Polymer-based Multicomponent Materials

The central goal of this research is to develop a fundamental understanding of chemical and physical processes that can be used to design and control the interfaces, dispersion, and ordering in multi-component polymer systems. Two research themes form the basis of the proposed research. The first seeks to correlate structure-property relationships in polymer-nanoparticle mixtures with molecular level interfacial interactions, while the second involves the correlation of molecular architecture and orienting fields to the morphology and dynamics of multi-block copolymer materials, including both neat block copolymers and those containing discrete nanoparticles. The nature of the interface impacts the ease of processing, mechanical properties, dynamics and morphology, and the optical and electronic properties of these promising materials, and thus understanding and controlling the interactions between polymers and nanoparticles, as well as between nanodomains in phase-separated block polymers. Such understanding will provide new materials with superior properties and function that can address many DOE challenges such as organic photovoltaics, fuel cell membranes, and stronger light-weight materials that result in energy savings. To fully understand and exploit these novel materials, a comprehensive interdisciplinary approach will be employed that includes tailored synthesis with precise nanoscale control, state-of-the-art characterization techniques, including neutron scattering and dielectric spectroscopy, and a wide range of theoretical tools.