9703840 Porter The aim of this proposal entitled Structure-Property Relationships Based on Inorganic-Organic Host-Guest Assemblies is to address the synthesis and fabrication, characterization, and structure property relations in novel nanomaterials obtained through inclusion chemistry. Systems to be studied will include layered silicates such as hectorite and montmorillonite intercalated with aniline, thiophene, and pyrrole guests in the intergallery region of the smectic clays, followed by characterization by powder x- ray diffraction, scanning force microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, electron spin resonance, and impedance spectroscopy. The inner arictecture of the hybrid materials will be studied, and the synergism between architecture and observed properties such as conductivity, magnetism, optical response, and chemical sensing will be probed. The role of non-covalent host-guest and guest-guest interactions will be delineated, and the knowledge used to synthesize and optimize other novel materials. %%% The integration of organic and inorganic molecular units into composite nanostructures provides many possibilities with respect to both novel structures and property design. The design and characterization of these types of nanostructured materials is a young field of endeavor that presents exciting possibilities for designing functional materials for applications such as sensors, molecular sieves, separations media, and catalysts. ***
