IDR - Carbon Nanotube Aerogel Networks for Next-Generation Thermal Management

本奖项由2009年美国复苏与再投资法案（公法111-5）资助。开发新型材料的持续需求可能会促进各种工程设备（如微电子电路）的热管理。本提案涉及开发一种轻质、高导热的刚性多孔材料，该材料由碳纳米管网络形成。所得到的材料可以附着在各种发热装置上，并且液体冷却剂可以通过多孔基质，从而大大增强了装置的冷却效果。知识优势：该材料是由碳纳米管熔合而成。将对刚性基体的导热性和渗透率进行测量，以确定这些特性如何随基体结构而变化。模型将被开发来预测碳纳米管网络中的声子转移，以及这种转移如何受到流经基质的流体分子的影响。最后，将开发模型来预测基质的渗透率，以及其作为热管理材料的有效性。具有机械工程、化学工程和材料科学与工程背景的多学科研究团队将参与多尺度热输运现象的制造、实验和建模。更广泛的影响：拟议的研究有望为各种设备的热管理带来新的轻质材料。建议将纳米材料系列讲座纳入本科课程。讲座将与当前的课程相吻合，评估策略将决定努力的效果。在匹兹堡，一项旨在激发中学女生对工程的兴趣的计划被提出，其中包括为学生们举办动手研讨会。来自代表性不足群体的女孩成为目标。提议在安娜堡举办一个类似的研讨会，由女性工程师协会参与。

AWARD ABSTRACT0933510McGaughey This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).A persistent need exists to develop novel materials that may advance the thermal management of various engineering devices such as microelectronics circuitry. This proposal deals with the development of a lightweight, high thermal conductivity rigid porous material that is formed of a network of fused carbon nanotubes. The resulting material could be attached to various heat generating devices, and liquid coolants could be passed through the porous matrix, resulting in significantly enhanced cooling of the device.Intellectual Merit: The proposed material is to be fabricated of fused carbon nanotubes. Measurements of the thermal conductivity and permeability of the rigid matrix will be made to determine how these properties vary with the structure of the matrix. Models will be developed to predict the phonon transfer within the carbon nanotube network, and how the transfer is affected by the molecules of the fluid that flows through the matrix. Finally, models will be developed to predict the permeability of the matrix, and its effectiveness in serving as a thermal management material. A multidisciplinary team of investigators with backgrounds in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Materials Science and Engineering will be involved in the fabrication, experimentation, and modeling of the multiscale thermal transport phenomena.Broader Impact: The proposed research is expected to lead to new, lightweight materials for thermal management of a wide range of devices. A lecture series on nanoscale materials is proposed for inclusion in the undergraduate curriculum. The lectures will be dovetailed with current classes, and an assessment strategy will determine the efficacy of the effort. In Pittsburgh, a program to excite middle school girls about engineering, involving hands on workshops for the students is proposed. Girls from underrepresented groups are targeted. A similar workshop, involving the Society of Women Engineers is proposed for Ann Arbor.