Inorganic nanomaterials: Structure, properties and function

无机纳米材料：结构、性质和功能

• 批准号: RGPIN-2016-04562
• 负责人: Trudel, Simon
• 金额: $ 2.19万
• 依托单位: University of Calgary
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=709347
• 关键词: Inorganic; nanomaterials; Structure; properties; function

This research program's overarching goal is to develop insight into how structure and composition affect functional properties in simple solid-state inorganic primarily metal-oxide materials. This program targets systems with broadly-defined low dimensionality (e.g. nanomaterials with a physical size less than 100 nm; or materials in which local atomic order is greatly reduced beyond a few nanometers, i.e. amorphous materials). Functionality is always at the centre of our focus; useful catalytic, magnetic and/or optical functional properties are core to this program. Our group has shown that simple, low-cost amorphous metal-oxide coatings offer state-of the art performance for water splitting, an energy-storage method wherein water is split into O2 and H2 fuel, using renewable energy. A challenge in working with amorphous materials is the lack of a structural description, especially under active catalysis. Taking advantage of x-ray spectroscopic methods we will probe structure and oxidation states of materials in situ and in operando. Combined with electrochemical investigations, this will provide an unprecedented insight into how these complex yet simple catalysts function. A second stream of this research program compares how synthetic approaches to amorphous zinc oxide semiconductors influence their physical properties, with the aim of identifying champion methods to making semiconductors that are compatible with low-temperature processing. Finally, a third stream focuses on our recent efforts to develop high-performance iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) for use in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We have recently shown that maltol, a simple chelating molecule, can bind to the surface of IONPs. We will adapt the strategy we have taken thus far to form IONPs with different compositions to improve magnetic properties and / or toxicity, and create more intricate (e.g. core-shell) nanostructures. The end deliverable of these modifications is a capable MRI contrast agent with maximized solubility and shelf-life, minimized cytotoxicity and adverse biological effects, while at the same time maintaining or improving MRI capabilities. This research program develops the conceptual tools to further design next-generation functional nanoscaled materials that tackle grand-challenge problems, including clean-energy transformation and storage (water-splitting catalysis) and better, accessible health solutions for non-invasive diagnostics (MRI). We take a multidisciplinary approach to preparing and characterizing materials with state-of-the-art methods. The implications of this research program are far-reaching: e.g. the deeper understanding of the oxygen-evolution reaction can find application and benefit myriad industries where energy-intensive small-molecule transformations are required.

这项研究计划的首要目标是深入了解结构和组成如何影响简单固态无机材料的功能特性，主要是金属氧化物材料。该计划针对的是具有宽泛定义的低维系统(例如，物理尺寸小于100纳米的纳米材料；或者其局部原子序度大大降低超过几纳米的材料，即非晶态材料)。功能性始终是我们关注的中心；有用的催化、磁性和/或光学功能特性是该计划的核心。 我们的团队已经证明，简单、低成本的非晶态金属氧化物涂层为水的分解提供了最先进的性能，这是一种利用可再生能源将水分解为O2和H2燃料的储能方法。处理非晶态材料的一个挑战是缺乏结构描述，特别是在活性催化下。利用X射线能谱方法，我们将在原位和在操纵面上探测材料的结构和氧化状态。结合电化学研究，这将为这些复杂而简单的催化剂如何发挥作用提供前所未有的洞察力。这一研究计划的第二个流派比较了非晶态氧化锌半导体的合成方法如何影响其物理性能，目的是确定制造与低温加工兼容的半导体的主要方法。最后，第三个重点是我们最近在开发用于磁共振成像(MRI)的高性能氧化铁纳米颗粒(IONPs)方面的努力。我们最近发现，麦芽酚是一种简单的螯合分子，可以结合到IONPs的表面。我们将调整迄今采取的策略，形成不同组成的IONPs，以提高磁性和/或毒性，并创造更复杂的(例如，核-壳)纳米结构。这些修饰的最终产品是一种有能力的磁共振造影剂，具有最大的溶解度和保质期，最大限度地减少细胞毒性和不良生物影响，同时保持或改善磁共振成像能力。 这项研究计划开发了概念工具，以进一步设计下一代功能纳米材料，以解决重大挑战，包括清洁能源转换和存储(水分解催化)以及更好、更容易获得的非侵入性诊断(MRI)健康解决方案。我们采取多学科的方法，用最先进的方法来准备和表征材料。这一研究计划的意义是深远的：例如，加深对放氧反应的了解可以找到应用，并使需要能量密集型小分子转化的无数行业受益。