Collaborative Research: Interactions of Interlayered Nanoporous Graphene with Surrounding Water Molecules

涂层或表面工程在各种工业应用中无处不在。涂层可应用于各种电子设备的表面，例如微处理器和有机发光二极管(OLED)显示器，以防止它们与大气中存在的水分子接触时电子或有机组件的降解或氧化。涂层方面的进展，特别是纳米材料层的加入，可以使坚固性和新功能方面的突破成为可能。虽然理想的纳米材料涂层设计应该是无缺陷、无气孔和纳米薄层的形式，但由于制造方面的挑战，实际应用可能会受到限制。因此，了解纳米层厚度、缺陷统计和涂层渗透性之间的相关性是至关重要的。本研究旨在利用具有可控形态和化学成分的原子薄石墨烯薄膜及其层间构型来促进我们对堆积构型、缺陷和渗透性之间的相关性的理解。有关石墨烯-水相互作用的新发现将指导新型先进涂层的设计，这些涂层可以保护电子或有机设备免受水蒸气环境的影响。这项研究还旨在通过暑期研究机会、实地考察和研讨会，让STEM中代表性不足的学生和高中生参与到纳米工程教育领域。此外，还将开展几项外展活动，包括互动讲座和实践活动。由于表面涂层的性能受到伴随的纳米级缺陷和/或气孔的严重限制，因此有必要对通过表面涂层的扩散进行精确控制。尽管之前的几项研究已经提出了一种很有前途的多层堆栈框架，但在控制纳米级缺陷、三维曲折和表面润湿性方面存在根本限制。为了应对这些挑战，本研究项目旨在通过一种新的三维、层间多孔石墨烯堆栈设计来研究扩散传输。这是基于以下前提的。首先，纳米受限水分子的行为将不同于主体水分子，对扩散过程产生负面影响。其次，精确制造的纳米多孔石墨烯堆栈将通过控制表面润湿性的有效曲折度和孔形态来提高总扩散速率。为了实现这一点，PI将采用多层模拟和实验相结合的方法来验证多层扩散理论。这一研究项目的成功完成，将为石墨烯与周围水分子之间的扩散物理建立基于界面科学的新认识。主要研究人员计划通过提供虚拟动手活动，为高中生创建虚拟实验室之旅和课程。PIS将通过各种校园层面的活动，包括加州少数群体参与联盟(CAMP)计划，让未被充分代表的学生参与研究项目。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Coating or surface engineering is ubiquitous in various industrial applications. Coatings can be applied to the surfaces of various electronic devices, such as microprocessors and organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays, to prevent their degradation or oxidation of electronic or organic components when in contact with water molecules present in the atmosphere. Advances in coating, in particular the incorporation of layers of nanomaterials, could enable breakthroughs in robustness and novel functionalities. While an ideal design of nanomaterials-based coating would take the form of defect-free, pore-free, and nanometer-thin layers, practical implementations may be limited due to manufacturing challenges. Therefore, it is critical to understand the correlations between nanolayer thickness, defect statistics, and the permeability of the coating. This research aims to employ atomically thin graphene layers with controlled morphology and chemistry and their interlayer configurations to advance our understanding of the correlation between stacking configuration, defects, and permeability. New discoveries about the graphene-water interactions will guide the design for novel advanced coatings that protect electronic or organic devices from water vapor environments. This research also aims to broaden nano-engineering education by engaging students under-represented in STEM and high school students via summer research opportunities, field trips, and symposia. In addition, several outreach activities, including interactive lectures and hands-on activities will be undertaken.Since the performance of surface coatings is severely limited by attendant nanoscale defects and/or pores, there is a significant need for the precise control of diffusion through surface coatings. Although several previous studies have proposed a promising framework of multi-layered stacks, there are fundamental limitations in the control of nanoscale defects, three-dimensional tortuosity, and surface wettability. To address these challenges, this research project aims to study diffusion transport through a new design of three-dimensionally, interlayered nanoporous graphene stacks. This is based on the following premises. First, nano-confined water molecules will behave differently than bulk water molecules, negatively impacting the diffusion process. Second, precisely manufactured nanoporous graphene stacks will enable the improvement of overall diffusion rates by controlling the effective tortuosity and pore morphology with surface wettability. To attain this the PIs will employ a combination of multi-level simulation and experimental approaches to validate the multi-layer diffusion theory. The successful completion of this research project will build a new understanding about the diffusion physics based on interfacial science between graphene and surrounding water molecules. The principal investigators plan to create virtual lab tours and sessions for high school students by presenting virtual hands-on activities. The PIs will engage underrepresented students in the research project through various campus level activities, including the California Alliance for Minority Participation (CAMP) program.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.