CAREER: Multicomponent Core-Shell Nanoparticles as Precursors to Ordered Nanocomposites

本文主要研究了多组分核壳纳米颗粒的设计、合成和固态反应，以及它们作为有序纳米复合材料前驱体的应用。该产品有望具有优于单相同类产品的电子、磁性和催化性能。一个特定的目标是通过单分散核壳纳米粒子的自组装来创建有序的交换偶联磁性纳米复合材料。这种磁性纳米复合材料比单相材料具有更高的能量积。通过顺序合成的方法，将合成一系列含有铁铂合金（FePt）、钴铂合金（CoPt）、钐钴合金（SmCo5）等高磁晶各向异性材料的多组分纳米颗粒。利用原子转移自由基聚合（ATRP）技术，在纳米颗粒表面形成一层聚合膜作为附加调制层。聚合物层的碳化可以提高纳米颗粒的化学稳定性，从而影响纳米复合材料的性能。该项目将在高功率密度和轻型电力驱动、航空航天和汽车应用的高效电机、微电子工业的超高密度数据存储介质等超硬永磁体领域做出贡献。学生将在这个项目中接受训练，使用各种尖端的研究技术。首席研究员将与大学行政部门和当地组织（如美国化学学会）合作，招募和培养高中生、少数民族、妇女和经济上处于不利地位的学生，特别是他们，使他们成为纳米技术跨学科领域的熟练劳动力。纳米技术的进步很大程度上依赖于我们创造多功能和复杂纳米材料的能力。为此，在有序纳米结构中精确控制元素分布至关重要。该研究项目的重点是开发生产核壳纳米粒子和纳米复合材料的新方法，这些纳米复合材料具有多种相互作用的成分，并随后产生单组分材料中不存在的新特性。这些具有磁性活性的新型纳米材料有望在高功率密度和轻型电力驱动、航空航天和汽车工业的高效电机、微电子领域的超高密度数据存储介质以及医疗行业的生物医学成像和热疗癌症治疗中具有潜在的应用。该项目开发的铂合金纳米材料是氢燃料电池潜在的优秀电催化剂，有望产生清洁能源。通过这项计划，研究生和本科生将被训练成为未来的熟练劳动力，配备尖端技术和知识的纳米技术。外联工作的重点将是建立一个研究地点，吸引纽约西部地区的高中学生，特别是少数民族、妇女和经济上处于不利地位的群体进入这些竞争激烈的科学和技术领域，并使之作好准备。

This proposal focuses on the design, synthesis, and solid-state reaction of multicomponent core-shell nanoparticles and their applications as precursors for making ordered nanocomposites. The products are expected to have superior electronic, magnetic, and catalytic properties over their single-phase counterparts. A specific goal is to create ordered exchange-coupled magnetic nanocomposites from self-assembly of monodisperse core-shell nanoparticles. Such magnetic nanocomposites can have higher energy product than the single-phase materials. A series of multi-component nanoparticles containing materials of high magnetocrystalline anisotropy such as alloys of iron and platinum (FePt), cobalt and platinum (CoPt), and samarium and cobalt (SmCo5 ) will be synthesized through the sequential synthetic method. Polymeric coating on the surface of nanoparticles will be generated as an additional modulating layer using atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The chemical stability of these nanoparticles can be improved upon the carbonization of polymeric layers, which can affect the properties of nanocomposites. This project will make contributions to the area of ultra-hard permanent magnets useful in high-power density and lightweight electric drives, efficient motors for aerospace and automobile applications, and ultrahigh density data storage media in microelectronic industry. Students will be trained on this project to use various cutting-edge research techniques. The principle investigator will work with the University administrations and local organizations, such as American Chemical Society, to recruit and prepare high school students, minorities, women and economically disadvantaged students in particular, to become a skilled work force in the interdisciplinary fields of nanotechnology. The advancement of nanotechnology relies heavily on our ability to create multifunctional and complex nanomaterials. To this end, precise control of element distribution in an ordered nanostructure is crucial. This research program focuses on the development of new approaches to the production of core-shell nanoparticles and nanocomposites with multiple components that interact with each other and subsequently lead to new properties which do not exist in single-component materials. These magnetically active novel nanomaterials can be expected to have potential applications in high-power density and lightweight electric drives, efficient motors for aerospace and automobile industries, ultrahigh density data-storage media in microelectronics, and biomedical imaging and hyperthermia cancer therapy in the health industry. The platinum-alloy nanomaterials developed in this program are potentially excellent electro-catalysts for hydrogen fuel cells, which hold promises for the generation of clean energy. Through this program, graduate and undergraduate students will be trained to become the future skilled work force equipped with the cutting-edge techniques and knowledge in nanotechnology. The outreach effort will focus on the establishment of a research site that will attract and prepare high school students in the Western New York area, and in particular minority, women and economically disadvantaged groups, to enter these highly competitive science and technology fields.