The broader impacts include:

1. Interaction of a Bi-molecular Liquid Crystal Film With Functionalized NanoparticlesLuz J. Martínez-Miranda, University of Maryland College Park, DMR 0906433 • We investigate the properties of a nominally bi-molecular film of liquid crystal mixed with a magnetic nanoparticle (CoFe) that was functionalized with different organic compounds. The purpose of this research is to find out how the behavior to the nanoparticles changes when the film thickness decreases and if the films behave similarly to the results on non-functionalized particles and phospholipids. • We find that: 1. The two functionalizations studied behave differently for particles larger than 22 nm; 2.there seems to be a relation between the way that the two functionalizations behave in the bulk 8CB: The APTS disorders the 8CB which leads to the appearance of holes; the MHDA aligns the 8CB which leads to the 8CB to surround it in the thin film, even for particles smaller than 22 nm; 3. and hence, they do not follow the behavior observed for the phospholipids. These results have implications for both biological as well as engineering applications. Figure 1. Differential light scattering shows that the particles are mostly 2nm with some smaller amounts of clumped particles. a b Figure 2. Atomic force microscope picture of the a. APTS and the b. MHDA covered particles. The APTS covered particles show that particles larger than 22 nm show a hole opening, whereas the MHDA covered particles show that the particles seem covered even for sizes below 22 nm.

2. Interaction of a Bi-molecular Liquid Crystal Film With Functionalized NanoparticlesLuz J. Martínez-Miranda, University of Maryland College Park, DMR 0906433 • The broader impacts include: • 1. Co-organizing a PASI on nano-bio. The work on liquid crystals and nanopartilcles was one of the inspiring works for this conference. This conference reached out to students in all of the Americas and it was an international collaboration between the USA, USA territories (PR), México and Argentina. • 2. The further integration of the results in the junior laboratory for Materials Science to teach the students how to analyze data from soft materials. • 3. REU training of students in the properties of the liquid crystal -nanoparticle system. Figure 3. Top picture: discussion group in the PASI on nano-bio. There was one after each session to discuss the presentations. Middle picture: collaborator Lynn K. Kurihara and graduate student Jefferson W. Taylor in front of Jefferson’s poster at the PASI. Bottom picture: REU student Janelle Grant and the PI in front of the hoods where nanoparticles were grown.