Specifically Triggerable Multi-Scale Responses in Organized Assemblies
Abstract
The objective of this effort is to develop a fundamental understanding of how a molecular level detection can be propagated across a macroscopic material to affect a global property change that spans multiple length and time scales, and connecting these multi-scale events to realize signal amplification. The proposed effort is well designed, comprehensive, and addresses each of the key elements needed to understand the fundamental multi-scale responses of adaptive systems occurring across length and time scales. The proposal will exploit a variety of material platforms/approaches including liquid crystal orientation, responsive amphiphiles, depolymerization, and biological/abiological composites with non-equilibrium molecular release to address propagation and amplification at multiple length scales. Each system approach is innovative, well-formulated, and focused on a complete understanding of the basic research principles controlling each approach. A variety of triggers will be considered throughout the effort including pH, temperature, redox, light, and enzymes. A key part of this effort is the ability to monitor dynamic changes during the cooperative reorganization processes at the interface, and this is addressed by integration of novel characterization techniques such as in situ liquid cell transmission electron microscopy. A strong theoretical component is also integrated into the proposal to develop models of the amphiphile-liquid crystal interface and the corresponding phase behavior. The breadth of this effort allows for objectives to be pursued in parallel to achieve a fundamental understanding of multi-scale propagation and amplification and the potential to develop rational design principles for hierarchical synthetic systems. The results of this work will have an immediate and significant impact on DoD research.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 12, 2017
- Source ID
- W911NF1510568
Entities
People
- Sankaran Thayumanavan
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- United States Army
- University of Massachusetts Amherst