Laser-based Fabrication of Metal Nanocomposite on Flexible Substrate for Flexible Electronics with Enhanced Durability

该奖项支持一项基于激光制造工艺的研究，该工艺可在柔性基板上制造金属纳米复合材料。研究目的是从根本上了解激光基金属纳米复合材料制备过程中激光与材料的相互作用和材料的响应，以及所制备的金属纳米复合材料的力学和电学性能。目的是建立金属纳米复合材料的加工-结构-性能关系。研究工作包括金属纳米复合材料制造过程的时间分辨测量，基于物理的建模，通过扫描电子显微镜和其他技术表征金属纳米复合材料结构，以及金属纳米复合材料机械和电气性能的测量。该研究有望提高人们对柔性基板上激光基金属纳米复合材料制备过程中激光-材料相互作用和材料响应的理解，以及金属纳米复合材料的力学和电学性能。在合适的制造工艺条件下，纳米复合材料有望提高柔性电子金属部件的耐用性和可靠性，这可能对柔性电子的许多应用产生广泛影响。激光制备金属纳米复合材料的研究为研究生的培养提供了良好的机会，一些与本研究相关的材料将被纳入由首席研究员教授的研究生课程。预计研究成果将通过研究论文等方式传播。

This award supports a study on a laser-based fabrication process to fabricate metal nanocomposites onto flexible substrates. The research objective is to fundamentally understand laser-material interactions and materials' responses during the laser-based metal nanocomposite fabrication process, and mechanical and electrical properties of the fabricated metal nanocomposites. The goal is to establish the metal nanocomposite (fabricated through the laser-based process) processing-structure-property relations. Research work to be performed includes time-resolved measurements on the metal nanocomposite fabrication process, physics-based modeling, characterization of fabricated metal nanocomposite structures through scanning electron microscopy and other techniques, and measurements of the metal nanocomposites' mechanical and electrical properties. The research is expected to provide an improved understanding of laser-material interactions and materials' responses during the laser-based metal nanocomposite fabrication process onto flexible substrates, and the metal nanocomposites' mechanical and electrical properties. It is expected that with suitable manufacturing process conditions, the nanocomposites may potentially enhance the durability and reliability of metallic components of flexible electronics, which may potentially have a broad impact on many applications of flexible electronics. This research on laser-based fabrication of metal nanocomposites provides a good opportunity for graduate student training, and some materials relevant to this research will be included in a graduate-level class taught by the principal investigator. It is expected that research results will be disseminated through approaches such as research papers.