A Design-Centered Approach to Nano-Engineering

该奖项的研究目标是为广泛的纳米工程材料和设备的设计开发一个新的框架。由于宏观建模和分析方法是不准确的，现有的纳米尺度的方法是不够的设计目的，一个新的建模方法的基础上动力学理论将探索。将开发计算分析方法，用于预测纳米结构的性能及其对设计和不确定性参数的敏感性。一个随机制定的分析和设计问题，将占不确定性，由于制造技术的缺陷。基于水平集的拓扑优化方法将有助于找到非直观的设计解决方案。为了提供适当的重点，这个项目将研究亚微米热传输设计问题。在行业合作的推动下，将考虑两个重要的技术驱动因素：（a）设计用于能量收集和转换的新型热电材料，（B）设计下一代三维微芯片的最佳热管理系统。这些驱动因素的技术意义，再加上纳米级热传输与宏观传导有很大不同的事实，使这些问题成为绝佳的测试平台。如果成功，该研究项目的结果将提高设计，操作和实现纳米级材料和器件的能力，从而推动广泛的技术进步。拟议的设计框架将促进科学家和工程师之间的推拉互动，使新的科学见解能够迅速转移到新的工程设计和产品中。特别是，所提出的设计方法和计算工具将能够开发新的能量收集材料和下一代微芯片的最佳热管理概念。将拟议的设计方法引入课程将加强新一代工程师的教育，他们将能够将基本的科学理解转化为纳米级的工程设计。

The research objective of this award is the development of a novel framework for the design of a broad range of nanoengineered materials and devices. As macroscopic modeling and analysis methods are inaccurate, and existing nanoscale approaches are inadequate for design purposes, a new modeling approach based on kinetic theory will be explored. Computational analysis methods will be developed for predicting the performance of the nanostructures and their sensitivity with respect to design and uncertainty parameters. A stochastic formulation of the analysis and design problems will account for uncertainties due to imperfections of manufacturing techniques. A level-set based topology optimization approach will facilitate finding non-intuitive design solutions. To provide appropriate focus, this project will examine submicron thermal transport design problems. Enhanced by industry collaboration, two important technological drivers will be considered: (a) the design of novel thermoelectric materials for energy harvesting and conversion, and (b) the design of optimal thermal management systems for next-generation 3-D microchips. The technological significance of these drivers, coupled with the fact that nanoscale thermal transport differs significantly from macroscopic conduction, renders these problems excellent test beds.If successful, the results of this research project will increase the ability to design, manipulate, and realize materials and devices at nanometer scales leading to advances across a wide spectrum of technologies. The proposed design framework will foster a push-pull interaction between scientists and engineers that will enable the rapid transfer of new scientific insight into novel engineering designs and products. In particular, the proposed design approach and computational tools will enable the development of novel energy-harvesting materials and optimal thermal management concepts for next-generation microchips. Introducing the proposed design methods into the curriculum will enhance the education of a new generation of engineers who will be able to translate fundamental scientific understanding into engineering design at nanoscale.