Coulomb Crystals and Liquids: A Novel Dry Directed Self-Assembly Technique for Synthesizing Nanostructures

我们要求SGER提供资金，以开发一种新的技术，在任意衬底上自组装尺寸均匀的纳米结构(量子点)的空间有序阵列。这些阵列具有耐人寻味的光学、电子、磁性和超导特性。我们已经证明，由于准粒子态密度的离散化，它们在超导开始时表现出更高的转变温度。我们预见了这些阵列的许多其他应用。阵列的自我排序是通过称为库仑结晶的过程来实现的。与现有的自组装方法相比，该技术具有许多优点，如STranski-Krasatanow、量子点生长和电化学合成。我们将把库仑晶体技术发展成一种新的纳米合成范例，并展示成品纳米结构中的器件现象。通过广泛的建模和仿真，将对自组装过程有一个理论上的理解。

We request SGER funding to develop a novel technology for self-assembling spatially ordered arrays of uniformly sized nanostructures (quantum dots) on arbitrary substrates. These arrays have intriguing optical, electronic, magnetic and superconducting properties. We have already demonstrated that they exhibit an enhanced transition temperature for the onset of superconductivity because of a discretization of the density of quasi-particle states. We foresee many other applications of these arrays.Self-ordering of the arrays is achieved through a process known as Coulomb crystallization. This technique has many advantages over existing self-assembly methods such as Stranski-Krasatanow growth of quantum dots and electrochemical synthesis. We will develop the Coulomb crystal technology into a new paradigm for nanosynthesis and demonstrate device phenomena in finished nanostructures. A theoretical understanding of the self-assembly process will be gained through extensive modeling and simulation.