Innovative materials containing functionalized clays: graphene, piezoelectric and fluorescent clays

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My vision is to successfully create economical materials with intelligent functionality that are derived from readily available materials. This is critical as natural resources will be more strained in years to come. The goal of this research program is to create innovative materials containing functionalized clays. Clays are considered template materials, because they are abundant and available at a reasonable cost. The use of clay is currently limited to passive applications in materials. Three specific advances would greatly enhance the usefulness of clays: 1) conductive clay containing graphene from innovative production pathways; 2) creating an intelligent clay matrix, with the most common being cement and concrete; and 3) encapsulating organic molecules for imaging and sensing applications. My ultimate aim is to create sustainable smart and tunable materials. (1) Clay containing graphene has a range of potential applications, in the electric power industry, geothermal energy, optical devices, pollutant catalysis and more. The formation of graphene with clays from natural organic precursors has the potential to make a ground breaking impact. The procedure for producing conductive clay is safe, scalable, and economical. Characterization will require various spectroscopy methods, X-ray diffraction, and thermal analysis. (2) Cement, which is considered a clay material, can be rendered intelligent using piezoelectric additives to make self-reporting construction materials. This will permit the monitoring of mechanical overloads and fatigue, which allows for easy detection and intervention. A geopolymer is a cementitious matrix formed by alkaline activation of aluminosilicate. Piezoelectric additives will be tested for self-reporting in conventional cement and in a geopolymer matrix. The implications would be significant for design, safety, security and maintenance. (3) Clay improves the fluorescence efficiency of encapsulated organic fluorochromes, which allows for a detectable visual signal at low concentration. This capacity is beneficial for making embedded sensors for composite materials with high precision engineering requirements. Laponite clay will be mixed with a fluorescent marker; this creates an economical quality control mechanism for composite manufacturing, especially in aerospace applications. Increased conductivity, self-reporting, and precision imaging are desirable functionalities that are achievable in clays. This research program relies on a common methodology of mixing clays with additives and characterization, which leads to the possibility of functionalizing materials. Training graduate students is essential in order to face the current challenges of sustainability and material quality. The economic impact of these technologies is very significant, ranging from construction to electricity transportation to aeronautics.