In situ Mechanics and Electromechanics of Nanostructures for Energy Efficient Advanced Materials

新兴市场和不断上涨的燃料成本正在导致全球能源需求超过能源生产和储存的进步。迫切需要节能材料，如轻质复合材料、低摩擦润滑剂和低功率电子产品，以减少这些巨大的能源需求。能源效率的换算改进将要求材料性能和新的基本机制都有数量级的增长--纳米材料已被证明具有这些标准。纳米材料的潜力尚未得到发挥，这是因为缺乏对其性质的机械理解以及将其纳入其中的优化的多尺度材料设计。该研究计划将应用一种战略，利用原位方法学来揭示和优化机械和机电性能和机制，以指导基于纳米结构的节能材料的设计。本文提出的具体研究项目将集中在三类先进材料的研究上：用于微电子机械系统的可调石墨烯薄膜润滑剂的原位纳米摩擦学研究，智能轻质复合材料的强度和界面研究，以及用于电子互连的金属纳米线的机电研究。扫描探针和电子显微镜中纳米材料的原位表征将被用于直接可视化变形机制，并表征机械和机电能效指标，包括强度与重量比、摩擦系数和最大电流密度。该研究计划将影响对新型纳米结构的机械和机电现象的基本理解，导致节能材料性能的前所未有的进步，这将使加拿大航空航天、汽车、采矿和电子行业的公司受益，并使用独特的现场研究基础设施，在跨学科和协作、学术和工业培训环境中直接支持高素质人员的培训。

Emerging markets and rising fuel costs are resulting in global energy demands that are outpacing advancements in energy production and storage. There is an IMMEDIATE NEED for energy efficient materials, such as lightweight composites, low friction lubricants, and low power electronics, that will reduce these dramatic energy demands. Translational improvements in energy efficiencies will require both order-of-magnitude increases in materials properties and novel fundamental mechanisms - criteria which nanomaterials have been proven to exhibit. The potential of nanomaterials has not been met due to a lack of mechanistic understanding of their properties as well as the optimized multiscale materials designs which incorporate them. The RESEARCH PROGRAM will apply a strategy that leverages in situ methodologies to unveil and optimize mechanical and electromechanical properties and mechanisms to guide the design of energy efficient materials based on nanostructures. The specific research PROJECTS proposed herein will focus on studies of three classes of advanced materials: In situ nanotribology studies of tunable graphene film lubricants for microelectromechanical systems, Strength and interfacial studies of smart-lightweight composites, and Electromechanical studies of metallic nanowires for electronic interconnects. In situ characterization of the nanomaterials within scanning probe and electron microscopes will be applied to directly visualize deformation mechanisms and characterize mechanical and electromechanical energy efficiency metrics including strength-to-weight ratios, friction coefficients, and maximum current densities. The research program will IMPACT the fundamental understanding of mechanical and electromechanical phenomena of novel nanostructures, lead to unprecedented advancements in energy efficient materials performance which will benefit Canadian companies in aerospace, automotive, mining, and electronics industries, and directly support the training of highly qualified personnel within an interdisciplinary, and collaborative, academic and industrial training environment using unique in situ research infrastructure.