CAREER: Boron-based One-dimensional Nanostructures of Thermoelectric Energy Conversion

该学院早期职业发展奖的研究目标是研究一种新的一维纳米结构：用于热电发电应用的硼基(即硼和硼化物)一维纳米结构。该方法将包括：1)用化学气相沉积法合成p型和n型硼纳米结构；2)探索有利于大批量生产的生长机制；3)研究合成的纳米结构在不同环境条件下的热稳定性；以及4)研究单个硼纳米结构的热电性质。这一职业奖项的教育目标是建立一个高度跨学科的环境，帮助年轻研究人员建立扎实的技术和沟通技能，以满足纳米科学和工程领域对人力资源的需求。将采取的办法是：1)发展一个由具有不同学术背景的本科生和研究生组成的跨学科研究小组；2)加强现有课程，以满足部门和机构的目标；3)从代表性不足的群体中招收更多的学生(特别是女学生)。如果成功，该项目将产生高质量的新型硼基一维纳米结构，并为了解这些纳米结构的热稳定性和热电机理及其增强提供基础。这项工作的发现最终将导致未来基于一维纳米结构的热电能量转换器的创造。这类新型的硼基热电纳米结构将在迎接未来的能源挑战方面发挥重要作用。例如，它们将在余热回收行业得到应用，并为预防全球变暖危机做出贡献。这项拟议的工作还加强了北卡罗来纳大学夏洛特分校目前的纳米技术活动，创造了一个高度跨学科的环境，以实现研究生、本科生和少数族裔学生的综合研究和教育。

The research objective of this Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award is to study a new class of one-dimensional nanostructures: boron-based (that is, boron and boride) one-dimensional nanostructures for thermoelectric power generation application. The approach will be 1) synthesis of both p-type and n-type boron-based nanostructures using chemical vapor deposition; 2) exploration of growth mechanisms to facilitate the high-volume manufacturing; 3) study of thermal stability of as-synthesized nanostructures at various environmental conditions; and 4) investigation of thermoelectric properties of individual boron-based nanostructures. The education objective of this CAREER award is to establish a highly interdisciplinary environment to help young researchers build solid technical and communication skills to meet the demand for human resources in nanoscale science and engineering. The approach will be 1) development of an interdisciplinary research group composed of both undergraduate and graduate students with various academic backgrounds; 2) enhancement of the current curricula to meet both departmental and institutional goals; and 3) recruitment of more students from underrepresented groups (especially woman students). If successful, this project will produce high-quality novel boron-based one-dimensional nanostructures, and provide fundamental understanding on thermal stability and thermoelectric mechanism and enhancement in these nanostructures. Discoveries resulting from this work will ultimately lead to the future creation of one-dimensional nanostructures-based thermoelectric energy converter. This new class of boron-based thermoelectric nanostructures will play an important role in meeting the energy challenge of the future. For example, they will find applications in waste heat recovery industry, and make contribution to the prevention of global warming crisis. The proposed work also enhances current activities in nanotechnology at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte by creating a highly interdisciplinary environment to achieve integrated research and education of graduate, undergraduate, and minority students.