| Project ID |
BPN462 |
| Website |
|
| Start Date |
Tue 2010-Aug-10 20:54:38 |
| Last Updated |
Tue 2011-Feb-01 22:09:59 |
| Abstract |
Poly NIPAM (N-isopropylacrylamide) is a kind of thermal responsive polymer that can be
synthesized by polymerize NIPAM monomer from its water solution by UV radiation or other synthetic
methods. The main impetus to study this material is due to its novel thermal behaviors such as
"squeezing out" water from inside, switching from hydrophilic to hydrophobic and changing from
transparent to opaque when heating up to its phase transition temperature. Numerous poly NIPAM co-
polymers and composites were made to utilize these properties for drug delivery, chemical
connectors, and optical switch. Here we are aiming for developing smart materials that can change
their physical properties in respond to external stimuli such as electrical or optical signal,
mechanical strain, pH, and so on. We are currently focused on the development of smart
nanoconnectors for the interconnection between self-assembling programmable matter. We are also
interested in the development of materials with tunable mechanical properties or actuators which
respond to external stimuli. |
| Status |
Continuing |
| Funding Source |
DARPA |
| IAB Research Area |
NanoTechnology: Materials, Processes & Devices |
| Researcher(s) |
Xiaobo Zhang, Bryan Schubert |
| Advisor(s) |
Ali Javey |
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