EAGER/Collaborative Research: Processing and Characterization of Soft Active Nanoparticulate Composites

EARLY概念探索性研究（EAGER）合作研究奖为初步实验数据的生成提供资金，以支持最近对具有调谐界面的软活性纳米颗粒复合材料（SANC）宏观响应的理论预测，导致其机械响应的一个数量级变化和介电响应的两个数量级变化。假设纳米颗粒和增强基质之间的界面区域负责这些行为，并且可以调节以提供所需的响应。名义上非常相似的材料的宏观尺度响应的这些显着的修改要求深入调查的SANC的机电行为的几何形状和属性的底层界面。在这种情况下，根据PI最近的理论结果，这个探索性项目的目标是合成和测试一个模型类的SANC与界面，定制，以增强机电性能。将开展新的基础力学实验，以校准和验证最新的多物理模型，并指导未来的研究，以优化设计信封的软功能材料。如果成功，这项研究的结果将提供定量的知识，界面现象如何影响SANC的宏观响应，这有可能改变我们的能力，以促进这类活性材料在诸如能源和医学等重要领域的应用的技术使用。该项目还将提供基本规则的初步理解，以合成具有受控界面的软纳米颗粒复合材料，以及直接测量这种界面的机电性能的新方法。

This EArly-concept Grant for Exploratory Research (EAGER) collaborative research award provides funding for the generation of preliminary experimental data to support recent theoretical predictions on the macroscopic response of soft active nanoparticulate composites (SANCs) with tuned interphases, resulting in as much as one order of magnitude change in their mechanical response and two orders of magnitude change in their dielectric response. It is hypothesized that the interphase regions between the nanoparticle and the reinforcement matrix is responsible for these behaviors and can be tuned to deliver the desired response. These remarkable modifications of the macroscale response of nominally very similar materials call for an in-depth investigation of the electromechanical behavior of SANCs in terms of the geometry and properties of the underlying interphases. In this context, in line with recent theoretical results by the PIs, the objective of this exploratory project is to synthesize and test a model class of SANCs with interphases that are tailored to result in enhanced electromechanical properties. Novel fundamental mechanical experiments will be carried out to calibrate and validate recent multi-physics models and direct future research to optimum design envelopes for soft functional materials.If successful, the results of this research will provide quantitative knowledge of how interphasial phenomena affect the macroscopic response of SANCs, which has the potential to transform our ability to advance the technological use of this class of active materials for applications in significant fields such as energy and medicine. This project will also provide an initial understanding of ground rules to synthesize soft nanoparticulate composites with controlled interphases as well as a novel approach to directly measure the electromechanical properties of such interphases.