Project Grant 2404168

This $480,000 Project Grant awarded by the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Division of Chemistry under the 47.049 Mathematical and Physical Sciences program supports Professor Claridge of Purdue University in designing molecular building blocks that enable precise control over the surface chemistry of technologically important soft materials. The project focuses on developing a new approach to on-surface diacetylene polymerization reactions, creating building blocks that exhibit long-range order and allow for atomic-scale motion during reaction. This enables the fabrication of large polymers that can efficiently transfer to the surfaces of materials with stiffness similar to human soft tissue. The resulting surface functionalized materials have potential applications in areas such as solar energy conversion, cell culture scaffolding, and wearable electronics. The award also includes an assessment and outreach strategy to address gaps in national preparation of undergraduate students for STEM careers in nanoscience, including underrepresented students.