Collaborative Research: Forests of Magnetic Nanofibers for Liquid Transport and Manipulation

这一特殊项目旨在开发新的制造技术，用于制备和表面功能化可变(优化)密度的高长径比复合磁性纳米纤维(纳米线)阵列/森林。这些材料具有许多微米和纳米流体的应用前景，包括液体、悬浮液和颗粒的传输、微流体的搅拌和混合、润湿和粘合的交替。作为这项建议的战略目标，我们设想通过结合以下几种方法将杂化磁性纳米纤维组装成有序纳米结构：(A)用于纳米纤维制备的模板方法，(B)用于调节森林中纳米纤维密度的胶体光刻，以及(C)纳米纤维的表面功能化，以实现与周围环境的可控相互作用。揭示了所要开发的材料的独特性，即纳米纤维应该具有具有柔性磁性金属芯和有机鞘的芯-鞘形态，并且阵列中的纳米纤维的密度被优化。所提出的方法的发展将直接影响纳米科学和纳米技术的最新进展向具有广泛应用的工业技术的实施，包括分析化学、医学、生物纳米技术、光学。拟议项目的另一个优先事项是让最聪明的高中生、本科生和研究生参与面向现代纳米技术的研究。该项目将在纳米制造和各种微型和纳米机电系统以及表面科学领域对这些学生进行培训。学生将从这个项目的跨学科性质中受益匪浅。将做出重大努力，增加攻读科学和工程高级学位的学生--特别是少数民族和女性--的数量。

This particular project is aimed at the development of novel manufacturing techniques for fabrication and surface functionalization of arrays/forests of high-aspect-ratio composite magnetic nanofibers (nanowires) with variable (optimized) density. These materials promise numerous micro and nanofluidic applications involving the transport of liquids, suspensions and particles, microfluidic agitation and mixing, alternation of wetting and adhesion. As a strategic goal of this proposal we envision the assembling of hybrid magnetic nanofibers into ordered nanostructures by combination of: (a) Template method for nanofiber fabrication, (b) Colloidal lithography for regulation of nanofiber density in the forest, and (c) Surface functionalization of nanofibers to achieve controlled interactions with the surrounding environment. The uniqueness of the materials to be developed is revealed in that the nanofibers should have a core-sheath morphology with a flexible magnetic metallic core and an organic sheath, and also in that the density of the nanofibers in the arrays is optimized. Development of the proposed approach will directly impact the implementation of recent advances in nanoscience and nanotechnology to industrial technologies with broad applications, including analytical chemistry, medicine, bionanotechnology, optics. Another priority of the proposed project is the involvement of the brightest high school, undergraduate and graduate students in modern nanotechnology oriented research. The project will result in the training of these students in the areas of nanofabrication and various micro- and nanoelectromechanical systems, and surface science. Students will greatly benefit from the interdisciplinary nature of this project. Significant effort will be directed toward increasing the numbers of students--especially minorities and women--who are pursuing advanced degrees in science and engineering.