RUI: Electrostatic Generation and Characterization of Conducting Polymer Nanofibers: Motivating Undergraduate Students towards Research in Materials Science

该建议提出了一种简单的技术，可控和可重复地生产导电聚合物的超细纤维。 将研究使用这种技术（静电纺丝）控制纤维直径的许多因素（如溶剂粘度），以便可以制备平均直径为100 nm（1 nm = 10 - 9 m）的纤维。 静电纺丝涉及高压源、金属阴极收集器和具有待静电纺丝的聚合物溶液的玻璃移液管。 单根光纤将被捕获在重掺杂的氧化硅涂层晶片上。 用光学显微镜、扫描电子显微镜、透射电子显微镜和原子力显微镜研究表面形态。 纤维直径和可能的聚合物链排列将使用这些方法进行研究。 单根纤维也将通过直流和交流电导率测量作为温度的函数进行电特性分析。 PI将研究这些纳米纤维中的传导机制如何不同于散装的传导机制，并可以深入了解导致电荷离域的链间耦合的重要性。 最后，将研究光纤，以检查直流电导率是否会受到施加电压到重掺杂硅的影响。 目的是探索基于场效应制造纳米器件的可能性，如纳米电子p.n结，肖特基结或场效应晶体管（FET）。这个材料研究项目旨在帮助学术界代表性不足的学生在本科期间参与科学研究。 本提案所要求的设备将加强机构基础设施，并对改善该岛东南部的研究设施产生更广泛的影响。

This proposal presents a simple technique to controllably and reproducibly produce ultrafine fibers of conducting polymers. Many factors that control fiber diameter (like solvent viscosity) using this technique (electrospinning) will be investigated so that fibers with average diameters 100 nm (1 nm = 10 -9 m) can be prepared. Electrospinning involves a high voltage source, a metal cathode collector and a glass pipette with the polymer solution to be electrospun. Single fibers will be captured on heavily doped silicon oxide coated wafers. The surface morphology will be studied with an optical microscope, a scanning electron microscope, a transmission electron microscope and an atomic force microscope. Fiber diameters and possible polymer chain alignment will be studied using these methods. Single fibers will also be characterized electrically via dc and ac conductivity measurements as a function of temperature. The PI's will study how the conduction mechanisms in these nanofibers differ from that in the bulk and could provide insights into the importance of interchain coupling that lead to charge delocalization. Finally, the fibers will be studied to check if the dc conductivity can be affected by applying a voltage to the heavily doped silicon. The purpose is to explore the possibility of fabricating nanodevices based on field effects, like nanoelectronic p.n junctions, Schottky junctions or field effect transistors (FET's).%%%This project in materials research is directed at helping underrepresented students in academia to participate in scientific research during their undergraduate years. The equipment requested in this proposal will strengthen the institutional infrastructure and also have a broader impact of improving the research facilities on the South-East part of the island.