Quantitative Structure-Property Relationships in Insulator-Conductor Composites

非技术描述：设计和开发一种监测多组分材料的均质性、质量控制、环境退化、机械退化和传感能力的方法。多组分材料被用于许多电子、结构和化学应用中。例如生物传感器、高储能超级电容器、燃料电池以及航空和太空飞行器的高温部件。从纳米尺度到宏观尺度，了解底层结构对结果性能的影响，可能会为未来设计更好的传感器和未来更准确的结构部件寿命评估提供指导。对学生进行这些新的尖端技术的培训将使他们成为负责任的公民，能够最大限度地为我们国家的福利做出贡献。技术细节：阻抗光谱是一种可以同时检测多种机制的交流技术，将被用作原子力显微镜的扫描探头。由填充了不同大小和形状的导电颗粒的绝缘基质组成的复合材料将被逐点表征，以生成可与地形图像进行比较的2D和3D全频率电图。既要进行面内测量，也要进行面外测量。局部测量的总和将与整体测量进行比较，从而首次提供了直接比较微观结构和控制电响应的机会，并允许开发基于微观结构的电气模型。将使用各种补充技术收集额外的支持微结构量化数据。该项目将培养至少从本科生到博士的学生。研究资金将通过研究生奖学金和在夏季几个月接待其他校园项目的学生来利用。

NON-TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION:Design and development of a method for monitoring homogeneity, quality control, environmental degradation, mechanical degradation and sensing capability of multicomponent materials. Multicomponent materials are used in many electronic, structural and chemical applications. Examples include biosensors, high-energy storage super-capacitors, fuel cells as well as high temperature components for air and space vehicles. Understanding the effect of the underlying structure on the resultant performance, from the nanoscale to the macroscopic scale, may serve as a guide for future design of better sensors and more accurate life assessment of structural components in the future. Training of students in these new cutting edge technologies will prepare them to become responsible citizens who can maximize their contributions for the welfare of our nation.TECHNICAL DETAILS:Impedance spectroscopy, an alternating current technique that can detect several mechanisms at once, will be used as a scanning probe on an atomic force microscope. Composites comprising of an insulating matrix filled with conducting particles of different size and shape will be characterized point by point so as to generate 2D and 3D complete frequency electrical maps that can be compared with topographical images. Both in plane and out of plane measurements will be carried out. Summation of the localized measurements will be compared to bulk measurements thus providing for the first time the opportunity to compare the microstructure and the controlling electrical response directly and permit development of microstructure-based electrical models. Additional supporting microstructural quantification will be collected using a variety of complementary techniques. This project will train at least students from the undergraduate to doctoral level. Research funds will be leveraged with graduate fellowships and by hosting students over the summer months from other on-campus programs.