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3 Description
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The Garcia Center for Polymers at
Engineered Interfaces consists of an Interdisciplinary Research Group (IRG).
The focus of the Center is the design of polymer thin film properties through
precise control of interfacial structure. The uniqueness of the
investigations is the synthesis and study of engineered interfaces. At these
interfaces, molecular-level control of surface energy via chemical
functionalities, symmetry, and order is accomplished. This is a significant
departure from existing experiments on semiconductor, metal and metal oxide
surfaces, with little or no control of surface interactions. The issues to be
addressed at the Center are:
- the effect
of specific interactions at polymer interfaces on surface nanorheology,
adhesion, friction and dynamics;
- spinodal
decomposition and dewetting of liquid polymer films on surfaces modified
by self-assembled monolayers (SAMs);
- nanoscale
surface patterning with block copolymers;
- surface
adsorbed polyelectrolytes;
- capillary
electrophoresis and MRI contrasting agents; and
- explore new
directions in the development of engineered surfaces for cellular
adhesion and protein adsorption.
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