Engineering Nanostructures of Electro-Active Polymeric Nanocomposites Using Nanoimprint Lithography

该项目的目标是使用纳米压印光刻（NIL）制造基于电活性聚合物（EAP）的纳米复合材料，并精确地在EAP基质中设计纳米级填料的尺寸，形态和分布，这是一项通过传统的纳米复合材料加工技术很难实现的任务。 将使用纳米压印来图案化EAP基质，然后将其用作模板以存款具有设计尺寸、形态和分布的第二相填料。基于NIL的处理将用于设计和优化各种应用的电活性聚合物纳米复合材料，由纳米力学建模和模拟指导。NIL处理的纳米复合材料的结构和性能也将被彻底表征，以验证理论模型并确认设计的性能增强。这种纳米结构工程将使电活性聚合物纳米复合材料的设计和优化，以增强功能特性，理想的许多技术应用，包括传感，驱动，能量存储和电磁干扰屏蔽。基于NIL的纳米复合材料加工可能导致纳米结构设计的EAP设备和系统具有增强的功能。此外，还将开展与研究紧密结合的教育和外联活动，包括：（1）研究生将在综合研究和教育计划中接受培训;（2）本科生将通过华盛顿大学的本科研究计划接受培训;（3）设计一系列有关纳米压印的实验，让中小学教师和学生了解纳米科技的主要概念;及（四）积极与业界伙伴合作，应用已开发的材料及技术。这些活动将激发大学生和K-12学生的科学兴趣，促进公众对纳米技术的了解，并吸引和培训下一代纳米技术工作者。

The goal of this project is to fabricate electro-active polymer (EAP) based nanocomposites using nanoimprint lithography (NIL), and to engineer the size, morphology, and distribution of nanoscale fillers precisely in an EAP matrix, a task that is very difficult to achieve by conventional nanocomposite processing techniques. The EAP matrix will be patterned using nanoimprinting, which is then used as a template to deposit second-phase fillers with designed size, morphology, and distribution. The NIL-based processing will be used to design and optimize electro-active polymeric nanocomposites for various applications, guided by nanomechanics modeling and simulations. The structures and properties of NIL-processed nanocomposites will also be thoroughly characterized to validate theoretical models and confirm the designed property enhancement. Such nanostructure engineering will enable the design and optimization of electro-active polymeric nanocomposites for enhanced functional properties, ideal for many technological applications, including sensing, actuation, energy storage, and electromagnetic interference shielding.The NIL-based nanocomposite processing could lead to nanostructure-designed EAP devices and systems with enhanced functionality. Furthermore, education and outreach activities tightly integrated into research will be carried out, including: (1) graduate students will be trained in the integrated research and educational program; (2) undergraduate students will be trained through Undergraduate Research Program at University of Washington; (3) a set of carefully designed experiments underlying nanoimprinting will be developed for K-12 teachers and students to convey the key concepts of Nanotechnology; and (4) collaborations with industry partners will be actively pursued for applications of the developed materials and technology. These activities will stimulate scientific interests of college and K-12 students, promote public understanding on nanotechnology, and attract and train next generation of workforce in nanotechnology.