的重要工业和社会问题。设想是``诊断工具箱'' - 具有电声，介电和流变学光谱和纳米颗粒测定法，以明确量化纳米颗粒与水凝胶网络的相互作用。开发和应用此平台上的高级物质，环境和人类卫生领域所需的机械见解，将在未来五年内通过（i）实验模型系统，（ii）浮雕，二元，二元和流变学光谱，（iii）连续性计算和（III）计算和（IV）的新颖应用。该研究计划将产生基本知识，以加强加拿大的先进材料和生物技术行业，为纳米颗粒发布，运输和人类健康问题提供严格的科学意见，并赋予具有工业和学术领导力专业知识和实践专业知识的新一代工程师。