Nanoengineered, Manufacturable, Ion-Implantation Seeded Silica Nanowires for Sensitive BioScreening

这项研究的目标是开发一种具有成本效益、坚固耐用、可重复使用、稳定的高空间分辨率的表面增强拉曼光谱(SERS)衬底，用于超灵敏生物诊断。SERS是一种基于分子振动的强大、多功能的生物筛选技术，目前缺乏一种可调、均匀、可重复、廉价和敏感的均匀几何结构的底物。这项研究的中心焦点是通过开发一种坚固的、可大规模制造的、超高密度、可重复使用的有序阵列的离子注入晶种二氧化硅纳米线作为有效的SERS衬底来解决现有的SERS挑战。该方案的研究目标是：(A)调查和研究离子注入种子选择性成核二氧化硅纳米线的生长动力学；(B)合成具有受控几何形状的垂直排列的超高密度大规模平行线阵；(C)开发和应用稳健的、动态的纳米制造方案，以实现这些批量制造的纳米线的可靠和可重复制造；(D)通过实时检测所需物种来验证用于主动生物筛选的空间受限的SERS衬底；以及(E)开发一个强大的跨学科的、基于实验室的研究、教育和推广计划，专注于生物学、纳米制造、和微系统，将从各个背景对初中生、高中生、社区大学生和教师联谊会的培训产生影响。智力上的好处：这项研究为将离子注入作为一种通用的纳米级催化工具，为大规模制造自下而上的可控纳米系统提供了广泛的应用。更广泛的影响：纳米科学、工具和技术领域的进步，重点是纳米制造等新兴学科，将通过创新的“K-PhD”计划广泛传播。此外，这项研究有代表不足的群体(少数群体、妇女)参与，并通过持续的国际合作和交流促进伙伴关系。研究结果将转化为课程单元中的案例研究和调查人员所作的研讨会/专题介绍。

The goal of this research is to develop a cost effective, robust, reproducible, stable SERS (Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy) substrate with high spatial resolution for ultra-sensitive biodiagnostics. SERS is a powerful, versatile bioscreening technique based on molecular vibrations that currently lacks a tunable, homogenous, repeatable, inexpensive and sensitive substrate of uniform geometry. The central focus of this research is to address the existing SERS challenge through the development of a robust, mass manufacturable, ultra dense, reproducible ordered array of ion implantation seeded silica nanowires of well defined geometry as an effective SERS substrate. The research objectives of the proposal are to (a) investigate and study the growth kinetics of ion-implantation seeded selective nucleation of silica nanowires, (b) synthesize ultra-dense massively parallel array of vertically aligned wires of controlled geometry, (c) develop and apply robust, dynamic nanomanufacturing schemes to achieve reliable and reproducible fabrication of these batch fabricated nanowires, (d) validate the spatially confined SERS substrate for active bioscreening by real-time detection of the desired species and (e) develop a strong interdisciplinary, laboratory-based research, education and outreach program focusing on integration of biology, nanomanufacturing, and microsystems that will have an impact on the training of middle school, high school, community college students and teaching fraternity from all backgrounds.Intellectual Merit: The research opens the gateway for using ion implantation as a general purpose nanoscale catalysis tool towards mass manufacturing bottom-up controlled nanosystems for wide variety of applications. Broader Impact: Advancements in the field of nanoscale science, tools and techniques with emphasis on emerging disciplines like nanomanufacturing would be widely disseminated through the innovative "K- PhD" program. Moreover, the research has participation of the underrepresented groups (minority, women) and fosters partnerships through ongoing international collaboration and exchange. The results of the research will translate into case studies in course modules and seminars/presentations rendered by the investigators.