CAREER: Understanding the Interfacial Rheology of Carbon Nanotubes at the Fluid-Fluid Interfaces for Creating Ultra-stable Emulsions and Microcapsules

职业：了解碳纳米管在流体-流体界面处的界面流变学，以创建超稳定的乳液和微胶囊

• 批准号: 1253613
• 负责人: Anson Ma
• 金额: $ 40万
• 依托单位: University of Connecticut
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-01-15 至 2018-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1253613&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: CAREER; Understanding; Interfacial; Rheology; Carbon

1253613MaIt has been known for more than a century that particles can stabilize emulsions by adsorbing at the fluid-fluid interface and lowering the interfacial energy. Thermodynamics and earlier experimental studies indicate that controlling the particle size and wetability are two key factors to stabilize emulsions. However, the effect of particle shape has remained largely unexplored and unexploited. The hypothesis of this proposal is that particle shape matters and that rod-like and high-aspect-ratio particles will increase the number of particle-particle contacts, leading to the formation of a stronger layer at the interface and consequently more stable emulsions relative to spheres. To examine this hypothesis, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with high aspect ratio (1000) will be investigated as a model system. The objective is to establish a fundamental understanding of the physics of an interface decorated with CNTs. The microstructure and the interfacial rheology will be carefully examined and further linked to the mechanical integrity and stability of a CNT-laden interface. The intellectual merit of this proposal involves: (1) exploring the complex physics of CNTs at the fluid-fluid interface, and (2) connecting the rheology with interfacial phenomena. Broader Impact: Exploiting the particle shape could be the missing key to unlocking the full potential of nanoparticle-stabilized emulsions. The proposed research may offer a general and yet relatively simple strategy to improve the stability of emulsions and prolong the shelf life of widely used pharmaceutical, agricultural, and personal care products. Secondly, the findings may revolutionize the use of nanoparticles for enhanced oil recovery, essential to ensuring national energy independence and addressing the world's energy challenge. Thirdly, understanding the interfacial behavior of nanoparticles will help comprehend the fate of both naturally occurring and engineered nanoparticles in the environment and wastewater treatment processes, such as flotation, which could have an impact on the sustainable use of nanoparticles. Finally, the proposed research may also impact the creation of technologically important materials such as: (1) novel microcapsules with controllable permeability for drug encapsulation and delivery, (2) scrims and polymer blends for composite and membrane applications, and (3) metamaterials that can be further used in cloaking devices and light-based circuits that may ultimately outperform electron-based computers in terms of speed, power consumption, and costs.Education and Outreach: The proposed research will be integrated with educational and outreach activities at all levels to maximize its impact. The graduate and undergraduate students involved in this project will receive cross-discipline training across the fields of rheology, interfacial phenomena, and carbon nanotubes. To engage the younger generation and the local community, culinary foams and emulsions will be used as the theme for the outreach plan. With the support of the CAREER award, the PI and his team will continue their outreach efforts through several programs (e.g., UConn's Mentor Connection Program and da Vinci project) and will attempt a new initiative on introducing basic scientific concepts through debunking cooking myths at high schools in inner-city Hartford and Willimantic with high minority populations.

1253613Mait已有一个多世纪以来，颗粒可以通过吸附流体流体界面并降低界面能量来稳定乳液。热力学和较早的实验研究表明，控制粒度和湿性是稳定乳液的两个关键因素。然而，粒子形状的效果在很大程度上尚未开发且未开发。该提议的假设是粒子形状很重要，并且类似杆状和高光谱的比例颗粒将增加粒子粒子接触的数量，从而导致在界面处形成更强的层，从而相对于球体更稳定。为了检验这一假设，将研究具有高纵横比（1000）的碳纳米管（CNT）作为模型系统。目的是建立对用CNT装饰的界面物理学的基本理解。将仔细检查微观结构和界面流变学，并进一步与载有CNT的界面的机械完整性和稳定性联系在一起。该提案的智力优点涉及：（1）探索流体流体界面上CNT的复杂物理，以及（2）将流变学与界面现象联系起来。更广泛的影响：利用颗粒形状可能是丢失纳米颗粒稳定乳液的全部潜力的钥匙。拟议的研究可能会提供一般但相对简单的策略，以提高乳液的稳定性并延长广泛使用的药物，农业和个人护理产品的保质期。其次，这些发现可能会彻底改变使用纳米颗粒以增强石油回收率，这对于确保国家能源独立性和应对世界能源挑战至关重要。第三，了解纳米颗粒的界面行为将有助于理解环境和废水处理过程中天然发生和工程纳米颗粒的命运，例如浮选，这可能会影响纳米颗粒的可持续使用。 Finally, the proposed research may also impact the creation of technologically important materials such as: (1) novel microcapsules with controllable permeability for drug encapsulation and delivery, (2) scrims and polymer blends for composite and membrane applications, and (3) metamaterials that can be further used in cloaking devices and light-based circuits that may ultimately outperform electron-based computers in terms of speed, power consumption, and成本。教育和外展：拟议的研究将与各个层次的教育和外展活动融合，以最大程度地发挥其影响。参与该项目的研究生和本科生将在流变学，界面现象和碳纳米管领域进行跨学科培训。为了吸引年轻一代和当地社区，烹饪泡沫和乳液将被用作外展计划的主题。在“职业奖”的支持下，PI和他的团队将通过多个计划（例如UConn的Mentor Connection计划和Da Vinci Project）继续他们的宣传工作，并将尝试通过在内城Hartford的高中揭示基础科学概念的新计划，并在城市内部Hartford的高中进行烹饪神话，并与少数少数群体进行意愿。