CAREER: Magnetic-Nanocrystal Self-Assembled Superlattices

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

9733160 Wang This grant explores synthesis and characterization of magnetic nanocrystal superlattice materials. To utilize the technological advantages offered by the size specificity and selectivity of nanoclusters, it is imperative to understand the fundamental methodologies for preparation of cluster assembled materials in macroscopic quantities and with high standards of size, structural morphological and shape uniformity. These are vitally important steps toward a systematic exploration of the nature of patterned superstructures assembled from such building units, as well as the formulation of methods for designing and controlling such novel assembled materials. The major research objectives are: to synthesize, characterize, and determine the properties of self-assembly passivated magnetic nanocrystal superlattices of Co, y-Fe2O3 and Fe3O4; to determine the bulk and surface microstructures of the nanoparticles and the superlattices for understanding the magnetic coupling/decoupling among nanocrystals as a function of the interparticle distance; to examine the in- situ structure evolution and phase transformation of the nanoparticles, the surfactant and the superlattices for predicting the stability, reliability and durability of the system for device applications, and to model the structure and behavior of nanocrystals and their assemblies. Education efforts are concentrated in the areas of development of collaborative graduate student thesis projects, expansion of outreach programs, development of interactive microscopy displays for high school students and the public, and development of interdisciplinary teaching experiments related to materials science. %%% Nanocusters, and the physical and chemical functional specificity and selectivity they possess, suggest that they are ideal building blocks for two-and three-dimensional cluster self-assembled superlattice structures. Self- assembled arrays can involve self-organization into monolayers, thi n films, and superlattices of size-selected nanoclusters with encapsulated in protective compact organic coatings. Patterned magnetic nanocrystals are of vital interest both scientifically and technologically because of their potential applications in information storage, color imaging, bioprocessing, magnetic refrigeration, and ferrofluids. ***