MCS-based initiator (Rühe & Prucker)

1. Genzer Research Group http://scf.che.ncsu.edu Tailoring assemblies of surface-anchored polymers by "grafting from" free radical polymerization Jan Genzer, North Carolina State University, DMR 0906572 Synthesis & kinetic studies of free radical initiators Major findings: Asymmetric azo-based initiator synthesized and attached to hydroxyl-containing surfaces. Polymerization rate (measured by “grafting from” polymerization of styrene) is faster than that reported in the literature. The stability of brushes is higher due to lack of ester groups. TCS-based initiator (this work) MCS-based initiator (Rühe & Prucker) Broader Impact of Research: The relationship between surface initiator density and grafted polymer density is of critical importance when considering the breadth and depth of applications of polymer brushes. Examples of applications: chemically and structurally tailored films preventing fouling of ships to controlling biomaterial interfaces in vivo, as well as countless other technological applications including but not limited to lubrication, anti-flocculation, particle assembly, protein adsorption, cell signaling, and nanoscale molecular motion.

2. Genzer Research Group http://scf.che.ncsu.edu Tailoring assemblies of surface-anchored polymers by "grafting from" free radical polymerization Jan Genzer, North Carolina State University, DMR 0906572 Outreach activities The PI’s group has been involved in numerous outreach activities. These involve popular science lectures for elementary school students in rural areas, i.e., Ararat in Southwest Virginia (left), polymer classes for high school students on NCSU campus in June 2010 (right). In May 2009, the PI has co-organized (with Prof. Michael Rubinstein from UNC Chapel Hill) an inaugural 1-day “Triangle Soft Matter Workshop”. In May 2010 the PI helped co-organize the 2nd workshop at Duke University. Has tradition been started? The PI has advised 5 undergraduate students from NC State during 2009-2010. Among them were 2 female students and 1 African American male (and undergraduate student from the Physics department at NC State). The PI has continued his involvement in hosting talented juniors from Zhejiang University in PR China (organized under the umbrella of NC State’s Confucius Institute). 2 female students: Diana Hu (summer 2008, now a grad student at Yale U.), Lu Yingying (summer 2009, now a grad student at MIT) have participated in this program and performed research in the Genzer lab.