This grant from the Organic Dynamics Program supports the membrane-mimetic studies of Professor Fendler at Syracuse University. The studies focus on the preparation and characterization of metallic and semiconducting nanoparticles and films in aqueous solutions, in surfactant vesicles, under aqueous monolayers, and at air-water interfaces. Studies will also be conducted on the transfer of the nanoparticles and films onto solid substrates as well as on the incorporation between headgroups of Langmuir-Blodgett films. The different systems will be characterized in and ex situ by a variety of physico-chemical techniques amongst which atomic force microscopy. In this project Dr. Fendler will conduct membrane- mimetic studies aimed at the preparation and characterization of metallic, magnetic, and semiconducting nanoparticles and films in aqueous media and vesicles. These investigations will provide the much needed and necessary information for the development of a "wet colloid-chemical" approach to the construction of advanced materials.
