Functional Synthetic Materials- Preparation, Characterization and Evaluation of Properties

Abstract

The funding requested in this DURIP grant proposal is for the purchase of a materials characterization instrumentation suite comprising a 3D electron diffraction (3D ED)-Micro electron diffraction (microED) diffractometer (Synergy-ED) system (Rigaku) with a Gatan Model 698- ELSA Cryotransfer system (Rigaku), a size exclusion chromatography (SEC) system composed of a pump (Chromtech) with multi-angle light scattering (MALS), DAWN and refractive index (RI), Optilab detectors (Wyatt Technology) for the determination of molecular weights and dispersity of (bio)polymers, a dynamic light scattering (DLS) instrument, Zetasizer (Malvern), for measuring the size, and zeta potential (surface charge) of nanoparticles and molecules, a J-1500 Circular Dichroism Spectropolarimeter (Jasco) for the analysis of chirality in molecules and materials and a multi-mode plate reader, BioTek (Agilent-Fisher) for the measurement of absorption, fluorescence, luminescence, time-resolved fluorescence and fluorescence polarization of molecules and materials. This equipment will enhance two new Space University Research Innovation (SURI) research programs currently proposed to the AFOSR, 1) Bio-inspired Multifunctional Architected Materials for Space, 2) Leveraging Adaptive Mechanisms and Mineral Interactions of Microbes for Lunar Extremes as well as a Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowship through ONR titled Proteomimetic Polymers- Recapitulating Protein Function for Scalable Bioengineered Materials, in addition to our currently funded DOD research programs that are described in more detail in the specific project outlines portion of this proposal. The materials characterization instrumentation suite will bring an entirely new capability in materials characterization to the United States (first of their kind instruments in the country) and advance current in-lab capabilities with new state of the art instrumentation.

Document Details

Document Type
DoD Grant Award
Publication Date
Feb 05, 2025
Source ID
FA95502410058

Entities

People

  • Nathan C. Gianneschi

Organizations

  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research
  • Northwestern University
  • United States Air Force

Tags

Readers

  • Aerosol Science/Aerosol Physics
  • Nanocomposite Materials Science
  • Research Science/Academic Research

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology
  • Microelectronics
  • Space