NER: Manufacture of Nanowire Patterned Microspheres

本研究的目的是发展一种新颖的纳米线制造技术，用于在聚合物微球表面制造限定数量的纳米线环。该方法结合了聚合物支撑的薄膜的压缩诱导开裂、表面化学操纵和金属的无电沉积。 微球的大小，表面膜的性质，压缩程度，无电沉积程序，和所产生的纳米特征的类型之间的详细关系将被确定，以使成本效益和良好的控制nanomanufacturing scheme.This建议是出于对新的纳米制造技术和概念的普遍需求。制造具有限定尺寸、组成、表面电荷和表面图案的微米球和纳米球的能力对于许多领域中的进步是至关重要的，例如蛋白石的产生、光子带隙材料的制备、新型电子器件的开发、生物细胞的操纵和分析以及油墨、油漆、化妆品和其他流变流体的生产。然而，迄今为止制备的大多数微球具有相对简单的表面结构，例如均匀的涂层或半个球体的“帽”。通过该项目制造的更精细的纳米图案微球将在先进材料，电子学和生物学方面开辟新的可能性。该计划的另一个重要特点是通过在技术重要领域培训学生来整合研究和教育。这个项目在视觉上是惊人的，实验上是简单的，理论上是刺激的。它将为研究生和本科生提供纳米制造研究的宝贵实践经验，并激励下一代纳米技术科学家和工程师。

The objective of this research is to develop a novel and versatilenano-manufacturing technology for fabricating defined numbers of nanowire rings on polymer microsphere surfaces. The approach combines compression-induced cracking of polymer-supported thin films, surface chemistry manipulation, and electroless deposition of metals. Detailed relationships between microsphere size, surface film property, degree of compression, electroless deposition procedure, and the type of nanofeatures generated will be determined to enable a cost-effective and well-controlled nanomanufacturing scheme.This proposal is motivated by the general need for novel nano-manufacturing technologies and concepts. The ability to manufacture micro- and nanospheres with defined sizes, compositions, surface charges, and surface patterns has been critical for advances in many fields such as in the generation of opals, preparation of photonic band gap materials, development of novel electronic devices, manipulation and analysis of biological cells, and production of inks, paints, cosmetics, and other rheological fluids. Most microspheres prepared to date, however, have relatively simple surface structures such as uniform coatings or the "capping" of one half of a sphere. The more elaborate nanopatterned microspheres that will be manufactured through this project will open new possibilities in advanced materials, electronics, and biology. Another important feature of the program is the integration of research and education through the training of students in a technologically significant area. This project is visually striking, experimentally straightforward, and theoretically stimulating. It will provide valuable hands-on laboratory experiences in nanomanufacturing research to graduate and undergraduate students and inspire the next generation of nanotechnology scientists and engineers.