Comparative analysis, modeling, and optimization of nanocrystal synthesis for magnetic storage and field emission

我们越来越习惯于享受手中的高科技产品，比如手机、口袋里的笔记本电脑、窗口大小的平板电视屏幕等等。然而，我们是否总是记得，如果没有发现和设计新的技术流程这样的强制性里程碑，这些东西就不会存在？使新工艺设计成为可能的新想法取决于我们知识的深度和强度，并随着我们理解的增长而发展。因此，纳米技术是一种使用尺寸在1纳米到100纳米之间的物体的技术，它取决于我们理解、操纵和表征这些小东西的能力。由于这些是许多学科的前沿挑战，纳米科学成为科学和工程出版社的头条新闻。这个项目有助于理解，因此，发展，最佳工艺合成阵列的纳米晶体在一个平坦的基础（基板）。许多不同的技术都需要这种技术，例如平面显示器和传感器的制造，更高密度的信息存储或更强大的电子芯片。该项目的重点是被称为物理气相沉积（PVD）的合成方法，该方法使用物理过程（例如蒸发）来获得材料的原子通量，然后在真空中沉积在基底上。PVD不使用或产生危险化学品，清洁，可有效控制。到目前为止，我们所缺少的是对哪些特定的晶体、形状、大小和面密度在特定条件下会生长的足够清晰的理解。该项目提供了足够详细的理论模型和数值模拟来回答这些问题。该项目旨在作为创建功能纳米结构合成综合知识库的长期计划的第一步。知识库将包含必要的模拟软件，分析评论和相关数据库，这些数据库通过交互式管理系统进行操作，该系统旨在帮助用户选择合成所需纳米结构的方法，材料和工艺条件。

We are getting used to enjoying high-tech products at our hand, such as cell phones, laptops that fit a pocket, window-size flat TV screens, and many others. However, do we always remember that these things would not exist without such mandatory milestones as discovery and design of new technological processes? The new ideas enabling new process design depend, in the basis, on the depth and strength of our knowledge and develop as our understanding grows. Thus nanotechnology, which is a technology employing objects sized between 1 nm and 100 nm, resides on our ability to understand, manipulate, and characterize those small things. As these are frontier challenges in many disciplines, nanoscience makes headlines in scientific and engineering press. This project contributes to understanding, and therefore to development, of optimal processes to synthesize arrays of nanosize crystals on a flat base (substrate). Many various technologies require this, for example, fabrication of flat displays and sensors, higher-density information storage, or more powerful electronic chips. The project focuses on methods of synthesis known as physical vapor deposition (PVD), which use physical processes (for example, evaporation) to obtain atomic fluxes of material that are then deposited on a substrate in vacuum. PVD does not employ or produce hazardous chemicals, is clean, and can be efficiently controlled. What is missing so far is a clear enough understanding of which particular crystals, of which shape, size, and area density, will grow under particular conditions. This project provides theoretical models and numerical simulations detailed enough to answer these questions. The project is designed as the initial step in a long-term program of creating a comprehensive knowledge base on synthesis of functional nanostructures. The knowledge base will contain the necessary simulation software, analytical reviews, and relevant databases, which are operated through an interactive management system designed to help users to select methods, materials, and process conditions to synthesize desired nanostructures.