Direct Conversion of Carbon into Q-carbon and Diamond and Fabrication of Novel Nanostructures

非技术描述：该项目的重点是碳基纳米结构的合成和加工的变革性方法，这些纳米结构是下一代智能电网，切割工具，量子电子学和生物标志物的高功率设备所需的。在该项目的新方法中，无序碳在空气中的环境温度和压力下转化为金刚石或Q-碳（一种比金刚石更硬的碳的新相）。这种制造金刚石的方法避免了在惰性气氛中所需的传统的极高温度和压力。因此，这种新方法提供了一种非常便宜和快速的方法，将无序碳转化为有用的（硬）金刚石或Q-碳结构，用于各种应用。这项研究涉及与橡树岭国家实验室（ORNL）的密切合作，他们的先进原子分辨率仪器是非常互补的原子尺度表征设施在北卡罗来纳州（NC）州立大学。该项目从事研究合作和培训的研究生和本科生从附近的历史上黑人学院和大学，NC A T和肖。为了传播纳米材料的研究，北卡罗来纳州立大学已经推出了一个硕士（科学硕士）在纳米工程通过工程在线网络的领导下，主要研究者，在那里的学生在地球仪完成他们的硕士？s度。在这一领域培养的学生在微电子，光电子和生物医学行业的就业方面受到高度追捧。主要研究者正在继续进行一个非常成功的ASM（美国材料学会）材料夏令营，在那里高中生接受为期一周的新材料和新技术培训。技术支持：这项研究对无序碳直接转化为Q-碳和/或金刚石的基本机制有了基本的了解。下一步是利用这种理解来创造具有独特性能的新型Q-碳和金刚石纳米结构，用于各种应用。通过使用纳秒脉冲激光照射，碳层在约4000 K（比碳的熔点低约1000 K）的过冷状态下熔化，并且随后淬火成纳米金刚石、微米金刚石、纳米针、微米针或大面积单晶膜形式的Q-碳或金刚石的新相。这些结构掺杂有n型和p型掺杂剂，从而开辟了金刚石纳米电子学和高功率器件的新前沿。用氮原子（N）和空位（V）掺杂纳米金刚石导致NV纳米金刚石，其在蓝宝石衬底上外延生长，用于原子传感器和量子计算应用。作为纳米工程计划的一部分，PI教授一系列课程，让学生了解新材料，薄膜外延，缺陷控制，加工，表征和建模以及下一代多功能智能设备的最新发展。

NON-TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: This project focuses on a transformative approach for synthesis and processing of carbon-based nanostructures that are needed for next-generation high-power devices for smart grids, cutting tools, quantum electronics and biomarkers. In this project's new approach, disordered carbon is converted into diamond or Q-carbon (a new phase of carbon that is harder than diamond) at ambient temperatures and pressures in air. This route to create diamond avoids the conventional extremely high temperatures and pressures needed in an inert atmosphere. Thus, this new approach provides a very inexpensive and rapid way to convert disordered carbon into useful (hard) diamond or Q-carbon structures for a variety of applications. This research involves a close collaboration with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) where their Advanced Atomic-resolution instrumentation is quite complementary to atomic scale characterization facilities at North Carolina (NC) State University. This project engages research collaboration and training of graduate and undergraduate students from a nearby Historically Black Colleges and Universities, NC A&T and Shaw. To disseminate nanomaterials research, NC State University has launched an MS (Master of Science) in Nanoengineering through Engineering Online network under the leadership of the principal investigator, where students around the globe complete their Master?s degrees. The students trained in this area are highly sought after for the employment in microelectronics, optoelectronics and biomedical industries. The principal investigator is continuing with a very successful ASM (American Society for Materials) Materials Summer Camp, where high-school students are trained for a week on new materials and technologies.TECHNICAL DETAILS: This research develops a fundamental understanding of basic mechanisms involved in the direct conversion of disordered carbon into Q-carbon and/or diamond. The next step is to use this understanding to create novel Q-carbon and diamond nanostructures with unique properties for a variety of applications. By using nanosecond pulsed laser irradiation, carbon layers are melted in a super undercooled state at around 4000K (about 1000K below the melting point of carbon) and are quenched subsequently into a new phase of Q-carbon or diamond in the form of nanodiamonds, microdiamonds, nanoneedles, microneedles or large-area single-crystal films. These structures are doped with n- and p-type dopants, thus opening a new frontier in diamond nanoelectronics and high-power devices. Doping of nanodiamonds with nitrogen atoms (N) and vacancies (V) results in NV nanodiamonds which are grown epitaxially on sapphire substrates for atomic sensors and quantum computing applications. As a part of Nanoengineering program, the PI teaches a series of courses where students learn about the latest developments in new materials, thin film epitaxy, defect control, processing, characterization and modeling and next-generation multifunctional smart devices.