Instrumental Probes for Properties of Nano-structures in Polymer Matrices.

The measurement of physical properties of nano structures dispersed within bulk materials is challenging, as it requires high resolution, sensitivity, and a perfect deconvolution between the fingerprints of the macroscopic sample and the blueprints of nanostructures. This opportunity will exploit our experimental and theoretical results and expertise on nano structured composite materials. The novelty and innovation of the proposed approach consists of the selection of a group of experimental methods, centered on electron spin resonance, to accurately detect and analyze various nano structures with various functionalities (electric,magnetic, and optic) dispersed in different polymeric matrices. Most polymeric matrices are insulating and diamagnetic; hence, they are invisible for electron spin resonance. This generates the required contrast to sense, identify, and analyzenano-structures within bulk polymeric matrices. The proposal is focused on model polymer composites, with emphasis on the detection and analysis of magnetic and conducting nano structures. Small angle neutron scattering and differential scanningcalorimetry will be used to further enhance the capabilities of electron spin resonance. The beauty of this approach is that no new instrumental designs are required. This proposal will define and demonstrate the methods and techniques to sense, identify,and analyze the nano-structure in polymer composites Benefits derived from the proposal.+ A flexible technique able to sense, identify, and analyze nano structures dispersed in bulk polymer composites, based on electron spin resonance, differential scanning calorimetry, and small angle neutron scattering.+ High resolution and sensitivity in the detection of magnetic and conducting nano structured dispersed in insulating and diamagnetic polymeric matrices, triggered by the fact that such matrices are invisible to electron spin resonance.+ The ability to study nano structures dispersed in self-assembled polymeric composite materials.+ The possibility to investigate the molecular motions at nanometer scale in self assembled polymeric matrices and non-structured morphologies by using electron spin resonance and differential scanning calorimetry techniques.+ The capability to perform investigations on nano structured embedded in various polymer composites starting from ultra thin films (where the lack of sensitivity of electron spin resonance is successfully complemented by small angle neutron spectroscopy)to bulk materials (where the resolution of small angle neutrons scattering is depressed while the electron spin resonance spectroscopy is able to compensate allowing detailed investigations).+ Reliable experimental results without the need to build new spectrometers.