A Pilatus3 R X-ray Detector System to Study Hierarchical Structures in Functional Polymers
Abstract
PROJECT ABSTRACT (Publically Releasable) A Pilatus3 R X-ray Detector System to Study Hierarchical Structures in Functional Polymers The multiple-angle X-ray scattering (MAXS) instrument at Penn is an open-access facility with a strong history of research contributions in complex materials wherein the molecular-structure directs the hierarchical structure and novel properties. In addition, this facility educates undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers from chemistry, materials science, and physics about hierarchical structures is modern materials. Although MAXS is in good condition, MAXS is equipped with a 23-year-old detector that is out- of-date, limits spatial resolution and significantly complicates data analysis. A new detector system from Xenocs will provide a much-needed upgrade to MAXS and ensure continued excellence. The system includes a Pilatus3 R 200K detector, which is a single photon counting detector using hybrid pixel technology and has exceptional performance. Moreover, the Pilatus3R withstands the direct beam, so that the scattering intensities will be reported in absolute units, thereby enabling direct comparison with structures predicted by theory and simulations. The proposed detector system also includes a motorized stage and advanced software that enable the detector to capture a wider angular range without changing the sample- to-detector distance. MAXS enables cutting-edge research across a variety of complex materials relevant to the DoD: liquid crystals, supramolecular assemblies, nanoparticles, polymer nanocomposites, protein-based photonic structures, and particularly functional polymers. Functional polymers with acid, ionic or other associating groups are important materials for lightweight energy storage, electrically responsive polymers, self-healing coatings, and chemically-resistant thermoplastics. Our research builds design rules for functional polymers to produce desired morphologies that subsequently deliver targeted properties. The most important tool for morphology characterization is X-ray scattering and the proposed detector system is critical both to maintain our leadership role and to foster a variety of emerging collaborations with polymer synthetic chemists including pseudo-precise polyesters (Coates), polymerized ionic liquids (Campos), and single-chain polymer nanoparticles (Berda).
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Oct 16, 2018
- Source ID
- W911NF1710282
Entities
People
- Karen I Winey
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- United States Army
- University of Pennsylvania