NSF-BSF: Architecting metallic nanoparticles for ultimate strength

非技术性总结：具有微米或纳米长度尺度尺寸的材料物体可以表现出比宏观物体高得多的强度。为了实现这些物体提供的令人兴奋的新机会，有必要了解无缺陷纳米尺度系统中的塑性或材料变形定律。这些定律在很大程度上是未知的，可能与宏观金属中的定律不同。美国和以色列的首席研究员将开展一项合作研究计划，将实验和计算机建模紧密结合起来，以更深入地了解纳米级金属和合金的塑性规律和机制。这项研究将为设计新的纳米级材料创造一个理论框架，将尽可能高的机械强度与其他服务特性相结合。这项研究将影响许多以机械强度为材料设计目标的科学和技术领域。主要研究人员将通过在跨学科会议上的演讲，发表综述文章，以及通过组织关于强调跨学科纳米尺度现象的广泛主题的研讨会/研讨会来传播该项目的结果。这将包括一系列有广泛国际参与的美国-以色列纳米力学研讨会。为了接触到更广泛的社区，将通过在线科学新闻媒体大力推广这项研究。美国调查员和学生将访问当地（费尔法克斯公司）。技术概要：美国和以色列的主要研究者（PI）提出了一个紧密结合实验和计算机建模的合作研究计划，以实现对纳米尺度金属和合金中成核控制塑性的规律和机制的更深入的基本理解。该研究将集中在镍和几种镍基合金的战略选择，以探讨一些关键因素，可以影响颗粒强度。这些因素将包括颗粒尺寸和形状、表面氧化态、合金的化学组成、长程有序和相变。这项研究将为设计新的纳米级材料创造一个理论框架，将尽可能高的机械强度与其他服务特性相结合。项目研究员将通过在跨学科会议上发表演讲、发表综述文章以及组织强调跨学科纳米尺度现象的广泛专题讲习班/专题讨论会来传播该项目的成果。这将包括一系列有广泛国际参与的美国-以色列纳米力学研讨会。为了接触到更广泛的社区，将通过在线科学新闻媒体大力推广这项研究。美国PI和学生将访问当地（费尔法克斯公司）。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Non-technical Summary:Material objects with dimensions on the micrometer or nanometer length scales can exhibit much higher strength than macroscopic objects. To realize the exciting new opportunities offered by such objects, it is necessary to understand the laws of plasticity, or material deformation, in defect-free nano-scale systems. Such laws are largely unknown and are likely to be different from those in macroscopic metals. The US and Israeli Principal Investigators will conduct a collaborative research program that tightly integrates experiments and computer modeling to achieve a deeper fundamental understanding of the laws and mechanisms of plasticity in nano-scale metals and alloys. This research will create a theoretical framework for the design of new nano-scale materials combining the highest-possible mechanical strength with other service characteristics. This research will impact many areas of science and technology where mechanical strength is one of the goals of materials design. The Principal Investigators will disseminate the results of this project through presentations at interdisciplinary meetings, publishing overview articles, and by organizing workshops/symposia on broad topics emphasizing nano-scale phenomena across disciplines. This will include a series of US-Israel nano-mechanics workshops with broad international participation. To reach out to broader communities, significant efforts will be put in popularizing this research using online scientific news outlets. The US Investigator and the students will visit local (Fairfax Co.) high schools to give popular presentations including examples of nano-scale phenomena and their impact on modern technology.Technical Summary:The US and Israeli Principal Investigators (PIs) propose a collaborative research program that tightly integrates experiments and computer modeling to achieve a deeper fundamental understanding of the laws and mechanisms of nucleation-controlled plasticity in nano-scale metals and alloys. The research will be focused on Ni and several Ni-based alloys strategically chosen to probe some of the key factors that can impact the particle strength. Such factors will include the particle size and shape, the surface oxidation state, the chemical composition of the alloy, the long-range order, and the phase transformations. This research will create a theoretical framework for the design of new nano-scale materials combining the highest-possible mechanical strength with other service characteristics. The PIs will disseminate the results of this project through presentations at interdisciplinary meetings, publishing overview articles, and by organizing workshops/symposia on broad topics emphasizing nano-scale phenomena across disciplines. This will include a series of US-Israel nano-mechanics workshops with broad international participation. To reach out to broader communities, significant efforts will be put in popularizing this research using online scientific news outlets. The US PI and the students will visit local (Fairfax Co.) high schools to give popular presentations including examples of nano-scale phenomena and their impact on modern technology.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.