Project Grant 2223705

This $1.2 million Project Grant from the National Science Foundation Division of Materials Research will fund research into directing the self-assembly of liquid crystalline block co-oligomers using combined optical and magnetic fields. The goal is to develop an understanding of how the properties of these materials relate to their structure and to create desired structures that achieve targeted properties. The work will involve fundamental studies of optically-driven structural transitions in light-responsive polymers and the magnetic field response. It aims to develop synthetic structures using spatially-controlled dynamic light exposure together with magnetic fields. This work addresses a knowledge gap around optically-driven structural transitions in polymers and processing methods to create spatial variation in properties. The grant will support research at The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania from September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2026. The funding falls under the National Science Foundation's $47.049 million Mathematical and Physical Sciences program.