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Materials Science and Engineering, University of Michigan

  MSE / Research / Projects / Polymer Nanocomposite Systems

Polymer Nanocomposite Systems

Materials: Organic Semiconductors Nanomaterials Composites
Application: Nanotechnology Electronic
Technique: Characterization

Polymer nanocomposites (PNCs) are materials composed of a polymeric host in which particles (buckyballs, nanotubes, semiconductor of metallic nanocrystals, clays) of nanoscale dimensions are incorporated. Because the particles and the polymers possess different functionalities, the range of applications is diverse. Applications include membranes, coatings, solar calls, electronic devices, sensing, medicine and structural applications, such as automobile parts. PNCs which contain layered silicates (clays) have been successfully used for different thermal and mechanical applications. Conjugated polymers mixed with various semiconducting particles have received considerable attention because of applications involving solar cells. PNCs are especially interesting because they exhibit properties that are superior to conventional composites with relatively low concentrations of the inorganic component. The challenges are associated with controlling the composition and spatial distribution of the inorganic component within the polymer. Prediction of the properties is often challenging since the behavior of the result of a range of complex, and collective intermolecular interactions.
The goal of our research is to develop a fundamental understanding of the connection between microstructural features, determined by the polymer-particle, polymer-polymer, particle-particle and interfacial interactions, and the mechanical, dielectric and transport properties.
Our work is primarily experimental and includes Dynamic mechanical measurements, rheology, neutron scattering and dielectric spectroscopy.


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