University of Connecticut |
Polymer Program SeminarFacile Chemistry for the Generation and Industrial Application of Polymeric Nanostructures Thursday, March 9, 2006 4:00 PM , IMS Room 20 THE SPRING 2006 IMS DISTINGUISHED LECTURE In designing polymeric materials for use in nanotechnology it rapidly becomes apparent that control over all aspects of polymer structure (molecular weight, polydispersity, number and position of functional groups, architecture, etc.) is required if these materials are to be used successfully to create nanostructures in the sub-50 nm size regime. Equally important to the rapid introduction and incorporation of these materials into devices is the development of robust and simple techniques for their synthesis. This last feature will allow a wide range of materials to be prepared efficiently while also permitting non-experts to prepare well-defined materials. The most promising approach to this is a *bottoms-up* approach relying on chemistry, and recent developments in nanoparticles, shape persistent 3-dimensional macromolecules and 'living' free radical procedures have allowed the construction of tailor-made polymer molecules that facilitate this strategy. The design and application of these materials in advanced storage devices and microelectronics for the information technology industry will be discussed. Further examples will demonstrate that these new synthetic techniques may also have application in other areas such as bio-sensors, DNA chips, etc.
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