Synchrotron X-ray Studies of Nanostructured Polymer Films, Fibers and Composites

This work order will support the research of Northwestern University graduate student Ms. Chya Yan Liaw under the supervision of Dr. Jin Wang (ANL) and Prof. Ken Shull (Northwestern U.). Ms. Liaw's research will involve synchrotron radiation studies of thin polymer films. She will perform experiments, interpret their results, and prepare articles for publication in scientific journals. The x-ray experimental work will be performed at the Advanced Photon Source (APS). In Dr. Wang’s group, Time-resolved Research Group, one of the R&D missions is to develop a combination of x-ray scattering, spectroscopy and imaging tools in the time domain from second to ms to probe dynamics and kinetics in polymers, nanoparticles and their nanocomposites in either thin film or bulk forms, which is important to facilitate development of functional materials and energy-related devices. Ms. Liaw’s work to understand the formation of polymeric materials at surfaces and interfaces will directly benefit the APS and ANL in the area of polymer/nanomaterial research in understanding structure/function relationships in those materials. All data and associated graphs, calculations, and other results of this effort will be provided to Dr. Jin Wang of ANL prior to the end of the work order period.