SGER: Coating Carbon Nanotubes with Aerosol Nanoparticles Produced from a Mini-Arc Plasma Source

建议没有。摘要出现在美国国家科学基金会外部网站上：碳纳米管（CNTs）包被纳米颗粒是一种独特的复合结构，它潜在地显示出碳纳米管和纳米颗粒的独特性能。传统的液相方法制备这些类型的结构通常是缓慢的，并且相关的界面化学依赖于材料。这项研究涉及使用一种新方法来合成这些类型的复合材料，其中微弧等离子体源产生带电纳米粒子，然后将其用于静静电定向气溶胶组装过程。新方法实现了合成的速度，以及对涂层过程和复合结构的一定程度的控制，这是任何传统的液相处理方法都无法实现的。本研究的具体目标是采用新的合成方法制备纳米硅包被碳纳米管，并研究这种新型复合材料的物理化学性质，如静电电荷分布。最终，这些类型的碳纳米管可能在纳米电子和光电子器件中有各种各样的应用。该项目的学生将接受纳米技术新领域的教育，这一事实解决了拟议工作的更广泛影响。此外，PI将通过威斯康星职业学院参加各种K-12教育和推广活动。最后，该研究的创新性将产生更广泛的内在影响，因为它关注的是美国经济的一个新的增长领域。

PROPOSAL NO.: CTS-0604079PROPOSAL TYPE: INVESTIGATOR INITIATED SGERPRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: JUNHONG CHENAFFILIATION: UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN MILWAUKEEABSTRACT TO APPEAR ON THE NSF EXTERNAL WEBSITE:Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) coated with nanoparticles are unique composite structures that potentially display the unique properties of both CNTs and nanoparticles. Conventional liquid-phase methods to prepare these types of structures are generally slow, and the associated interfacial chemistry is material dependent. This research involves the use of a novel approach for the synthesis of these types of composite materials in which a mini-arc plasma source produces charged nanoparticles which are then employed in a electrostatic-force-directed aerosol assembly process. The new approach achieves a speed of synthesis, and a level of control over the coating process and the composite structure, that cannot be achieved by any conventional method using liquid-phase processing. The specific goals of this proposed research are to employ the new synthetic method to produce silicon-nanoparticle coated CNTs, and to then investigate the physicochemical properties of this novel composite material, such as the electrostatic charge distribution. Ultimately, these types of CNTs are likely to have a variety of applications in nanoelectronic and optoelectronic devices. The broader impact of the proposed work is addressed by the fact that students working on the project will be educated in a novel area of nanotechnology. In addition, the PI will participate in various K-12 educational and outreach activities through the Wisconsin Career Academy. Finally, the innovative nature of the research that is proposed will have an intrinsic broader impact since it is focused on a new growth area in the US economy.