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

本学院早期职业发展（Career）奖的研究目标是研究一类新的一维纳米结构：用于热电发电的硼基（即硼和硼化物）一维纳米结构。该方法将是1)利用化学气相沉积法合成p型和n型硼基纳米结构；2)探索促进大批量制造的生长机制；3)不同环境条件下合成纳米结构的热稳定性研究；4)单个硼基纳米结构的热电性能研究。这个职业奖的教育目标是建立一个高度跨学科的环境，帮助年轻的研究人员建立坚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。方法将是1)发展一个跨学科的研究小组，由不同学术背景的本科生和研究生组成；2)改善现时的课程，以配合院系及院校的目标；3)招收更多来自弱势群体的学生（尤其是女性学生）。如果成功，该项目将生产出高质量的新型硼基一维纳米结构，并为这些纳米结构的热稳定性和热电机制及其增强提供基本的理解。这项工作的发现将最终导致未来基于一维纳米结构的热电能量转换器的创造。这种新型的硼基热电纳米结构将在应对未来能源挑战方面发挥重要作用。例如，它们将在废热回收行业中找到应用，并为防止全球变暖危机做出贡献。拟议的工作还通过创造一个高度跨学科的环境来实现研究生、本科生和少数民族学生的综合研究和教育，从而加强北卡罗来纳大学夏洛特分校目前在纳米技术方面的活动。

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.