CAREER: Fundamental Reaction-Diffusion Processes in the Formation of Mesoporous Films using Vaporized Precursors

PI：Bryan Vogt研究所：亚利桑那州立大学提案编号：0746664题目：Career：基本反应-使用蒸发前驱体形成介孔薄膜中的扩散过程这是一项职业资助，用于资助旨在研究通过蒸发前驱体路线控制介孔薄膜合成的反应-扩散过程的研究和教育活动。PI计划考察主要的合成反应-扩散过程，以获得对形成机理的基本了解，从而增加该方法的商业化潜力。智能有序介孔材料已被提出用于许多应用，包括混合光伏器件、传感器、低k介电薄膜、膜分离、催化剂、光电子学和环境缓解。这些材料面临的挑战是在宏观尺度上对纳米级的形态和化学进行空间控制，以便为所需的应用提供最佳的性能。利用预制模板膜使自组装和反应解耦，并通过气相引入反应前体，可以改善对形成的纳米结构的控制。然而，由于对反应发生的机理缺乏基本知识，这项技术的真正潜力还没有完全实现。这项工作主要集中在薄膜内反应的原位表征。串联椭偏仪和石英晶体微天平的测量将被用来解释合成机理并开发合成的预测模型。这些基本的测量和建模将使合理地合成特定应用的新型介孔材料成为可能。此外，这些基础知识将为基于蒸汽的加工技术开辟重要的商业化前景。首先，对合成机理的了解将有助于设计出具有多种用途的新型介孔材料，从而增加介孔材料在新消费产品中的商业潜力。其次，这项研究需要跨学科的技能集(材料合成、材料表征和建模)，为参与研究的研究生和本科生提供一个高度跨学科的学习平台。本科生三年级和大四学生将接触到一种非传统的教育体验，因为他们将独立工作于该项目的一小部分。这项工作的第三个组成部分是通过协助将纳米技术概念纳入Estrea Mountain社区学院的化学课程来进行推广，该学院为相当一部分第一代大学生提供服务。此外，还将与凤凰城中心小学的一名教师协商，提供有关纳米技术的教育辅导。在这项外展工作中，学生将接触到现代研究的跨学科性质，并使用研究中的例子来强调物理、化学和数学等科学主题的相关性和相互关系。在早期展示这些学科领域的联系和相互依存将有助于促进学生对科学和数学的长期参与，并创造一支有科学素养的劳动力队伍。与老师共同开发的材料将通过亚利桑那州立大学S针对K-12学生的数学、工程、科学成就(MESA)计划进一步传播。MESA为教育上处于不利地位的学生(尤其是少数族裔)提供严格的学术支持，使他们在数学、科学和工程领域脱颖而出并获得学士学位。MESA计划服务于亚利桑那州中部的13个学区，包括加纳多和圣卡洛斯保留地。

PI: Bryan Vogt Institution: Arizona State UniversityProposal Number: 0746664Title: CAREER: Fundamental Reaction-Diffusion Processes in the Formation of Mesoporous Films using Vaporized PrecursorsThis is a CAREER grant to fund research and educational activities aimed at examining the reaction-diffusion processes controlling the synthesis of mesoporous films through a vaporized precursor route. The PI plans to examine dominant synthetic reaction-diffusion processes to gain a fundamental understanding of the formation mechanisms and thus increase the potential for commercialization of the methodology.Intellectual meritOrdered mesoporous materials have been proposed for many applications including hybrid photovoltaic devices, sensors, low-k dielectric films, membrane separations, catalysts, optoelectronics, and environmental mitigation. The challenge for these materials is spatial control of the morphology and chemistry at the nanoscale across macroscopic dimensions in order to provide optimal performance for the desired application. Decoupling the self-assembly and reaction by utilizing preformed template films and introducing the reactive precursors through the vapor phase enables improved control of the formed nanostructures. However, the true potential of this technique has not been fully realized due to a lack of fundamental knowledge regarding the mechanism by which the reaction occurs. This work focuses on the in-situ characterization of the reaction within a thin film. A combination of tandem ellipsometry and quartz crystal microbalance measurements will be used to elucidate the synthetic mechanism and to develop a predictive model for the synthesis. These fundamental measurements and modeling will enable the rational synthesis of novel mesoporous materials for specific applications. Moreover, this fundamental knowledge will open up important commercialization prospects for the vapor based processing technique.Broader Impact The impact of this work will be demonstrated on three fronts. First, the understanding of the synthesis mechanism will enable the design of new mesoporous materials exhibiting desired properties for multiple applications, and thus will increase the commercial potential of mesoporous materials in new consumer products. Second, the research entails cross-disciplinary skill sets (materials synthesis, materials characterization and modeling), offering a highly interdisciplinary learning platform for graduate and undergraduate students involved in the research. Undergraduate juniors and seniors will be exposed to a nontraditional educational experience as they work independently on a small subset of the project. The third component of this work is outreach through assisting in the incorporation of nanotechnology concepts into the chemistry curriculum at Estrea Mountain Community College, which serves a significant fraction of first generation college students. Additional outreach to the K-12 level will include an educational tutorial on nanotechnology in consultation with a teacher at a central Phoenix elementary school. In this outreach effort, the students will be exposed to the interdisciplinary nature of modern research and use examples from research to highlight the relevance and interrelationship of science topics such as physics, chemistry and mathematics. Demonstrating connectivity and inter-dependency of these subject areas at an early age will help to promote long-term student engagement in science and math and the creation of a scientifically literate workforce. The materials developed with the teacher will be further disseminated through ASU?s Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) program for K-12 students. MESA provides rigorous academic support to educationally disadvantaged students (in particular, underrepresented minorities) so they excel and graduate with baccalaureate degrees in math, science and engineering fields. The MESA program serves thirteen school districts in central Arizona including Ganado and San Carlos Reservations.