
NSF Org: |
CHE Division Of Chemistry |
Recipient: |
|
Initial Amendment Date: | April 8, 2013 |
Latest Amendment Date: | April 11, 2017 |
Award Number: | 1253058 |
Award Instrument: | Standard Grant |
Program Manager: |
George Janini
CHE Division Of Chemistry MPS Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences |
Start Date: | April 15, 2013 |
End Date: | March 31, 2019 (Estimated) |
Total Intended Award Amount: | $617,616.00 |
Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $786,017.00 |
Funds Obligated to Date: |
FY 2015 = $53,683.00 FY 2016 = $57,123.00 FY 2017 = $57,595.00 |
History of Investigator: |
|
Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
1350 BEARDSHEAR HALL AMES IA US 50011-2103 (515)294-5225 |
Sponsor Congressional District: |
|
Primary Place of Performance: |
1138 Pearson Hall Ames IA US 50011-2207 |
Primary Place of
Performance Congressional District: |
|
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
|
Parent UEI: |
|
NSF Program(s): |
OFFICE OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY AC, Macromolec/Supramolec/Nano, EPSCoR Co-Funding |
Primary Program Source: |
01001516DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT 01001617DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT 01001718DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT |
Program Reference Code(s): |
|
Program Element Code(s): |
|
Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.049 |
ABSTRACT
The Macromolecular, Supramolecular, and Nanochemistry (MSN) program of the Division of Chemistry supports the CAREER Award's research and education program of Prof. Javier Vela at Iowa State University. Prof. Vela and his students investigate new surface ligand doping strategies that enable to control the degree of functionalization or valency per nanocrystal. As part of this effort, Prof. Vela's group will investigate the changes in ligand organization, surface chemistry and nanocrystal properties that result from surface modification. Controlling the degree of functionalization per nanocrystal remains an unsolved challenge in colloidal semiconductors. Surface modification is routinely performed by ligand exchange with excess carboxylate- or amine-terminated thiols. However, this method fails to control the extent of surface modification. To solve this problem, Prof. Vela and his students will synthesize surface-doped quantum dots capped with chemically-active native ligands and characterize their surface microstructures, synthesize modular functional polydentate ligands for surface-doping and study their ligand exchange behavior with quantum dots, and explore the use of surface-doped quantum dots for lanthanide optical activation and rationing of rare earths. This research will positively impact our ability to fine-tune the number and relative configuration of energy- and charge-transfer donors and acceptors, providing unprecedented control over exciton decay pathways across the inorganic-organic-solvent interface.
Success of this research will result in powerful strategies to fabricate, assemble and discover functional nanomaterials for imaging, biology, energy and catalysis. For example, the extent of surface coverage by a particular functional group will impact a nanocrystal's surface affinity and permeability, and its ability to localize, penetrate, and be transported across biological tissues and subcellular structures. In addition, advanced characterization of surface-doped nanocrystals will further our understanding of surface-ligand organization and of how this affects optoelectronic properties. The educational goals of this proposal are to close gaps in nanotechnology research and education by introducing a university-wide nano seminar series and a nanochemistry course at Iowa State University, and to broaden participation via diverse recruiting and bilingual activities for Hispanic and Latino/a students and families. A weekly seminar and a formal course will promote interactions and facilitate exchanges among nanotechnology researchers across departments. By communicating science in two languages, Prof. Vela will directly address a growing demographic to raise awareness and advocacy for nanoscience as a way to improve the community, the national economy, and the environment.
PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS RESEARCH
Note:
When clicking on a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) number, you will be taken to an external
site maintained by the publisher. Some full text articles may not yet be available without a
charge during the embargo (administrative interval).
Some links on this page may take you to non-federal websites. Their policies may differ from
this site.
PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT
Disclaimer
This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.
The Macromolecular, Supramolecular, and Nanochemistry (MSN) program of the Division of Chemistry supported the CAREER Award's research and education program of Prof. Javier Vela at Iowa State University. As part of this grant, Prof. Vela and his group investigated surface ligand doping strategies that enable control over the degree of functionalization or valence per nanocrystal. Also investigated were the changes in ligand organization, surface chemistry, and nanocrystal properties that result from surface modification. To achieve these goals, Prof. Vela's group synthesized surface-doped quantum dots capped with chemically-active native ligands, characterized their surface microstructure, and used them for optical activation metal ions, synthesized modular functional polydentate ligands and studied their ligand exchange behavior with quantum dots, and prepared new families of ternary semiconductor nanocrystals for further surface chemistry studies and applications.
Intellectual Merit: A better understanding of the fundamental chemistry and physics of nanocrystal surfaces, particularly for colloidal semiconductor quantum dots, enables a deeper understanding and more controlled manipulation of their fundamental processes such as energy and charge transfer, photoinduced charge separation, and related processes across the inorganic-organic-solvent interface. In addition, new systems that developed for surface modification, such as ternary nanocrystals, are of interest in clean energy generation (from sunlight or waste heat, using solar cell or thermoelectric devices, respectively). This work has resulted in thirteen peer-reviewed scientific journal articles and one US patent application. In addition, several talks and poster presentations were given by the PI and the students involved in this project. These included invited seminars at national and international universities, institutes, and conferences such as American Chemical Society and Materials Research Society national meetings and Gordon Research Conferences.
Broader Impacts: This research resulted in new powerful synthetic strategies to fabricate, assemble, and discover functional nanomaterials for applications ranging from imaging, biology, energy, and catalysis. For example, the extent of surface coverage by a particular functional group impacts a nanocrystal's surface affinity, permeability, and its ability to localize, penetrate, and be transported across biological tissues and subcellular structures. In addition, advanced characterization of surface-doped nanocrystals furthers our understanding of surface-ligand organization and of how it affects optoelectronic properties. Twelve graduate students, including four newly minted PhD's received all or part of their doctoral training as part of this grant. Similarly, one postdoctoral scholar, two undergraduates, and two high school students received training, mentoring, and career development opportunities. In addition, this grant closed gaps in nanotechnology research and education by introducing a university-wide nanoscale research seminar series (since 2013), introducing a new graduate level nanochemistry course at Iowa State University (Chem 573, now on its 4thedition), and broadening participation via diverse recruiting and bilingual activities for Hispanic/Latinx students and families.
Last Modified: 04/19/2019
Modified by: Javier Vela
Please report errors in award information by writing to: awardsearch@nsf.gov.