1. Silica-Polypeptide Composite Particles Paul S. Russo, Louisiana State University & Agricultural and Mechanical College, DMR 1005707 This award supports the creation of small particles (diameters ~100 times less than the width of a typical human hair). Each is composed of a solid, glass-like core and coated by a soft shell that keeps the particles from sticking to each other. The particles can be mixed with other suspended objects to result in unusual phases that may lead to novel optical properties (think about liquid crystal indicators) or strength in one direction but not another (think about tear tape for packaging). This year, we learned to render one kind of additive—rodlike cellulose “whiskers”—very uniform in size. These materials come from trees or cotton plants and are, therefore, renewable. The top image at right shows a process called asymmetric flow field flow fractionation (AF4) in which particles suspended in a solvent are carried down a channel by flowing fluid. A cross flow pushes big ones to the floor and they come out last. The bottom image shows the particles, which have other applications such as high-performance fibers, and ten fractions, ranging from 85 nm to 239 nm, as they appear on the AF4 display. Asymmetric field flow fractionation (top), cellulose “whiskers” (bottom left), and fractionation profile (bottom right).

2. We assist the Chemical Educational Foundation’s You Be the Chemist Challenge program, a middle school “quiz bowl” that impacts ~16,000 students in 22 states. This year, we have focused on vetting the thousands of questions it takes to operate Challenge. To give Challenge a more “hands-on” and “real-world” flavor, the Louisiana champion, Hayden Day, studied from a new Louisiana Playbook we are designing (see sample question below and figure at left). Silica-Polypeptide Composite Particles Paul S. Russo, Louisiana State University & Agricultural and Mechanical College, DMR 1005707  Louisiana YBTC Playbook, Problem #25. The sequence of pictures at left shows the repair of the polymeric skin of an automobile bumper which was torn during a wreck. The repair consists of pushing the parts together closely, holding them with tape on the outside (red) part, and “welding” them on the inside (black) side using a soldering iron. Question 1: Is the bumper a thermoset or a thermoplastic? Question 2: Suppose instead of a torn bumper we had a gashed tire made from vulcanized rubber. Would heating a vulcanized rubber repair the tire? Question 3: Explain how polymer welding works at a molecular level. ↑ Grad student Javoris Hollingsworth teaches 8 th -grader Hayden Day, the 2012 Louisiana state champion in the Chemical Educational Foundation’s You Be the Chemist Challenge, about titrations. Barely visible in the background is Hayden’s Mom, a school teacher. Hayden’s father, a chemical plant technician, is looking on too. Dad studied every day with his son, and Hayden acquitted himself well in the national competition in Philadelphia in June.