RUI: Preparation of Free-standing Icosahedral Quasicrystalline Nanoparticles and Their Application in Self Assembly

RUI：自支撑二十面体准晶纳米颗粒的制备及其在自组装中的应用

• 批准号: 1461607
• 金额: $ 13.25万
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2015
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2015-07-15 至 2019-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1461607&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RUI; Preparation; Free; standing; Icosahedral

Non-technical summary: Icosahedral quasicrystalline structure is distinguished by its unique atomic configuration. In contrast to the long history of amorphous and crystalline structures, this particular structure was first reported only thirty years ago. Furthermore, icosahedral quasicrystalline nanoparticles have not yet been reported, despite the intense study and wide applications of crystalline and amorphous nanoparticles. The focus of this project is on the fabrication of such icosahedral quasicrystalline nanoparticles. Application of these particles in self assembly is expected to result in a three dimensional icosahedral quasicrystalline pattern, and will aid in understanding the importance of factors affecting the stability of icosahedral quasicrystalline structure. The project has a significant impact on undergraduate education at Clarion University (CU), a rural institution located in northwest Pennsylvania, approximately two hours drive from any major cities and academic centers. Notably CU accepts many first generation college students. This work gives these students a rare opportunity to observe and participate in scientific research and discovery, stimulating their interest toward, and boosting their confidence in developing careers in science and technology. It also adds to the enrichment of our knowledge in the field of nanotechnology in the form of peer-reviewed publications and presentations at conferences. Additionally the project is integrated into eight undergraduate physics and nanotechnology courses, directly impacting the education of approximately one hundred students per year. Finally, as the result of outreach efforts in collaboration with a well-established Science in Motion program, this project provides students and teachers of local high schools with a unique opportunity to participate and learn.Technical summary: Studies in the past thirty years have resulted in reports of some alloys with stable icosahedral quasicrystalline structures. This progress paves the way for the current project, making the fabrication of icosahedral quasicrystalline nanoparticles from these alloys possible. The nanoparticles are produced by the combined usage of mechanical breaking, chemical etching, surface functionalizing, de-functionalizing, and size sorting. The particle sizes range from ten nanometers to one micrometer. Experimental conditions are adjusted to generate particles of either spherical or dodecahedral pentagonal morphologies for different applications. Out of multiple potential applications, the researchers focus on studying self-assembly of said nanoparticles. Due to the unique dodecahedral pentagonal morphology of the selected nanoparticles, assembly of a three dimensional icosahedral quasicrystalline structure is expected. This type of structure has not yet been reported and can be used as a model to understand the atomic configuration of icosahedral quasicrystalline structure.

非技术性总结：二十面体准晶结构的特征在于其独特的原子构型。与无定形和晶体结构的悠久历史相比，这种特殊的结构仅在30年前首次报道。此外，二十面体准晶纳米粒子尚未报道，尽管大量的研究和广泛的应用结晶和非晶纳米粒子。这个项目的重点是在这种二十面体准晶纳米粒子的制造。这些粒子在自组装中的应用，预计将导致在一个三维的二十面体准晶图案，并将有助于了解影响二十面体准晶结构的稳定性的因素的重要性。该项目对克拉里昂大学（CU）的本科教育产生了重大影响，这是一所位于宾夕法尼亚州西北部的农村机构，距离任何主要城市和学术中心约两小时车程。值得注意的是，CU接受了许多第一代大学生。这项工作为这些学生提供了一个难得的机会，观察和参与科学研究和发现，激发他们的兴趣，并增强他们在科学和技术发展事业的信心。它还以同行评审出版物和会议介绍的形式丰富了我们在纳米技术领域的知识。此外，该项目被整合到八个本科物理和纳米技术课程中，每年直接影响约100名学生的教育。最后，作为与成熟的Science in Motion计划合作的推广工作的结果，该项目为当地高中的学生和教师提供了一个独特的参与和学习机会。技术总结：在过去的三十年中，研究导致了一些具有稳定二十面体准晶结构的合金的报道。这一进展为当前的项目铺平了道路，使从这些合金中制造二十面体准晶纳米颗粒成为可能。通过机械破碎、化学蚀刻、表面功能化、去功能化和尺寸分选的组合使用来生产纳米颗粒。颗粒尺寸范围从10纳米到1微米。调整实验条件以产生用于不同应用的球形或十二面体五边形形态的颗粒。在多种潜在应用中，研究人员专注于研究所述纳米颗粒的自组装。由于所选择的纳米颗粒的独特的十二面体五边形形态，预期三维二十面体准晶结构的组装。这种结构还没有被报道过，可以作为一个模型来理解二十面体准晶结构的原子构型。