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为应用带来了巨大的期望。越来越多的人认识到，除非解决有关可扩展制造和设备集成的挑战，否则纳米技术的快速进步有停滞的风险。为了应对这些挑战，该项目旨在通过开发第一个大规模的高质量纳米颗粒的溶液相合成，并展示它们与设备的集成，来解决阻碍纳米颗粒技术领域进步的障碍。这项工作将代表着通过可制造的方法实现基于纳米颗粒的技术的方法的一步变化。关键是使用以前只能用于水相合成的活性前体。PI将首先通过生产金属硫化物来演示这项技术。该方法适用于多种单分散金属硫化物纳米粒子，如Cu2S、CdS、SnS、ZnS、MnS、Ag2S、Bi2S3和CuInS2，并将推广到其他材料体系(如磷化物)。这将有利于半导体和半金属胶体纳米晶在高科技器件中的应用。该项目的智能优点包括：1)该方法是一种低温、空气稳定的合成方法，转化率高，使生产成本低，并可集成到对温度敏感的过程中；2)开发千克量批量生产尺寸和组成分布窄的高质量纳米颗粒，而不需要下游精炼工艺；3)开发尺寸分散度为5%的纳米颗粒的连续合成；4)可扩展地将纳米颗粒集成到锂离子电池和太阳能光伏器件中；5)通过将PIS首创的电泳沉积方法集成到连续流动反应器中，建立用于器件的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，以钝化对高性能纳米粒子光伏至关重要的电子陷阱；以及7)通过流水线纳米粒子沉积，生产大面积、非平面的纳米粒子涂层基板。这项工作将展示一种具有很高潜力的纳米制造工艺，具有很高的规模，达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。金属硫化物的可伸缩纳米制造将对电池、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为流行的金属硫化物系统提供了一种无毒的替代品。该项目的研究将与旨在加强对纳米科学和纳米技术的广泛了解的推广和教育计划密切结合。外展和教育活动利用现有的NSF赞助的GK-12计划，在暑期与高中教师合作。专业人员为教师设计了一个工作坊，内容包括初步调查他们对与新兴纳米技术有关的机会、风险和炒作的看法，在实验室制作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改进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.