NSF Org:	CHE Division Of Chemistry
Recipient:	MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Initial Amendment Date:	July 17, 2019
Latest Amendment Date:	July 17, 2019
Award Number:	1904453
Award Instrument:	Standard Grant
Program Manager:	George Janini CHE  Division Of Chemistry MPS  Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences
Start Date:	September 1, 2019
End Date:	August 31, 2022 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount:	$58,871.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date:	$58,871.00
Funds Obligated to Date:	FY 2019 = $58,871.00
History of Investigator:	Michael Strano (Principal Investigator) strano@MIT.edu
Recipient Sponsored Research Office:	Massachusetts Institute of Technology 77 MASSACHUSETTS AVE CAMBRIDGE MA  US  02139-4301 (617)253-1000
Sponsor Congressional District:	07
Primary Place of Performance:	Massachusetts Institute of Technology 77 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge MA  US  02139-4307
Primary Place of Performance Congressional District:	07
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI):	E2NYLCDML6V1
Parent UEI:	E2NYLCDML6V1
NSF Program(s):	Macromolec/Supramolec/Nano
Primary Program Source:	01001920DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
Program Reference Code(s):	7237, 8091, 9229
Program Element Code(s):	688500
Award Agency Code:	4900
Fund Agency Code:	4900
Assistance Listing Number(s):	47.049

ABSTRACT

Dr. Mark Ellison of the Department of Chemistry, Ursinus College and Dr. Michael S. Strano of the Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are supported by the Macromolecular, Supramolecular, and Nanochemistry (MSN) Program of the Division of Chemistry to study the motion of ions and molecules through the interior of carbon nanotubes. Flow of material at these dimensions is quite different from our everyday experience, so this research is expected to improve our understanding of how these ions and molecules are transported through tubes that are not much bigger in diameter than the objects themselves. The work is initially focused on the transport of amino acids and neurotransmitters, including acetylcholine and dopamine through the nanotubes. At a later stage, the nanotubes are outfitted with tiny gold electrodes to control the rate of flow through the tubes using an electric signal. If successful, the project is likely to impact the development of biosensing, medical testing, and electronic nanodevices. It is also likely to improve our understanding of the motion of biologically important molecules in biological channels and synthetic nanopores such as in the human brain. During the course of conducting this research, a diverse group of undergraduate students as well as female high school students are afforded a research experience at Ursinus College. In addition, the students benefit from visits to MIT to prepare nanotube devices and conduct experiments with the help of MIT graduate students.

The project investigates the fundamental processes of the transport of small ions and molecules through single wall nanotubes (SWNTs). Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is used to deposit SWNTs on silicon wafers and the devices are equipped with electrodes to conduct the needed ion current measurements. This, combined with SEM and Raman spectroscopy measurements, provides the necessary data to characterize the devices and to provide information on the mechanisms involved in the transport of ionic and molecular species through the nanotubes. The Ursinus undergraduate students travel to MIT to use equipment and instruments such as a chemical vapor deposition oven, scanning electron microscope, and a Raman microscope to construct the SWNT devices. The devices are brought back to Ursinus to conduct the voltage clamp measurements of ion transport. The work is initially focused on the transport of amino acids and neurotransmitters, including acetylcholine and dopamine, through the nanotubes. At a later stage, the nanotubes are outfitted with gold electrodes to gate and control the rate of flow through the tubes by an electric signal. The experiments are designed to provide the data needed to improve our understanding of ion and molecule transport through SWCNT nanopores and to explore the use of SWCNTs as conduits for the delivery of amino acids and neurotransmitters to specific targets.

This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

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.

Major Activities:

The team at MIT supported this project by sending CNT samples patterned and oxidatively cut to Ursinus and Professor Ellison's team for electrokinetic measurements.  We also held research meetings to discuss data analysis and results.

Specific Objectives:

These efforts at MIT supported all three aims of the project.  Regarding Aim 3, although we have an excellent track record of hosting undergraduate students from Ursinus at MIT, these efforts in this project period were hampered due to the COVID-19 pandemic which did not allow significant travel.  Never the less, our virtual interactions supported in part the accomplishment of Aim 3.

Significant Results:

The most important results were accomplished on the Ursinus side but we were successful in creating uniform and well characterized samples to support the effort.

Key outcomes or Other achievements:

All three objective were successful although the project is still ongoing at the Ursinus location.  We will continue to support as needed despite the ending of the project, as resources allow.

Our sample characterization results have been deseminated as a part of scientific presentations and discussions with collaborations, as well as a series of scientific manuscripts that we have in the works. 

This project helped research in water purification and energy research in general by providing platforms to study confined fluids.

 

 

 

 

Last Modified: 03/30/2023
Modified by: Michael S Strano

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