Nanoengineered, Manufacturable, Ion-Implantation Seeded Silica Nanowires for Sensitive BioScreening

本研究的目标是开发一种具有高空间分辨率的具有成本效益、鲁棒性、可重复性、稳定的SERS（表面增强拉曼光谱）衬底，用于超敏感生物诊断。SERS是一种基于分子振动的强大、通用的生物筛选技术，目前缺乏可调、均匀、可重复、廉价和敏感的均匀几何基底。本研究的核心重点是通过开发一种强大的、可批量制造的、超致密的、可重复的有序离子注入二氧化硅纳米线阵列来解决现有的SERS挑战，该阵列具有良好的几何形状，可作为有效的SERS衬底。该提案的研究目标是：(a)调查和研究离子注入种子二氧化硅纳米线选择性成核的生长动力学，(b)合成几何形状可控的垂直排列纳米线的超密集大规模平行阵列，(c)开发和应用稳健的动态纳米制造方案，以实现这些批量制造纳米线的可靠和可重复制造。(d)通过实时检测所需物种来验证空间受限的SERS底物进行活性生物筛选；(e)开发一个强大的跨学科，基于实验室的研究，教育和推广计划，重点是生物学，纳米制造和微系统的整合，这将对初中生，高中生，社区大学生和来自所有背景的教学兄弟会的培训产生影响。智力优势：该研究打开了使用离子注入作为通用纳米级催化工具的大门，为大规模制造自下而上控制的纳米系统提供了广泛的应用。更广泛的影响：纳米科学、工具和技术领域的进步，重点是纳米制造等新兴学科，将通过创新的“K- PhD”计划得到广泛传播。此外，这项研究有代表性不足的群体（少数民族、妇女）的参与，并通过持续的国际合作和交流促进伙伴关系。研究结果将转化为课程单元的案例研究和研究人员提供的研讨会/报告。

The goal of this research is to develop a cost effective, robust, reproducible, stable SERS (Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy) substrate with high spatial resolution for ultra-sensitive biodiagnostics. SERS is a powerful, versatile bioscreening technique based on molecular vibrations that currently lacks a tunable, homogenous, repeatable, inexpensive and sensitive substrate of uniform geometry. The central focus of this research is to address the existing SERS challenge through the development of a robust, mass manufacturable, ultra dense, reproducible ordered array of ion implantation seeded silica nanowires of well defined geometry as an effective SERS substrate. The research objectives of the proposal are to (a) investigate and study the growth kinetics of ion-implantation seeded selective nucleation of silica nanowires, (b) synthesize ultra-dense massively parallel array of vertically aligned wires of controlled geometry, (c) develop and apply robust, dynamic nanomanufacturing schemes to achieve reliable and reproducible fabrication of these batch fabricated nanowires, (d) validate the spatially confined SERS substrate for active bioscreening by real-time detection of the desired species and (e) develop a strong interdisciplinary, laboratory-based research, education and outreach program focusing on integration of biology, nanomanufacturing, and microsystems that will have an impact on the training of middle school, high school, community college students and teaching fraternity from all backgrounds.Intellectual Merit: The research opens the gateway for using ion implantation as a general purpose nanoscale catalysis tool towards mass manufacturing bottom-up controlled nanosystems for wide variety of applications. Broader Impact: Advancements in the field of nanoscale science, tools and techniques with emphasis on emerging disciplines like nanomanufacturing would be widely disseminated through the innovative "K- PhD" program. Moreover, the research has participation of the underrepresented groups (minority, women) and fosters partnerships through ongoing international collaboration and exchange. The results of the research will translate into case studies in course modules and seminars/presentations rendered by the investigators.