Mechanisms of Surface Reactions and Materials Performance in Ionizing Radiation Environments

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My objective is to improve our understanding of interfacial mass and charge transfer, and their kinetics, in systems exposed to ionizing radiation. Continuous irradiation creates unique reactive environments that can alter the electric potential at interfaces and thereby influence both mass and charge transfer across phase boundaries. By using a judicious combination of ?-irradiation and aqueous conditions, we can drive interfacial reactions to achieve tailored formation of (1) uniform-sized transition metal oxide nanoparticles, (2) uniform and compact oxide films, and (3) micelles in ionic liquid (IL)/water systems. The proposed research aims to develop a fundamental understanding of these and other interfacial processes. To this end, I will employ a combination of cutting-edge experimental and theoretical approaches. Dissolved metal ions can be oxidized or reduced by water radiolysis products. Such oxidation or reduction can cause a soluble metal hydroxide to be converted to an insoluble species that condenses and grows to uniform sized oxide nanoparticles. I intend to study the factors controlling the size, composition and morphology of such particles. This is a new technique for nanoparticle production that has many potential applications in advanced technologies. The fundamental characteristics of oxide films on metals depend on the conditions in which the films are grown. Radiolysis of water can change the potential at a metal surface and cause the formation of oxide films that are very different from those seen in conventional oxidation. I intend to study the kinetics of film growth and the film characteristics with the aim of understanding the interfacial processes in detail and discovering how to create compact oxide films having specific chemical, electrical, and magnetic properties. Irradiation of IL/water systems causes fast formation of micelles. This may be due to ionic radiolysis products that alter the electrochemical potential gap at the IL/water interface or that act as surfactants to increase stability of the micelles. I intend to use both experiments and molecular dynamic modelling to understand the chemistry in such systems. The Discovery Grant will be used to train 5 highly qualified multidisciplinary scientists per year.