Experimental and Theoretical Investigation of Laser-Nanoparticle Interactions

纳米粒子是纳米科学和纳米工程中最重要的纳米材料之一。这些纳米颗粒在工程系统中的创新应用，如纳米球增强光刻技术正在出现。然而，人们对这一过程的物理性质知之甚少，特别是涉及极小长度和时间尺度的光和热输运问题。本项目将通过实验技术和理论模拟相结合的方法，全面研究激光与纳米球的相互作用过程，包括固体衬底上纳米球与超快激光的相互作用，纳米片与衬底之间的传导和辐射传热，以及纳米尺度光学相互作用和热传递导致的表面纳米结构。通过这项研究，将开发出一种实用的纳米光刻工具，用于各种材料的大规模并行纳米制造。该项目的研究成果将对纳米尺度热输运、纳米光学和纳米制造等跨学科领域产生重大影响。此外，这项工作的结果将为本科生、研究生、K-12学生和教师提供令人兴奋的教材和有趣的实验项目。该奖项由化学和运输系统部门的热传输和热加工项目以及设计、制造和工业创新部门的纳米制造项目共同资助。

Nanoparticles are among the most important nanomaterials in nanoscience and nanoengineering. Innovative applications of these nanoparticles in an engineering system such as nanosphere-enhanced photolithography are emerging. However, little is known about the physics of the process, especially the optical and thermal transport issues involving extremely small length and time scales. This project will offer comprehensive investigations on the laser-nanosphere interaction process by a combination of experimental techniques and theoretical simulation, including ultrafast laser interaction with the nanospheres resting on a solid substrate, conduction and radiative heat transfer between the nanopsheres and the substrate, as well as surface nanostructuring as a result of the nanoscale optical interaction and heat transfer. From this research, a practical nanolithography tool will be developed for massively parallel nanomanufacturing of a variety of materials.Results from this project will make a significant impact on the interdisciplinary field of nanoscale thermal transport, nanooptics, and nanomanufacturing. Moreover, the results of this work will provide exciting teaching materials and interesting lab projects for undergraduates, graduate students, and K-12 students and teachers. The award has been funded jointly by the Thermal Transport and Thermal Processing Program of the Chemical and Transport Systems Division and by the Nanomanufacturing Program of the Division of Design, Manufacturing and Industrial Innovation.