CAREER: A Mechatronic-based Research and Educational Framework for Next Generation Actuators and Sensors Comprised of Functional Nanotube Composites

该学院早期职业发展(CALEAR)计划奖旨在通过系统工程设计由功能纳米管组成的宏观结构来开发下一代功能材料。纳米晶体和纳米结构经常被认为是候选材料，可以被设计成在不同的应用中表现出增强的或全新的性能。具体地说，在这个项目中，将组装单个氮化硼(BN)纳米管，这些纳米管具有与自然界中发现的类似的驱动机制(即滑杆纤维运动)，以创建新的功能宏观结构。这一新的概念源于最近在BN纳米管中观察到的压电(PZT)效应，它可以用来制备具有可控膨胀和收缩以及惊人的电气和机械性能的陶瓷压电纤维。目前，人们对纳米管网络的这种驱动知之甚少，但如果能够利用这种特性来制造轻质、坚固、多功能的复合材料，那么未来就会带来巨大的回报。为了实现这一发展，该项目的目标是：i)设计和开发由BN纳米管组成的基于纳米管的功能性复合纤维；ii)设计和开发由功能纳米管复合材料组成的宏观执行器和传感器；以及iii)开发分析模型和控制实验，以便能够操纵纳米特性和制备参数，以达到所需的宏观性能。这里的假设是，这种基于系统理论的方法将促进最终宏观结构执行器/传感器子系统迭代设计过程的自动化，并提供不同纳米到宏观结构之间的模块化和互换性。该研究项目提供了一种基于尺寸变化且不需要掺杂的新型执行器/传感器配置，这大大提高了执行器行程和应力产生能力，远远超过现有技术。这种致动器/传感器配置有可能：i)通过利用基于纳米管的设备为未来的纳米级机器人建立一些早期基础，ii)通过更好地了解纳米管的驱动机制来创造下一代纳米级泵和纳米发动机，以及(Iii)在许多科学领域中的应用，如振动控制、生物医学应用(药物输送和肿瘤去除)和发电应用。这个职业项目的教育计划的中心是通过让高中生、K-12数学、计算机科学和物理教师、本科生和研究生参与，培养拟议研究计划的跨学科方面。具体地说，该计划将包括在纳米管致动器和传感器上开发和实施新的跨学科研究生课程，通过克莱姆森大学的两个获奖方案(同行方案--教育丰富和保留方案以及WISE方案--科学和工程女性)，为代表不足的少数族裔和贫困学生制定和实施新的跨学科研究生课程，通过利用国家科学基金会资助的两项举措(克莱姆森GK-12项目和南卡罗来纳州系统倡议AOP中心的SMTG项目)，为高中学生和K-12教师实施基于探究的合作学习方案，最后，通过米其林公司和橡树岭国家实验室的固态部门发展学术界-产业界-政府的伙伴关系。

This Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program award is to develop next-generation functional materials by systemically engineering macroscopic structures comprised of functional nanotubes. Nanocrystals and nanostructures are often cited as candidate materials that can be engineered to exhibit enhanced or entirely new properties for use in different applications. Specifically in this project, the individual boron nitride (BN) nanotubes that exhibit actuation mechanisms similar to that found in nature (i.e., slip-stick fibrillar motion) will be assembled to create new functional macrostructures. This novel concept originates from the newly observed piezoelectric (PZT) effect in BN nanotubes, which can be utilized to fabricate ceramic piezoelectric fibers with controllable expansion and contraction and astounding electrical and mechanical properties. Such actuation of nanotube networks is poorly understood at present, yet offers immense payoffs in the future if this property can be harnessed to make lightweight, strong, multifunctional composites. To achieve such development, this project will target: i) design and development of functional nanotube-based composite fibers made of BN nanotubes, ii) design and development of macroscopic actuators and sensors comprised of functional nanotube composites, and ultimately iii) development of analytical models and control experiment in order to be able to manipulate the nanoscopic properties and fabrication parameters to arrive at the desired macroscopic performance. The hypothesis here is that such systems theory-based approach will facilitate the automation of an iterative design process for the final macrostructure actuator/sensor subsystems and provide modularity and interchangeability between different nanoscopic to macroscopic configurations.This research project offers a promising new type of actuator/sensor configuration that is based on dimensional changes and requires no dopant intercalation, which tremendously increases the actuator stroke and stress generation capabilities way above current technology. This actuator/sensor configuration has the potential for: i) establishing some of the early foundations for future nano-scale robotics via the utilization of nanotube-based devices, ii) creating next generation nano-scale pumps and nano-engines via a better understanding of the nanotube actuation mechanism, and (iii) utilization in many scientific disciplines such as vibration control, biomedical applications (drug delivery and tumor removal), and power generation applications. The educational plan of this CAREER project is centered on fostering the interdisciplinary aspects of the proposed research program through involving high-school students, K-12 math, computer science and physics teachers, undergraduate and graduate students. Specifically, this plan will include new cross-disciplinary graduate course development and implementation on nanotube-based actuators and sensors, retention and mentoring plan for underrepresented minorities and under-privileged students through two award-winning programs at Clemson University (PEER Program - Programs for Educational Enrichment and Retention and the WISE Program - Women In Science and Engineering), outreach program for secondary education through employing inquiry-based cooperative learning program for high-school students and K-12 teachers utilizing two NSF-funded initiatives (Clemson GK-12 project and the SMTG project of the AOP Hub of the South Carolina State Systematic Initiative), and finally development of an academe-industry-government partnership through Michelin Corporation and Solid State Division of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.