Buckling of Nanostructures

本项目集实验、建模和模拟于一体，研究纳米尺度下的屈曲力学行为。其目的是将纳米结构屈曲的实验观察与材料在纳米尺度上的机械性能联系起来。因此，该项目将为表征纳米结构和材料开辟一条新的方法学路线。具体地说，将研究三种有趣的纳米尺度的屈曲现象，包括聚合物纳米线的膨胀诱导屈曲，单晶硅纳米线在压痕下的屈曲，以及垂直排列的碳纳米管的协同屈曲。研究团队包括两名PI，分别在实验和建模方面具有互补的专业知识。已经与国家标准和技术研究所的一个实验小组建立了合作，以研究聚合物纳米线，特别是纳米尺度的三维限制对聚合物膨胀和变形的影响。我们将进行纳米压痕和压缩测试，以研究平行的硅纳米线和垂直排列的碳纳米管在纳米尺度上的相互作用以及接触、摩擦和断裂特性。该项目的研究将促进对纳米尺度力学行为的基本理解，这对开发工程应用的纳米结构至关重要，从而对纳米科学和纳米技术产生更广泛的影响。将把教育活动纳入研究项目，以加强其社会影响，其中包括培训研究生和本科生以及向代表性不足的群体进行宣传。研究结果将向学术界和公众广泛传播。

This project integrates experiments, modeling and simulations to study buckling mechanical behavior at the nanometer scales. The objective is to correlate experimental observations of buckling nanometer-sized structures to mechanical properties of materials at the nanoscale. As a result, this project will open a new line of methodology for characterization of nanoscale structures and materials. Specifically, three intriguing buckling phenomena at the nanoscale will be investigated, including swell-induced buckling of polymer nanolines, buckling of single crystal silicon nanolines under indentation, and cooperative buckling of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes. The research team includes two PIs with complementary expertise in experimental and modeling, respectively. Collaboration has been established with an experimental group at National Institute for Standards and Technology for the study of polymer nanolines, with a particular interest in the effects of three-dimensional confinement at the nanoscale on the swelling and deformation of polymers. Nanoindentation and compression tests will be conducted to study the interactions of parallel Si nanolines and vertically aligned carbon nanotubes along with the properties of contact, friction, and fracture at the nanoscale.The research from this project will advance fundamental understanding of mechanical behavior at the nanoscale, which is critically important in the development of nanostructures for engineering applications and thus has a broader impact on nanoscience and nanotechnology. Education activities will be incorporated within the research project to enhance its societal impacts, which include training of graduate and undergraduate students and outreach to underrepresented groups. The research results will be broadly disseminated to the academic community as well as the general public.