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Participants: Hoagland and Watkins (coordinators), McCarthy, Lesser, Hsu, Muthukumar (with 4 students) Fundamental principles of polymer materials behavior are poorly understood in the context of ionic liquids (ILs), a class of unconventional solvents comprised of organic salts with melting temperatures below 100C. The goal of this IRG is to explore opportunities for use of these solvents in preparation of polymeric materials with unique properties. Exploited IL properties include vanishing volatility, high ion conductivity, and moderate dielectric constant. Seed activities are pursued in four areas: Polymers in Ionic Liquids, Ionic Liquid-Solid Polymer Interfaces, Polymers at Ionic Liquid Solution Interfaces, and Ionic Liquids in Polymers. |
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Participants: M. Barnes, T. Emrick, R. Hayward, T. Russell, P. Lahti and 2 Graduate Students
Since their discovery in the 1970’s, enormous attention has been directed towards semiconducting
polymers, in terms of both the fundamental research and their potential for organic-based optoelectronic
materials and devices. For example, realizing new materials, architectures and assemblies for efficient
light harvesting, emissive displays, and polymer-based photovoltaic systems remains a significant
challenges. Through analysis of heterogeneities associated with optoelectronic response from individual
nanostructures, research in Seed 2 will lead to a detailed understanding of the relationships between
polymeric materials and nanostructures with optoelectronic function. Such studies will guide the design
and optimization of functional hierarchical assemblies and bulk materials based on optoelectronic
polymers. |
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Seeds
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Participants: M. Santore, J. Davis, G. Tew, 2 Graduate Students The increasing resistance of bacteria to antibiotics, the rising incidence of deadly hospital infections, and
the growing use of polymer-based medical devices make improved means to manipulate and kill bacteria
a critical societal need. By understanding and then controlling bacteria-surface interactions, the
investigators in Seed 1 will develop tailored polymer-based surfaces that are selective for the physicochemical landscape of outer bacterial surfaces, thereby facilitating recognition of bacterial strains
according to differences in their adhesive interactions. Going beyond variations in average surface
character/compositions; therefore, bacterial surfaces will be investigated in terms of their spatial
heterogeneity, about which little is currently known. Antimicrobial polymer surfaces not harmful to
mammalian cells are among the long-term Seed objectives; however, more generally the Seed seeks
creation of materials that can selectively adhere and dynamically manipulate bacteria, for instance
separating bacterial strains or distinguishing bacteria from mammalian cells. The program will also
produce a deeper level of understanding of the physico-chemical landscape of bacteria at the nanoscale.
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Seeds 
