IRG 2

Novel Processing Methods for Nanostructured Polymer Blends, Composites and Supramolecular Structures

Kenneth R. Shull (Leader), materials science & engineering
L. Catherine Brinson, mechanical engineering
Linda J. Broadbelt, chemical & biological engineering
Wesley R. Burghardt, chemical & biological engineering
Katherine T. Faber, materials science & engineering
SonBinh T. Nguyen, chemistry
Monica Olvera de la Cruz, materials science & engineering
Samuel I. Stupp, materials science & engineering
John M. Torkelson, chemical & biological engineering

The primary goal of IRG #2 is to develop and produce materials with superior mechanical properties using polymer-based processing strategies that include polymers, ceramics, metals, and structured composite materials.

Polymers and gels are versatile materials with useful mechanical, electrical and biological functions. Center scientists are developing methods for controlling the properties of these materials by tuning the structure at the molecular level, by developing supramolecular assemblies with dimensions in the nanometer range, and by the addition of appropriately chosen nanoparticle fillers.  Approaches to self assembly include the use of hydrophobic and hydrogen bonding interactions in low molecular weight peptide amphiphiles, and control of the sequence distribution in 'gradient copolymers', which can be made to exhibit a well-defined composition gradient along the polymer backbone.   Equilibrium and non-equilibrium approaches are being developed for the dispersion of nanoparticles, including single-walled carbon nanotubes and graphene nanoplatelets, and design principles for obtaining assemblies with the desired structure and properties are being investigated.

Scanning electron microscopy image of the new polymer gel/carbon nanotube composite. More>

Selected Research Highlights:

A Reliable Strategy for Designing Functional Polymer Nanoparticles Using Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization

Jun-Hyun Kim and SonBinh T. Nguyen

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Mystery of Charge Asymmetry: Anionic Macroions in Periodic Lattices Held by Hydrated Cations and Not Vice-versa

William Kung, Dongsheng Zhang, Pedro Gonzales-Mozuelos, Monica Olvera de la Cruz

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1-Dimensional Nanopatterned Polymers for Future Use in Microelectronics

Manish K. Mundra, Suresh K. Donthu, Vinayak P. Dravid, and John M. Torkelson

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Electrostatic Attraction Between Cationic-Anionic Assemblies with Surface Compositional Heterogeneities

Y. S. Velichko and M. Olvera de la Cruz

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