CAREER: Hybrid Nanomaterials for Multi-Functional Sensors - Synthesis and Characterization of Nanocomposite Thin-Films for Device Applications

这项研究的目的是使多种物理现象的同时传感应用于气溶胶探测、国土安全和医疗现场诊断工具等。该方法是在单片半导体异质结构中使用混合纳米材料用于多功能传感器。考虑了两类量子受限半导体纳米材料；化学反应合成的胶体量子点和应变层外延生长的Stranski-Krastanow量子点。需要解决的重大挑战是：i)合成用于光电器件有源区域的胶体量子点/聚合物纳米复合薄膜；ii)合成具有不同纳米材料嵌入聚合物或半导体的纳米复合薄膜，具有原子尖锐界面，掺杂剂掺入能力和电接触层。将演示使用混合纳米材料生长系统合成的多光谱光电二极管阵列，以完成所提议的项目。更广泛的影响多功能传感器的杂化纳米材料器件异质结构的研究重点是环境应用，涉及两个2005年国家科学基金优先领域，纳米科学/工程和环境生物复杂性。本文提出的混合纳米材料生长体系通过建立原子薄纳米复合材料层的合成技术，增强了研究基础。拟议的活动通过促进本科生研究和加强杜克大学电气与计算机工程光子学研究生课程来促进发现，同时促进学习。拟议的活动还通过学生工程师网络、加强周六研究学院和传统黑人学院和大学的招生机会，扩大代表性不足的少数民族在科学和工程领域的参与。最后，将通过科学出版物和美国国家科学基金会支持的TeachEngineering.com数字图书馆广泛传播拟议活动的结果。

Intellectual MeritThe objective of this research is to enable simultaneous sensing of multiple physical phenomena for application to aerosol detection, homeland security, and medical field-diagnostic tools, for example. The approach is to use hybrid nanomaterials in a monolithic, semiconductor-based heterostructure for multi-functional sensors. Two classes of quantum-confined semiconductor nanomaterials are considered; colloidal quantum dots synthesized by chemical reactions and Stranski-Krastanow quantum dots grown by strained-layer epitaxy. The grand challenges to be addressed are: i) synthesis of colloidal quantum dot/polymer nanocomposite thin-films for optoelectronic device active regions, and ii) synthesis of nanocomposite thin-films featuring disparate nanomaterials embedded in polymers or semiconductors with atomically-sharp interfaces, dopant incorporation capability, and electrical contact layers. A multi-spectral photodiode array synthesized using a hybrid nanomaterial growth system will be demonstrated to culminate the proposed project. Broader ImpactsThe investigation of hybrid nanomaterial device heterostructures for multi-functional sensors with emphasis on environmental applications addresses two 2005 NSF Priority Areas, nanoscale science/engineering and environmental biocomplexity. The proposed hybrid nanomaterial growth system enhances research infrastructure by establishing synthesis techniques for atomically-thin nanocomposite layers. The proposed activities advance discovery while promoting learning by enabling undergraduate research and enhancing the Duke University Electrical and Computer Engineering photonics graduate curriculum. The proposed activities also broaden the participation of underrepresented minorities in science and engineering through the Student Engineers Network, Strengthening Opportunities in Research Saturday Academy and Historically Black College and University student recruitment. Finally, the broad dissemination of results from the proposed activities will be accomplished through scientific publications and the NSF-supported TeachEngineering.com digital library.