NSF Career Award Helps Grow New Materials

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03/04/2016 Added

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A University of Nebraska-Lincoln researcher studies new approaches to controlling crystal growth to create hybrid materials. Chemist Stephen Morin hopes to steer Nebraska students towards science careers through outreach activities. He earned a CAREER award from the National Science Foundation to support his projects.

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[00:00:00.249](light-hearted music)
[00:00:02.069]A seashell provides inspiration
[00:00:04.108]for chemistry research.
[00:00:06.268]Naker, also known as mother of pearl,
[00:00:08.828]combines soft and hard material in layers
[00:00:11.728]that fit together like brick and mortar.
[00:00:14.608]Fracture or are we going to break it?
[00:00:16.228]UNL chemist Steven Morin,
[00:00:18.108]borrows concepts from that elegant biological system.
[00:00:22.148]We try and use that as an inspiration
[00:00:25.828]to look at how we can combine different types
[00:00:28.288]of inorganic materials, but with the same concept
[00:00:31.482]of combining it with things like synthetic soft polymers,
[00:00:35.182]so that we can achieve new functionality
[00:00:39.162]from the hybrid material that we get.
[00:00:42.182]Specialized tools are put to use in the lab.
[00:00:45.882]A 3-D printer and a machine that puts a material
[00:00:49.522]covered in a chemical pattern to the stretch test.
[00:00:53.282]One of the things we really look at,
[00:00:55.642]is how we can define chemistry on the surface
[00:00:58.642]of a rubber material, and then how we can use mechanical
[00:01:01.862]deformations of that material to change that chemistry,
[00:01:04.722]and then with that ability, how can we start
[00:01:08.382]to influence processes on that surface.
[00:01:11.822]Traditionally, a chemical structure is created
[00:01:14.522]by fabricating inorganic material on a rigid surface
[00:01:18.462]that doesn't play much of a role in the process.
[00:01:21.522]We would like to sort of turn that upside down,
[00:01:23.842]and say no, let's let the surface be a participant
[00:01:26.704]in the process, and so by that
[00:01:29.822]I mean let's introduce a surface that can be
[00:01:32.982]mechanically manipulated so that we can change the chemistry
[00:01:36.802]and we can also rearrange things on its surface.
[00:01:39.842]Morin's research could be applied
[00:01:41.922]to emerging technologies like stretchable electronics,
[00:01:45.742]or soft sensors, but the most important contribution
[00:01:49.262]may be the chance to shed light on chemical mysteries.
[00:01:53.522]A lot of our work up until this point
[00:01:55.502]has been really geared towards understanding
[00:01:58.742]and being able to develop the methodologies
[00:02:01.582]to control that chemistry, and then taking it
[00:02:05.882]to the level within the realm of this project
[00:02:10.642]where we're then starting to use those surfaces
[00:02:14.058]to control these hybrid material formation processes.
[00:02:18.838]A career grant from the National Science
[00:02:21.178]Foundation supports Morin's research.
[00:02:24.178]The award will also fund a hands-on workshop
[00:02:27.278]for native American students in Nebraska.
[00:02:30.418]The initial run of this will focus on
[00:02:34.258]microfluidics and soft robotics created
[00:02:36.937]from 3-D printed molds, and so we,
[00:02:40.197]as part of the award, we're able to secure funding
[00:02:43.577]for a portable 3-D printer that, and also some travel funds,
[00:02:48.115]so we'll be able to put our equipment in a UNL van,
[00:02:53.155]and drive to the various sites.
[00:02:56.735]Morin wants to share the excitement
[00:02:59.015]he feels when ideas transform into knowledge.
[00:03:02.674](light-hearted music)

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NSF Career Award Helps Grow New Materials

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