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

奖项摘要0933510 McGaughey该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。一直存在着开发新型材料的需求，这些材料可以促进各种工程设备如微电子电路的热管理。该提案涉及开发由熔融碳纳米管网络形成的轻质、高导热性刚性多孔材料。所得到的材料可以连接到各种发热器件上，液体冷却剂可以通过多孔基质，从而显著增强器件的冷却能力。智力优势：所提出的材料将由熔融碳纳米管制成。将进行刚性基质的导热性和渗透性的测量，以确定这些性质如何随基质的结构而变化。将开发模型来预测碳纳米管网络内的声子转移，以及转移如何受到流过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性及其作为热管理材料的有效性。一个由机械工程、化学工程和材料科学与工程背景的多学科研究人员组成的团队将参与多尺度热传输现象的制造、实验和建模。更广泛的影响：拟议的研究预计将为各种设备的热管理带来新的轻质材料。一系列讲座纳米材料建议列入本科课程。这些讲座将与当前的课程相结合，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学的兴趣的计划被提出，该计划包括为学生举办的动手研讨会。来自代表性不足群体的女孩成为目标。提议在安阿伯举办一个类似的讲习班，由女工程师协会参加。

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.