NER: Selective Growth of Nanoparticles at Exposed Carbon Nanotube Tips

NER提案#0508096：摘要本研究的目的是直接在碳纳米管尖端上生长纳米颗粒，以改进纳米电极和新颖的自组装策略。 该方法包括在单个碳纳米管上涂上化学惰性鞘，然后暴露纳米管尖端。 在尖端处的颗粒的选择性生长将遵循利用对碳具有增强的反应性的气态前体。当纳米管集成在扫描探针上时，紧密的管-颗粒接触允许颗粒用于纳米级的传感。 该颗粒为功能性“传感”分子的附着提供了更大的区域，以增加灵敏度，并允许探索除碳基之外的化学物质用于锚定。功能化纳米电极可以触发和探测细胞或电生理液体中的信号通路。 大规模制造的纳米管纳米粒子半哑铃承担承诺在纳米尺度上利用磁性和/或疏水-亲水相互作用的自组装。 这样的组装可能导致新的功能和材料特性。拟议中的研究的更广泛的影响来自于在纳米尺度上成像和操纵物质的能力。 纳米电极可以帮助提高对最终与生命和健康相关的生物系统中信号的理解。更敏感的纳米电极可以帮助更有效地检测微量的有毒或污染环境的化学物质。 纳米管-纳米粒子哑铃将为组装具有改进的结构、磁性、电子和光子特性的新材料提供新的构建块。 与硅量子点耦合的纳米管可以提高太阳能转换的效率。 最后，纳米管-纳米粒子探针为探索纳米系统提供了一种新的工具。

NER-Proposal #0508096: Abstract The objective of this research is to grow nanoparticles directly on carbon nanotube tips for improved nanoelectrodes and novel self-assembly strategies. The approach consists in coating individual carbon nanotubes with a chemically inert sheath, then exposing the nanotube tip. Selective growth of a particle at the tip will follow utilizing gaseous precursors with enhanced reactivity towards carbon. The intimate tube-particle contact allows the particle to be used for sensing at the nanoscale when the nanotube is integrated on a scanning probe. The particle offers a larger area for the attachment of functional "sensing" molecules to increase sensitivity and allows chemistries, other than carbon-based, to be explored for anchoring. Functionalized nanoelectrodes can trigger and probe signaling pathways in cells or in electrophysiological fluids. Massive fabrication of nanotube-nanoparticle half-dumbbells bears promise for self-assembly at the nanoscale utilizing magnetic and/or hydrophobic-hydrophilic interactions. Such assemblies may lead to new functionalities and materials properties. The broader impact of the proposed research emerges from the ability to image and manipulate matter at the nanoscale. Nanoelectrodes can help improve understanding of signaling in biosystems ultimately connected with life and health. More sensitive nanoelectrodes can help detect more efficiently minute amounts of toxic or polluting chemicals of environmental importance. Nanotube-nanoparticle dumbbells will provide new building blocks for assembling new materials with improved structural, magnetic, electronic, and photonic properties. Nanotubes coupled to silicon quantum dots may increase the efficiency of solar energy conversion. Finally, nanotube-nanoparticle probes offer a new tool for exploring nanoscale systems.