CAREER: Fundamental Aspects of Electrocrystallization Phenomena: An Experimental and Modeling Approach

电化学沉积（ECD）的过程控制是一项具有挑战性的任务。需要对薄膜形成过程的基本理解来开发沉积变量对薄膜微观结构影响的预测定量模型。在本职业生涯中，对一组具有代表性的电沉积系统的成核和生长过程进行了全面的研究，目的是开发这样一个模型，从而为金属薄膜的ECD制造提供更好的工具。电化学技术（产生生长过程的空间平均信息）和显微镜/结构方法（提供微观尺度上的形态数据）相结合，产生对模型系统电结晶行为的全面描述。这两种技术独特地结合在一起，通过原位和实时监测金属的电响应、成核和生长过程，通过光刻方法制成微纳米电极。实验工作与成核和生长过程的动力学蒙特卡罗模拟相结合，以量化金属类型，电解质化学和沉积变量对所得薄膜微观结构的影响。实验结果用于验证和改进数值模拟，并利用所得模型对电解溶液中的电结晶现象进行定量描述。ECD的理论、研究和实践将被整合到阿拉巴马大学本科和研究生的材料工程课程中，目的是提高学生在ECD技术和应用领域的技能和创造性思维。本科阶段的学生将接触到该领域的实验室项目。将特别注意招收和留住少数民族以及在经济和社会上有风险的学生。研究生将有机会参加关于ECD理论和实践的高度跨学科课程，其中讲座将辅以实验室课程和模拟工具。使用这些工具开发的多媒体模块将用于讲座，并通过网络发布提供给公众。ECD技术广泛应用于制造厚涂层和通过光刻模式沉积。ECD工艺具有监测和控制涂层成核和生长的独特能力。这使得ECD非常适合合成用于微电子、磁记录和MEMS应用的高性能金属涂层，在这些应用中，在广泛的长度尺度上控制微观结构和纹理是必不可少的

0093154ZangariProcess control in electrochemical deposition (ECD) is a challenging task. A fundamental understanding of the processes involved in film formation is needed to develop a predictive, quantitative model for the effects of deposition variables on film microstructure. In this CAREER grant a comprehensive investigation of nucleation and growth processes of a representative set of electrodeposition systems is undertaken with the objective to develop such a model and thus provide better tools for ECD fabrication of metallic films. Electrochemical techniques, which yield spatially averaged information on the growth process, and microscopy/structural methods, that provide morphological data at the microscopic scale, are coupled to yield a comprehensive description of the electrocrystallization behavior of the model systems. These two techniques are uniquely combined by monitoring in-situ and in real time the electrical response and nucleation and growth processes of metals into micro- and nano-electrodes fabricated by lithographic methods. The experimental effort is integrated with a kinetic Monte Carlo simulation of the nucleation and growth process to quantify the effects of metal type, electrolyte chemistry, and deposition variables on the microstructure of the resulting films. The experimental results are used to validate and improve the numerical simulations, and the resulting models are utilized to develop a quantitative description of electrocrystallization phenomena in electrolytic solutions. The theory, research and practice of ECD will be integrated into the undergraduate and graduate materials engineering curricula at the University of Alabama with the objective of enhancing skills and creative thinking of students in the area of ECD technology and applications. Students at the undergraduate level will be exposed to laboratory projects in this field. Attention will be devoted to recruitment and retention of minorities as well as economically and socially at risk students. Graduate students will have the opportunity to attend a highly interdisciplinary course on the theory and practice of ECD, wherein the lectures will be complemented by laboratory sessions and simulation tools. Multimedia modules developed using these tools will be employed in lectures and made available to the general public through web publishing. %%%ECD techniques are widely employed for fabrication of thick coatings and for deposition through lithographic patterns. ECD processes have unique capabilities to monitor and control the nucleation and growth of coatings. This makes ECD ideal for the synthesis of high performance metallic coatings for microelectronics, magnetic recording, and MEMS applications, where control of microstructure and texture over a wide range of length scales is essential.***