Organizational Hierarchical Functional Material Structures Using Biomolecular-Material Interactions
Abstract
The nanostructuring approach to highly performing materials functions has produced a paradigm shift and opens new era of investigation for many functional materials, including electronics (e.g. high speed devices, spintronics), photonics (e.g. metamaterials) and energy materials (thermoelectric, catalysis, 3D batteries and solar cells). Central to these investigations is the precise control of synthesis and assembly of nanostructures in hierarchical fashion, which has been the grand challenges and the focus of both fundamental research and applied studies for engineered materials. On the other hand, using simple and effective strategies, Nature can exert precise control over the formation of material structures to achieve superior functions, and it does so energy efficiently, at benign conditions and with minimal impact on the environment. Scientists have long sought to produce technologically important materials by mimicking Nature???s ability to create complex structures that successfully execute specialized functions by controlling all their characteristics, including composition, size, morphology, orientation, and organization. Significantly, most of the intricate nanoscale structures produced by Nature aregenerated in ambient conditions and have not been achieved artificially, even though conventional chemical syntheses operate with more degrees of freedom through manipulation of temperature and pressure. These remarkable outcomes of natural processes are possible due to the exquisite molecular recognition properties of biomolecules such as proteins and polypeptidesthat are the result of evolutionary refinement over the last billion years. However, the principles underlying biomolecular recognition of specific materials in complex solutions are still poorly understood. Determining those principles is critical if bio-inspired approaches to in vitro synthesis and assembly of functional structures are to succeed. In this project, we propose to use the combination of knowledge and tools ranging from bio-recognition studies, crystal growth physics and assembly kinetics, in situ imaging to address these fundamental challenges, and to formulate globally applicable biomimetic principles thatcan guide the efficient production of material structures with hierarchical assembly to deliver superior functionality. Particularly the diverse biomolecular recognitions provide the base to explore and achieve heterogeneous integration of different material functions in all three dimensions, which is not readily available in previously demonstrated approaches It is expected that the research described above will provide unprecedented control over synthesis and hierarchical assembly of nanoscale building blocks into functional devices withsuperior performance. The ability to do so can bring great impact on technologies ranging from smart materials, clean energy generation to environmental protection. Understanding the mechanisms of biomolecule-directed process of material formation will also benefit the design ofmultivariate intelligence systems and biomimetic structural applications.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jul 26, 2018
- Source ID
- N000141812491
Entities
People
- Yu Huang
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of California, Los Angeles