SBIR Phase I: Flat ceramic nanoparticles with two functionally different surfaces for self-generating coatings

这个小企业创新研究第一阶段项目将专注于开发具有结构不同侧面（粘性/光滑）的陶瓷纳米片，这些纳米片将用于形成自生成摩擦涂层，以改善润滑。 此涂层将在正常操作期间自动创建。 具有特定性质的纳米结构的受控自组装是纳米技术的一个可能性。 这些低摩擦的摩擦学涂层的产生以前已经被观察到，但需要进一步的分析和理解的鲁棒性和商业应用中的再现性。使用这些粉末形成的几乎无摩擦涂层的市场应用需要优化参数，例如尺寸、形状和表面掺杂剂。 这些各向异性纳米结构的后续应用设想在催化剂载体，塑料填料和智能材料领域。该项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力将是一种技术/产品，用于改善现有/运行机械的性能。这项研究的完成将进一步扩大和提高对各向异性层状纳米材料应用的整体科学认识。在成功商业化后，各种工业和商业客户将受益于延长的部件寿命和更有效的机械操作，以及劳动力和能源的节省。从社会的角度来看，这项技术旨在节省由于摩擦而损失的大量能量，同时减少与磨损相关的材料/部件故障和相关成本。其他研究人员预测，在现有交通系统中全系统应用拟议的技术将使能源节约超过所有部署的风能，生物质能，地热和光伏能源的总和。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will focus on the development of ceramic nanosheets with structurally different sides (sticky/slick), which will be used to form a self-generating tribological coating for improved lubrication. This coating will be automatically created during normal operation. The controlled self-assembly of nanostructures with defined properties is one of the enabling promises of nanotechnology. The creation of these low-friction tribological coatings has been previously observed but requires further analysis and understanding for robustness and reproducibility in commercial applications. Optimization of parameters, such as size, shape, and surface dopants, is required for market application of the nearly frictionless coatings to be formed using these powders. Follow-on applications of these anisotropic nanostructures are envisioned in the areas of catalyst supports, plastic fillers, and smart materials. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project will be a technology/product for improving the performance of already existing/operating machinery. The enhanced knowledge resulting from the completion of this research will further broaden and enhance the overall scientific understanding of the applications of anisotropic layered nanomaterials. Upon successful commercialization, various industrial and commercial clients will benefit from increased component longevity and more efficient operation of machinery, coupled with labor and energy savings. From a societal perspective, this technology aims to save a considerable amount of energy lost due to friction, while simultaneously reducing wear-related material/component failures and associated costs. Other researchers have predicted that a system-wide application of the proposed technology in existing transportation systems will enable energy savings that exceeds the total energy generated by all deployed wind, biomass, geothermal and photovoltaic sources combined.