RUI/MRI: Acquistion of Equipment to Establish an Aerogel Fabrication, Charaterization and Applications Laboratory

RUI/MRI：购置设备以建立气凝胶制造、表征和应用实验室

• 批准号: 0216153
• 负责人: Ann Anderson
• 金额: $ 25.45万
• 依托单位: Union College
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2002
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2002-08-01 至 2004-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0216153&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RUI; MRI; Acquistion; Equipment; Establish

This grant will establish an interdisciplinary collaborative facility, the Aerogel Fabrication, Characterization, and Applications Lab (AFCAL), for faculty and student researchers in the Mechanical Engineering and Chemistry Departments at Union College. An aerogel is a fragile nanostructure consisting of approximately 90-99% air (volume ratio), contained in an intricate pore structure with pore sizes primarily in the 2 to 50 nm range. An aerogel is formed by a highly cross-linked polymerization reaction and drying phase. The polymerization process forms a solid network surrounded by a liquid (sol-gel). The drying process removes the liquid and leaves behind a delicate pore structure. This pore structure gives aerogels the lowest known density, index of refraction, thermal, electrical, and acoustical conductivities of any solid material.The funds provided will purchase the equipment necessary to implement two aerogel fabrication techniques: an automated pressure and temperature controlled hydraulic press and a critical point drying system; and equipment to characterize those aerogels: a thermal constants analyzer, a gas adsorption system, an integrating sphere spectrophotometer, and a fluorescence spectrometer.The AFCAL facility will be used by faculty and students in Mechanical Engineering and Chemistry to: (1) further develop a new aerogel fabrication technique and perform fundamental studies on the effects of chemical reagents and process variables on the aerogel nanostructure, (2) characterize the thermal and optical properties of silica aerogels, (3) use fluorescence spectroscopy to perform fundamental studies of aerogel structure & applications of aerogels to chemical sensing, and (4) develop inorganic-organic scintillator composites and perform fundamental studies of the inclusion chemistry of aerogels.The Union College Mechanical Engineering and Chemistry Departments have a demonstrated history of excellence in introducing students to research at a formative stage of their academic careers, providing students with coursework that provides the necessary background for success in graduate studies, and placing these students successfully in graduate programs and industrial positions. As a result, these departments have had an impact on the scientific infrastructure of this nation. The four co-PI's will continue to involve undergraduate students in their research, including students from traditionally underrepresented groups, and to encourage their students to consider graduate studies in engineering- and science-related fields and careers in research.

这笔赠款将建立一个跨学科的合作设施，气凝胶制造，表征和应用实验室（AFCAL），为联合学院机械工程和化学系的教师和学生研究人员。气凝胶是由约90-99%的空气（体积比）组成的易碎纳米结构，包含在复杂的孔结构中，孔径主要在2至50 nm范围内。通过高度交联的聚合反应和干燥阶段形成气凝胶。聚合过程形成被液体包围的固体网络（溶胶-凝胶）。干燥过程除去液体并留下精致的孔隙结构。这种孔结构使气凝胶具有任何固体材料中已知的最低密度、折射率、热导率、电导率和声导率。提供的资金将购买实施两种气凝胶制造技术所需的设备：自动压力和温度控制液压机和临界点干燥系统;以及表征这些气凝胶的设备：热常数分析仪，气体吸附系统，积分球分光光度计和荧光光谱仪。AFCAL设施将用于机械工程和化学的教师和学生：（1）进一步开发新的气凝胶制造技术，并对化学试剂和工艺变量对气凝胶纳米结构的影响进行基础研究，（2）表征二氧化硅气凝胶的热和光学性质，（3）使用荧光光谱法对气凝胶结构进行基础研究气凝胶在化学传感中的应用&，（4）发展无机-有机闪烁体复合材料，并进行气凝胶包合化学的基础研究。联合学院机械工程和化学各部门在向学生介绍他们的学术生涯的形成阶段的研究，为学生提供课程，为研究生学习的成功提供必要的背景，并将这些学生成功地放置在研究生课程和工业职位的卓越历史证明。因此，这些部门对这个国家的科学基础设施产生了影响。这四个共同PI将继续让本科生参与他们的研究，包括传统上代表性不足的群体的学生，并鼓励他们的学生考虑在工程和科学相关领域的研究生学习和研究职业。

项目成果

Twenty years of aerogel research at an undergraduate institution

• DOI: 10.1007/s10971-022-06034-1
• 发表时间: 2023-02-04
• 期刊: JOURNAL OF SOL-GEL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
• 影响因子: 2.5
• 作者: Carroll，Mary K.;Anderson，Ann M.
• 通讯作者: Anderson，Ann M.