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Dream : Faculty : Nanomaterials : Chris Li
Chris Li
Assistant Professor of Materials Science and Engineering
NSF CAREER Award
Faculty web page
Complex hierarchical self-assembly templated by block copolymers: phase structures, nanofabrication
& nano-electro-optic properties
Hierarchical self-assembly is an essential part of nanotechnology because it is one of the few practical strategies for making ensembles of nanostructures. Professor Li’s research focuses at complex hierarchical self-assembled structures via combining two-dimensional (2-D) liquid crystalline (LC) ordering and block copolymer microphase separation process. The resulting
hierarchical structures possess complex natures at both 1-5 nm and 10-100 nm length scales (see Fig. 3). Well-correlated structures at different length scales might also provide a solution for the transfer of the novel properties at the nanoscale into a higher length scale.
Example REU Project: The student will be asked to study the effects of blending polystyrene (PS) homopolymers with PS and LC block copolymers (PS-PLC) (already developed in Dr. Li’s lab) on the original PS-PLC nanostructure. Using solution-casting methods, the student will first prepare a series of polymer thick films having different PS/PS-PLC ratios. It is anticipated that blending PS in PS-PLC will alter the PS volume fraction of the sample, which in turn, lead to different nanostructures. Under the guidance of a graduate student, the REU participant will then learn to characterize this series of samples using small angle X-ray scattering and transmission electron microscopy. By analyzing the d-spacing and phase structure change of the sample, nanostructure dependence on PS/PS-PLC ratio could be established. Completing this project could grant the student better knowledge in polymer self-assembly as well as familiarize him/her with the powerful modern characterization tools.
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