NER: Combined UHV and Liquid Phase (CULP) Processing of Self-Assembled Nanostructures and Novel Interfaces

本纳米尺度探索性研究（NER）提案是响应“纳米尺度科学与工程”（NSF 02-148）招标而提交的。该项目旨在推进自组装量子点和新型界面的制造技术，并拓宽涉及纳米颗粒动力学过程的科学知识。该方法利用惰性液体作为介质来形成金属、半导体和绝缘体的簇，随后，干燥液体的表面张力用于定位自组装的纳米颗粒，相对于衬底表面上的现有图案。通过将样品原位置于超过三点压力的小室中，而不越过相图上的固气边界，混合固体膜有望通过调节其温度转变为液相。预计液相中原子的大扩散率将促进溶解物质自组装成具有纳米尺度物理尺寸的粒子。在液相处理后，薄膜要么被重新冷冻到固相以进行后续干燥以避免表面张力效应，要么在真空中干燥以允许液滴的线张力移动，并可能使纳米颗粒与衬底上现有的图案对齐。自组装纳米颗粒的形态和结构对工艺参数的依赖关系将通过微观技术进行研究，包括原子力显微镜和透射电镜，后者是与朗讯技术贝尔实验室合作完成的。纳米颗粒和衬底之间界面的输运特性也将被表征。该项目涉及材料科学与工程领域中具有高技术相关性的基础性探索性研究问题；它被认为是高风险/高回报的活动。该项目涵盖了NSE的研究和教育主题：纳米结构、新现象和量子控制。该计划的一个重要特点是通过在技术重要领域培训学生，将研究和教育相结合。这个项目背后的基本概念基本上很简单，研究生或本科生很容易理解，他们可以为实验装置和程序的设计做出重大贡献。建立了一个处理基本概念的网站，并链接到布鲁克林学院的学生经常访问的本科物理课程，该学院的少数族裔入学率很高。部分拟议的研究在工业实验室进行，让学生有机会接触工业研究环境和人员，也有机会让工业学者在布鲁克林学院分享他们的经验和知识。由于实验的跨学科性质，我们将鼓励学生通过寻求其他领域专家的指导和帮助来扩大他们的理解。此外，PI还参与了校园内的少数民族研究职业（MARC）计划，通过该计划，他目前正在指导三名少数民族学生。对于这个项目的参与者来说，接触到纳米技术等高度竞争领域的研究活动将是非常有价值的。该项目由MPS/DMR/EM和ENG/CTS/CRP-KCMP项目联合支持

This Nanoscale Exploratory Research (NER) proposal was submitted in response to the solicitation "Nanoscale Science and Engineering" (NSF 02-148). The project aims to advance fabrication technologies for self-assembled quantum dots and novel interfaces, and to broaden the scientific knowledge of kinetic processes involving nanoparticles. The approach utilizes an inert liquid as a medium to form clusters of metals, semiconductors, and insulators, and subsequently, the surface tension of the drying liquid for positioning self-assembled nano-particles with respect to an existing pattern on the substrate surface. By subjecting samples to pressures exceeding the triple-point pressure, in-situ in a small chamber, without crossing the solid-gas boundary on the phase diagram, the mixed solid film is expected to be converted to the liquid phase by adjusting its temperature. It is anticipated that the large diffusivity of atoms in the liquid phase will facilitate self-assembly of the dissolved species into particles with physical dimensions on the nanometer scale. After processing in the liquid phase, the thin films are either refrozen into the solid phase for subsequent drying to avoid surface tension effects, or dried in vacuum to allow the line tension of the liquid droplet to move, and possibly align the nano-particles with existing patterns on the substrate. The dependencies of the morphology and structure of self-assembled nanoparticles on the processing parameters will be studied by microscopic techniques, including AFM and TEM, the latter performed through collaboration with Lucent Technologies Bell Labs. The transport properties at the interfaces between the nano-particles and the substrate will also be characterized. %%% The project addresses basic exploratory research issues in a topical area of materials science and engineering with high technological relevance; it is considered a high risk/high pay-off activity. The project encompasses the NSE research and education theme of Nanoscale Structures, Novel Phenomena, and Quantum Control. An important feature of the program is the integration of research and education through the training of students in a technologically significant area. The basic concepts behind this project are fundamentally simple and may be readily understood by graduate, or undergraduate, students, who can then contribute significantly to the design of the experimental setup and procedures. A website dealing with the basic concepts is set-up and linked to an undergraduate physics course regularly accessed by students at Brooklyn College, which has a high minority enrollment. Parts of the proposed research are conducted at an industrial laboratory, giving students valuable exposure to an industrial research environment and personnel, and also opportunities for industrial scholars to share their experience and knowledge at Brooklyn College. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the experiments, students will be encouraged to broaden their understanding by seeking guidance and help from experts in other areas. In addition, the PI participates in the Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) program on campus, through which he is presently mentoring three minority students. Access/exposure to research activities in highly competitive areas such as nanotechnology will be very valuable for participants in this program. The project is jointly supported by the MPS/DMR/EM and the ENG/CTS/CRP-KCMP programs.***