SNM: Scalable Production and Processing of High-Quality Metal Sulfide Nanoparticles into Energy Storage and Capture Devices

纳米技术的快速发展产生了巨大的应用前景。越来越多的人认识到，除非解决有关可扩展制造和器件集成的挑战，否则纳米技术的快速发展将面临停滞的风险。为了应对这些挑战，该项目旨在通过开发第一个大规模的、溶液相合成的高质量纳米颗粒，并展示其集成到设备中，来解决阻碍纳米颗粒技术领域进展的障碍。这项工作将代表通过可制造方法实现纳米颗粒技术的方法的一个步骤变化。关键是使用了一种以前只用于水相合成的反应性前体。pi将首先通过生产金属硫化物来演示该技术。该方法适用于多种单分散金属硫化物纳米颗粒，如Cu2S、CdS、SnS、ZnS、MnS、Ag2S、Bi2S3和CuInS2，并将扩展到其他材料体系（如磷化物）。这将有利于半导体和半金属胶体纳米晶体在高科技器件中的应用。该项目的智力优势包括：1)该方法是一种低温，空气稳定的合成方法，转化率高，生产成本低，可集成到温度敏感工艺中；2)开发公斤级批量生产的高质量纳米颗粒，其尺寸和成分分布窄，无需下游精炼工艺；3)连续合成分散度为5%的纳米颗粒的研究进展；4)纳米颗粒可扩展集成到锂离子电池和太阳能光伏器件中；5）.通过将pi首创的电泳沉积方法集成到连续流反应器中，建立了一种新型纳米制造工艺的原理；6)将纳米粒子合成与连续表面处理相结合，钝化对高性能纳米粒子光伏至关重要的电子陷阱；7)通过组装线纳米颗粒沉积，生产纳米颗粒涂覆的大面积非平面基板。这项工作将证明纳米制造工艺具有很高的潜力，可以扩大到经济和工业相关的生产水平。所使用的廉价反应物使工业规模、经济生产成为可能。可扩展的金属硫化物纳米制造将对电池、太阳能电池、热电和催化产生影响。此外，金属硫化物纳米颗粒提供了一种无毒的替代流行的金属硫族化合物系统。该项目的研究将与旨在增进对纳米科学和纳米技术的广泛理解的推广和教育计划紧密结合。推广和教育活动利用现有的nsf赞助的GK-12计划，在夏季与高中教师一起工作。项目负责人为教师设计了一个讲习班，其中包括对他们对新兴纳米技术的机会、风险和炒作的看法的初步调查，在实验室中创建纳米技术原型的实践经验，以及后续评估。教师将为他们的课堂课程完善纳米科学的教育模式。

Rapid advances in nanotechnology have generated enormous expectations for applications. There is growing recognition that the rapid progress towards nanotechnologies risks stagnation unless challenges concerning scalable manufacturing and device integration are resolved. To address these challenges, this project aims to resolve roadblocks impeding progress in the field of nanoparticle technologies by developing the first large-scale, solution-phase synthesis of high-quality nanoparticles, and demonstrate their integration into devices. This work will represent a step-change in the approach to realize nanoparticle-based technologies by manufacturable approaches. The key is the use of a reactive precursor that had previously only been available for aqueous-phase synthesis. The PIs will first demonstrate this technique through production of metal sulfides. The method is applicable for a large variety of monodisperse metal sulfide nanoparticles, such as Cu2S, CdS, SnS, ZnS, MnS, Ag2S, Bi2S3, and CuInS2, and will be extended into other material systems (e.g., phosphides). This will benefit the application of semiconductor and semi-metal colloidal nanocrystals in high-tech devices. The Intellectual Merits of the project include: 1) The method is a low temperature, air-stable synthesis, with high conversion yields, enabling low production cost and integration into temperature-sensitive processes; 2) Development of kilogram-quantity batch production of high-quality nanoparticles with narrow distribution in size and composition, without the need for downstream refining processes; 3) Development of continuous synthesis of nanoparticles with 5% dispersion in size; 4) Scalable integration of nanoparticles into Li-ion battery and solar photovoltaic devices; 5).Establishment of principles for a novel nanomanufacturing process for devices by integrating electrophoretic deposition methods pioneered by the PIs, into continuous flow reactors; 6) Integration of nanoparticle synthesis with continuous surface treatments to passivate electronic traps critical for high-performance nanoparticle photovoltaics; and 7) Produce nanoparticle-coated large area, non-planar substrates, through assembly-line nanoparticle deposition.This work will demonstrate a nanomanufacturing process with high potential to scale to economically and industrially relevant production levels. The inexpensive reactants used enable industrial scale, economic production. Scalable nanomanufacturing of metal sulfides will be impactful for batteries, solar cells, thermoelectrics, and catalysis. Additionally, metal sulfide nanoparticles provide a non-toxic alternative to popular metal chalcogenide systems. The Project's research will be closely integrated with an outreach and education program aimed to enhance a widespread understanding of nanoscience and nanotechnology. The outreach and education activities leverage the existing NSF-sponsored GK-12 program to work with high school teachers during the summer. The PIs have designed a workshop for the teachers that involves an initial survey about their perception of the opportunities, risk and hypes related to emerging nanotechnologies, a hands-on experience in the laboratory in creating nanotechnology prototypes, and a follow up assessment. Teachers will refine educational models about nanoscience for their classroom curriculum.