last update: July 05, 2000
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STC-ERSP Program Details
Principal Investiagtor: Marye Anne Fox Project Title: Nonhomogeneous Aggregates in Supercritical CO2 (#34) Phone/Fax: 919-515-2191/919-831-3545 E-mail: mafox@ncsu.edu Research Plan Connectivity Outreach Components Additional Comments Requested Budget Allocation - Year 1 Plans for Additional Funding Research Plan Overall objectives Fox proposes to use absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy to characterize nanostructural aggregates formed in supercritical CO2 and to determine unique properties of shell-core nanoparticles when prepared and dispersed in supercritical fluids. Some of the synthetic approaches to be explored will employ the unique characteristics of micelles and inverse micelles in supercritical CO2 as reaction media. Relation to overall objectives of the Center The ability to employ supercritical CO2 as a benign reaction medium will have profound implication in the synthesis of new optoelectronic materials. Practical utilization of this medium will require a fundamental understanding of molecular aggregation and the effect of the medium on the chemical and physical characteristics of the composite materials produced therein. Approach and timelines Years 1 and 2: Design and test spectroscopic cells that can be used to monitor absorption and emission changes accompanying cluster formation in metal and metal oxide aggregates. Develop spectroscopic rulers and kinetic markers that supplement light scattering measurements for the physical characterization of the aggregates. Years 2 and 3: Compare and contrast newly developed synthetic methodologies for the preparation of organic - inorganic composites in conventional organic solvents and supercritical CO2 . Extend the structural work to include polymeric macroporous matrices with unique surface catalytic properties. Years 3 - 5: Develop and extend protocols for new layered materials that are photoresponsivel and useful for non-silver based imaging. Define redox and catalytic reactivity of these new optically responsive materials in supercritical CO2 . Thrust area of this proposal Thrust Area A: Interfacial and Colloid Science in Compressible Media Connectivity Collaborators, multi-institutional, multi-disciplinary components This work will be conducted in partnership with colleagues at NC State (Carbonell) and at the University of Texas (Johnston, Webber, and Rossky). The spectroscopic cells will be developed in collaboration with the UT groups and the synthetic methodology will be undertaken with the NC State groups. Related work in other thrust areas Inherently this work is of central importance to several of the thrust areas and will provide a central intellectual connection among the groups. Sharing of resources (students, supplies, equipment, etc.) The postdoctoral student employed on this project will work closely with several groups and will act as a resources to any of those working on the project in assisting with kinetic or spectroscopic interpretations of the specific chemical reaction being followed. Outreach Components Suggested K-12 Outreach Ideas Contingent on the success of the proposed research, the optoelectronic materials developed in the project will be made available to the Science House, together with the intellectual support for preparing age-appropriate materials for discussing them. We propose to devise a Web-based experiment that might employ these materials as experiments in North Carolina high schools. Additional Comments The principal investigator has a demonstrated history of prolific collaboration with colleagues at the University of Texas in the general areas of chemical utilization of supercritical fluids. She intends to continue active intellectual direction of this project. She serves, however, as Chancellor of North Carolina State University, and as with her other current active sponsored research work, will rely on James Whitesell, a Professor of Chemistry at NC State, for day-to-day supervision of the postdoctoral fellow working on this project. Requested Budget Allocation - Year 1 Personnel salaries
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