Understanding and Preventing Nanocarpet Effect

本奖项的研究目的是对不同结构和形态的纳米棒阵列表面的纳米地毯行为进行系统研究。当高纵横比纳米棒阵列经过液体处理和干燥后，其原有的形态结构会发生永久性的变化，从而改变纳米结构阵列的性能。通过探索不同高度、不同形状、不同材料和不同液体性质的纳米棒的力学性能与纳米地毯效应聚类之间的详细关系，本研究寻求以下基本问题的答案：(1)纳米结构的力学稳定性如何影响纳米地毯效应？(2)什么过程导致纳米地毯效应（和图案形成），如何防止这种影响？(3)纳米棒阵列衬底的新型流体特性是什么？我们如何将其用于不同的应用？这项变革性的研究有可能获得液体-纳米结构相互作用的基础知识，并有助于设计用于液体环境的坚固的纳米结构，如传感器、纳米流体系统等。该项目的成功将在以下领域产生巨大而直接的影响：i)纳米结构制造和工程，ii)基础表面科学，iii)纳米结构的机械性能，iv)传感器设计和实现，以及v)生物分析应用。以实验室为基础的纳米技术课程模块将帮助本科生和高中生获得纳米制造的实践经验。该项目还将为研究生和本科生建立严格的材料物理、机械工程和纳米技术教育和培训机会。

Abstract The research objective of this award is to perform a systematic study on the nanocarpet behavior of aligned nanorod array surfaces with different structures and morphologies. When high aspect ratio nanorod arrays are treated by liquid and dried, the original morphological structure could suffer a permanent change, which will alter the performance of the nanostructure arrays. By exploring the detailed relationships between the clustering of the nanocarpet effect and the mechanical properties of individual nanorods with different heights, shapes, materials, and the liquid properties, the proposed research seeks answers to the following fundamental questions: (1) How does the mechanical stability of nanostructures affect the nanocarpet effect? (2) What process causes the nanocarpet effect (and the pattern formation), and how to prevent this effect? (3) What will be the novel fluidic properties for nanorod array substrates and how can we use it for different applications? This transformative research has a potential to obtain fundamental knowledge on liquid-nanostructure interaction and help to design robust nanostructures for applications in liquid environment such as sensors, nanofluidic systems, etc. The success of the project would have a large and immediate impact in the areas of: i) nanostructure fabrication and engineering, ii) fundamental surface science, iii) mechanical properties of nanostructures, iv) sensor design and implement, and v) bioanalytical applications. The lab-based nanotechnology course module will help undergraduate and high school students to obtain hands-on experience with nanofabrication. This project will also establish a rigorous material physics, mechanical engineering, and nanotechnology education and training opportunity for both graduate and undergraduate students.