CAREER: Fundamental Studies of Directed Assembly Leading to Innovative Processing of Controlled Thin Film Nanostructures

本CAREER提案的研究目标是了解一种新的基于激光的定向组装方法，并评估其作为一种创新的表面纳米结构制造技术的潜力。这些目标将通过实验研究与计算工作相结合来实现。将研究Co、Ag和Ti纳米结构在Si和SiO2衬底上的有序性。在物理气相膜沉积过程中，通过同步激光干涉照射，可以一步完成排序。该组装将作为激光和薄膜生长参数的函数进行研究，并将通过AFM，SEM， TEM和XRD技术进行表征。通过动力学蒙特卡罗技术的计算建模将用于了解激光照射下薄膜生长的变化。这项工作的教育目标是向广泛的受众，包括学生、教师和更广泛的社区推广材料科学和技术的基础知识。这将通过各种手段实现，包括：1)为本科生和研究生开设新的跨学科纳米科学课程；2)让高中学生和教师参与PI实验室的暑期研究；3)在当地社区进行科普讲座。这些活动将加强和提高该国对未来技术的贡献，包括创新制造、纳米技术和薄膜技术。如果成功，这项研究将为基于激光的动态薄膜组装提供基础和定量的见解。这将使有序表面结构的纳米制造的单步过程成为可能，并且将具有以下特点：1)易于实现；2)高性价比；3)环保；4)广泛适用于各种薄膜基材。教育和推广将带来训练有素的学生和更有知识的公众，这对于保持美国在未来材料技术中的领先地位至关重要。

The research objective of this CAREER proposal is to understand a novel laser-based directed assembly approach and evaluate its potential as an innovative surface nanostructure manufacturing technique. These objectives will be achieved by combining experimental research with computational work. Ordering of Co, Ag and Ti nanostructures will be studied on Si and SiO2 substrates. Ordering will be achieved in a single-step by simultaneous laser-interference irradiation during physical vapor film deposition. The assembly will be studied as a function of laser and thin film growth parameters and will be characterized via AFM,SEM, TEM and XRD techniques. Computational modeling via kinetic monte carlo techniques will be used to understand modifications to film growth under laser irradiation. The educational objective of this work is to promote fundamentals of materials science and technology to a wide audience, including, students, teachers and the broader community. This will be achieved through various means, including: 1) a new interdisciplinary nanoscience course for undergraduates and graduates; 2) by involving high-school students and teachers in summer research in the PI's laboratory; and 3) through general science lectures in the local community. These activities will strengthen and enhance the country's contribution to technologies of the future, including, innovative manufacturing, nanotechnology and thin film technology. If successful, this research will provide fundamental and quantitative insight on laser-based dynamic thin film assembly. This will enable a single-step process for nanomanufacturing of ordered surface structures and will be: 1) simple to implement; 2) highly cost-effective; 3) environmentally friendly; and 4) widely applicable to a range of film-substrate materials. The education and outreach will lead to highly trained students and a more knowledgeable general public, which are crucial in maintaining the leading role of the US in future materials technologies.