DYNAMIC CHIRALITY OF TAILORED NATURAL POLYMERS FROM ORGANIZED POLYSACCHARIDE NANOCRYSTALS TO HEIRARCHICAL PHOTONIC MATERIALS
Abstract
Chiral optical materials and special classes of optical metamaterials exhibit strong discrimination of circular polarization of light due to chiral asymmetry and negative refraction properties, thanks to their unique chemical structure, shapes, and organization. Such novel bio-derived hierarchical nanomaterials may have the critical advances required to meet the future needs of the DoD and USAF. In this study, we will focus on fundamental understanding of how to precisely control the local and global chirality of polysaccharide nanocrystals for realizing dynamic response of transient co-assembly of individual polysaccharide nanostructures. One-dimensional, needle-like polysaccharide nanocrystals are a good model to study chirality of biopolymer nanomaterials across multi-length scales. These nanocrystals with a limited number of molecular chains packed in highly crystalline lattice are mechanically strong, stiff, highly anisotropic with a high aspect ratio, possess natural chirality and amphiphilicity of crystalline facets, and show twisted nanocrystal shape. In order to understand the true origin of chiral organization at different spatial scales and conditions, we will consider primary assembly process of individual nanocrystals and the formation of bundle-like “precursors” for nematic-like or chiral nematic aggregates. We will study their side-by-side, stacked, crossed, and end-to-end packing with variable twisting angle, sing, and power as controlled by surface chemistry, nanoscale shapes, and versatile surface modification with chiral aminoacids, nucleotide base sequences, and photoresponsive linkers. Grafting and co-grafting various synthetic and biological grafts with different compositions, own chirality, and variable grafting density on twisted hydroxyl-terminated facets will be employed to control interparticle interactions and induce phase separation along the nanocrystal axis with the potential for formation of periodic patchy morphologies.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 12, 2021
- Source ID
- FA95502010350
Entities
People
- Vladimir V. Tsukruk
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Georgia Tech Research Corporation
- United States Air Force