CAREER: Microscale Energy Transport In Aerogels

摘要Norris UVA CTS-9501911 气凝胶是由纳米尺寸的颗粒和孔组成的不寻常的材料。 二氧化硅气凝胶具有极低的密度，并且微观结构赋予它们不寻常的热物理性质，从而允许重要的应用，例如用于电绝缘体和热绝缘体。这项研究的重点是确定薄膜气凝胶的热性能，标准的实验技术和分析不能应用。将分形分析应用于从薄膜的微观结构来理解薄膜的性质，并将进行实验以确定在基底上的薄膜气凝胶的热导率，并证明在室温下在微观尺度上存在长度尺度效应。 教育计划强调将统计方法，包括实验设计，纳入工程课程。此外，PI还计划扩大一个已经很强的指导方案，鼓励妇女进入大学和初中及高中学生的工程专业。

ABSTRACT Norris UVA CTS-9501911 Aerogels are unusual materials composed of nanometer-sized particles and pores. Silica aerogels have extremely low density, and the microstructure gives them unusual thermophysical properties that allow important applications such as for electrical and thermal insulators. This research centers on determining the thermal properties of thin-film aerogels, for which standard experimental techniques and analyses cannot be applied. Fractal analysis will be applied to understanding the properties of thin-films from their microstructure, and experiments will be carried out to determine the thermal conductivity of thin-film aerogels on substrates and to demonstrate the existance of length-scale effects at the microscale at room temperatures. The educational plan emphasizes bringing statistical methods, including design of experiments, into the engineering curriculum. In addition, the PI has plans for expanding an already strong mentoring program for encouraging women to enter engineering, both in the university and with junior high and high-school students.