Abstract

Inverse design and inverse thinking are critical steps in the new materials developments (materials genome approach). When we design materials with specific functional properties, we often start with independent building blocks (“mesoatoms”) which possess well-defined molecular functions and precise chemical structures. Using the “Molecular Lego” approach, we can then, in some cases with multiple steps, assemble such elemental mesoatoms together in preferred secondary structures (or packing schemes) to construct materials possessing topologically mandated hierarchical structures with desired functions. In this talk,   correlating mesoatoms with mesoscale superlattices, mimicking metal alloys, a rational engineering strategy becomes critical to generate designed periodicity with emergent properties. For molecule-based superlattices, nevertheless, nonrigid molecular features and multistep self-assembly make the molecule-to-superlattice correlation less straightforward. In addition, single component systems possess intrinsically limited volume asymmetry of self-assembled spherical mesoatoms”, further hampering novel superlattices’ emergence. We demonstrate that properly designed molecular systems could generate a spectrum of unconventional superlattices. We systematically explore the lattice-forming principles in unary and binary systems, unveiling how molecular stoichiometry, topology, and size differences impact the mesoatoms and further toward their superlattices. The presence of novel superlattices helps to correlate with Frank–Kasper phases previously discovered in soft matter as well as newly discovered decagonal quasi-crystals. We envision the present work offers new insights about how complex superlattices could be rationally fabricated by scalable-preparation and easy-to-process materials in their bulk states.

Biography

Prof. Cheng is a member of the National Academy of Engineering (U.S.), former Dean of the College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering at the University of Akron, appointed as Frank C. Sullivan Distinguished Research Professor, Trustees and Robert C. Musson Professor at the University of Akron. He is currently Dean and Honorable Professor of the School of Emergent Soft Matter and the South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology, South China University of Technology.

His research interests center on the condensed states in polymers, liquid crystals, surfactants and hybrid materials, and focuses on the interactions, responses, dynamics, and structures of materials on varying length, energy and time scales in which the material itself embodies the technology. His research activities include investigations of transition thermodynamics and kinetics in metastable states, ordered structures and morphologies, surface and interface structures in electronic and optical materials and advanced functional hybrid materials.

He has received the Presidential Young Investigator Award (1991), the John H. Dillon Medal of the American Physical Society (1995), the Mettler-Toledo Award of the North American Thermal Analysis Society (1999), the TA-Instrument Award of the International Confederation for Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry (2004), the Collaborative Research Award of the Division of Polymer Materials Science and Engineering of the American Chemical Society (2005), Polymer Physics Prize of the American Physical Society (2013), International Award of the Society of Polymer Science of Japan (2017), Qian Baojun Distinguished Fiber Achievement Award (2023), among many other academic awards. He has elected as Fellow of American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Physical Society, PMSE American Chemical Society, Honorary Fellow of Chinese Chemical Society, National Academy of Inventors (US) and others.