Division/Committee: [PMSE: Division of Polymeric Materials Science and Engineering]

The controlled assembly of nanoparticles holds the key to unlock unprecedented functionalities stemming from their collective synergetic properties that are distinct from or better than those of individual nanoparticles and their bulk counterparts. These new advanced optical, electronic, magnetic,and mechanical properties can find applications in advanced nanomaterials and functional devices, if control is achieved over nanoparticle organization. Self and directed assembly offers a cost-efficient approach to produce ensembles of nanoparticles with well-defined and predictable structures. The role of polymers in nanoparticle assembly is pivotal in this regard due to the comparable dimensions of macromolecules and nanoparticles, the ability to synthesize polymers with various compositions, degrees of polymerization,and structures, and the ability of polymers to self-assemble in their own. They act as ligands to modify the surface of nanoparticles, stabilizing them, altering their physicochemical attributes, and facilitating directed assembly. By embedding nanoparticles in polymer matrix, a wide range of assembly structures can be achieved based on polymer molecular weight, architecture, and composition. Intricate nano/microscale structures are enscribed on the substrate with patterned polymer brushes. In this symposium, we aim to explore the complex interplay between polymers, processing techniques, and nanoparticle assembly to elucidate how these factors influence the nano/microstructures and properties of resulting materials. New strategies for the self/directed assembly of nanoparticles tethered to macromolecules Self-assembly of chiral nanostructures State-of-the-art characterization to evaluate the morphologies Joint experimental-computational contributions enabling to design multifunctional polymer nanocomposite that predict optical, magnetic,electric and mechanical properties

Kyoungweon Park

Air Force Research Laboratory

Appearances