Synthesis of Nanometer Diameter Particles and Measurement of Particle-Particle and Particle Substrate Interactions

提出了一种气体聚集方法，用于合成有用数量的尺寸选择的纳米团簇，并探索将这些团簇组装成潜在的新材料。拟议研究的一个目标是开发能够每小时产生千克纳米级金属和金属氧化物团簇的气雾源，并展示回收和积累这些颗粒的实用方法。第二个目标是开发原子力显微镜方法，以测量纳米级团簇相互作用以及这些颗粒与固体基质之间的作用力。还将进行分子动力学模拟，以解释将获得的实验结果。建议的方法可能导致先进材料的新产品和新工艺。

It is proposed a gas aggregation method for synthesis of useful amounts of size-selected nanoscale clusters and to explore the assembly of such clusters into potentially novel materials. One goal of the proposed research is to develop the aerosol source capable of producing kilograms per hour of the nanoscale metal and metal oxide clusters and to demonstrate practical methods for recovery and accumulation of these particles. A second goal is to develop atomic force microscopy methods to measure the forces exerted by nanoscale clusters on each other and between these particles and solid substrates. Molecular dynamics simulations will also be performed to interpret the experimental results that will be obtained. The proposed approach may lead to new products and processes for advanced materials.