Engineering Nanostructures of Electro-Active Polymeric Nanocomposites Using Nanoimprint Lithography

该项目的目标是利用纳米压印技术（NIL）制造基于电活性聚合物（EAP）的纳米复合材料，并在EAP基质中精确地设计纳米级填料的尺寸、形态和分布，这是传统纳米复合材料加工技术很难实现的任务。EAP基质将使用纳米压印技术进行图图化，然后将其用作模板来沉积具有设计尺寸、形态和分布的第二相填料。在纳米力学建模和模拟的指导下，基于nil的加工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。此外，还将对纳米复合材料的结构和性能进行全面表征，以验证理论模型并确认所设计的性能增强。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成为可能，以增强其功能特性，是许多技术应用的理想选择，包括传感、驱动、能量存储和电磁干扰屏蔽。基于nil的纳米复合处理可以导致纳米结构设计的EAP器件和系统具有增强的功能。此外，将开展与研究紧密结合的教育和推广活动，包括：(1)研究生将接受综合研究和教育计划的培训；(2)本科生通过华盛顿大学本科生研究项目进行培训；(3)为K-12教师和学生精心设计一套纳米印迹实验，以传达纳米技术的关键概念；(4)将积极寻求与行业伙伴的合作，以应用所开发的材料和技术。这些活动将激发大学和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劳动力。

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.