Nanostructured materials: laser/plasma based synthesis, nanohybridization and integration into photoconversion devices

纳米结构材料：基于激光/等离子体的合成、纳米杂化和集成到光转换设备中

• 批准号: RGPIN-2022-04297
• 负责人: ElKhakani, MyAli
• 金额: $ 2.99万
• 依托单位: Institut national de la recherche scientifique
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=752656
• 关键词: Nanostructured; materials; laser; plasma; based

Nanostructured materials (NSMs) constitute a fertile research field for the design and development of novel forms of materials with highly attractive electrical, optical, electromagnetic and/or photocatalytic properties. Due to the nanometer size of their building blocks, the NSMs often exhibit new and unprecedented properties that generally depend on the way they are built or assembled. At the nanoscale, there is plenty of room to decorate the surface of materials with nanoparticles, leading thereby to the formation of new nanohybrids (NHs) which hold the promise of revolutionizing different technologies. My Research program aims at better understanding the fundamental processes governing the world of NSMs/NHs and how the latter react upon their exposure to sunlight or to ultrafast laser pulses. Such knowledge is essential to develop highly innovative and potentially disruptive technologies in different sectors of importance to Canada. These include advanced solar cells, ultrasensitive photodetectors, reliable THz sources, and high-surface-area photoanodes for water decontamination. In my research group, we use powerful laser/plasma tools to decompose (at the atomic/molecular level) solid (or gaseous) matter, under controlled experimental conditions, with the intent to guide its re-formation into a novel nanostructured form, which would potentially exhibit new properties. Once formed, we have the required expertise to probe the nanostructure and properties of these NSMs/NHs by using the most sophisticated material characterization tools. The ultimate objective of my research program is to capitalize on the discovered new properties of the NSMs/NHs by integrating them into innovative devices. By capitalizing on my expertise and successful research achievements, I will continue to lead an ambitious research program of which specific objectives are: (i)to develop laser/plasma based processes for the controlled synthesis of both (a) novel NSMs/NHs consisting of one-dimensional materials (e.g. carbon nanotubes, silicon nanowires) locally decorated with appropriate metallic or semiconducting nanoparticles, and (b) nanostructured films of MoS2, Ge and Magnéli-phase Ti4O7 intended to photoconversion, photosensing, photoemitting and photocatalytic applications, respectively; (ii)to study the nanostructure and physical properties of these NSMs/NHs in order to discover relationships between their photoelectronic response and their nanostructural characteristics. This will enable the exploitation of the full potential of these NSMs/NHs into highly-efficient photoactive devices; (iii)to leverage the results of this upstream research to develop partnerships with Canadian industries; and most importantly (iv)to continue providing high-quality training to HQP in strategic areas (e.g., advanced photovoltaics, optoelectronics, THz technology, innovative water sanitation) that will fuel up Canada's economy and strengthen its international competitiveness.

纳米结构材料（NSMs）构成了设计和开发具有高度吸引力的电、光、电磁和/或光催化性质的新型材料的肥沃的研究领域。由于其构建块的纳米尺寸，NSM通常表现出新的和前所未有的特性，这些特性通常取决于它们的构建或组装方式。在纳米尺度上，有足够的空间用纳米颗粒装饰材料的表面，从而导致形成新的纳米混合物（NH），这有望彻底改变不同的技术。我的研究计划旨在更好地了解NSM/NH世界的基本过程，以及后者在暴露于阳光或超快激光脉冲时的反应。这些知识对于在加拿大重要的不同部门开发高度创新和潜在破坏性技术至关重要。这些包括先进的太阳能电池，超灵敏的光电探测器，可靠的THz源和用于水净化的高表面积光阳极。在我的研究小组中，我们使用强大的激光/等离子体工具在受控的实验条件下分解（在原子/分子水平上）固体（或气体）物质，目的是引导其重新形成一种新的纳米结构形式，这可能会表现出新的特性。一旦形成，我们就拥有所需的专业知识，通过使用最先进的材料表征工具来探测这些NSM/NH的纳米结构和特性。我的研究计划的最终目标是通过将它们集成到创新设备中来利用NSMs/NH的新特性。通过利用我的专业知识和成功的研究成果，我将继续领导一个雄心勃勃的研究计划，其具体目标是：（i）开发基于激光/等离子体的工艺，用于（a）由一维材料组成的新型NSM/NH，（例如，碳纳米管、硅纳米线）局部装饰有适当的金属或半导体纳米颗粒，和（B）分别用于光转换、光传感、光发射和光催化应用的MoS 2、Ge和Magnéli相Ti4 O 7的纳米结构膜;（ii）研究这些NSM/NH的纳米结构和物理性质，以发现它们的光电响应与它们的纳米结构特性之间的关系。这将使这些NSM/NH的全部潜力能够开发成高效的光敏器件;（iii）利用这一上游研究的结果与加拿大工业发展伙伴关系;最重要的是（iv）继续在战略领域（例如，先进的光电子学、光电子学、太赫兹技术、创新的水卫生设施），这将推动加拿大的经济发展，增强其国际竞争力。