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

该奖项由2009年《美国复苏和再投资法案》(公法111-5)资助。人们一直需要开发新型材料，以改进微电子电路等各种工程设备的热管理。这项提议涉及开发一种由熔融碳纳米管网络形成的轻质、高导热的硬质多孔材料。生成的材料可以附着在各种制热设备上，液体冷却剂可以通过多孔基质，从而显著增强设备的冷却。智能优点：所建议的材料是由熔融碳纳米管制造的。将对刚性基质的导热系数和渗透率进行测量，以确定这些特性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中的声子转移，以及流经基质的流体分子对声子转移的影响。最后，将开发模型来预测基质的渗透性，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传输现象的制造、实验和建模。广泛影响：拟议的研究有望带来用于广泛设备热管理的新型、轻质材料。关于纳米材料的系列讲座被提议纳入本科课程。讲座将与当前的课程相匹配，评估策略将决定这一努力的效果。在匹兹堡，一项旨在激发中学女生学习工程学知识的计划被提出，其中包括为学生开设的实践工作坊。来自代表人数不足的群体的女孩成为目标。还提议为安娜堡举办一个有女工程师协会参与的类似研讨会。

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.