NIRT: Template-Constrained Magnetic Nano-materials: Synthesis and Characterization

该提案是应“纳米科学与工程”（NSF 01-157）的要求提交的。该项目旨在建立一个跨学科的研究和培训团队，以：1）合成和表征通过蛋白质笼内生物矿化制备的尺寸从5到24纳米的单分散颗粒; 2）将磁性颗粒组装成微米尺寸的二维阵列，并表征组装体的物理结构和磁性; 3）组装和表征由磁性不同的纳米颗粒的二元混合物形成的随机和有序的二维阵列; 4）通过结合化学交联和自旋耦合调制器以控制粒子间磁相互作用来微调这些组件的磁性质。对颗粒特性和颗粒间相互作用的精确控制将在重要领域提供直接应用，例如上级性能磁存储器、传感器和超高速器件架构。使用最先进的综合和多面表征的跨学科研究计划对教育产生的更广泛的影响将是显着的。超高速电子器件和超密度存储器的持续发展需要合成、开发和使用新的磁性材料作为上级性能的磁性存储器、传感器和器件。这项研究的跨学科性质，包含病毒学，微生物学，物理学和化学的元素，不仅将为信息技术的重大进步提供新的磁性材料，它还将为未来的科学家和工程师提供一个极好的培训环境，在许多其他纳米技术领域的高度优先工业和国家安全。该项目由材料研究部、化学部和生物基础设施部联合支持。

This proposal was submitted in response to the solicitation "Nanoscale Science and Engineering" (NSF 01-157). The project aims to establish an interdisciplinary research and training team to:1) synthesize and characterize mono-disperse particles ranging in size from 5 to 24 nanometers prepared by biomineralization within protein cages; 2) to assemble the magnetic particles in two-dimensional arrays of micron size and characterize the physical structure and magnetic properties of the assemblies; 3) assemble and characterize random and ordered two-dimensional arrays formed from binary mixtures of magnetically distinct nanoparticles; 4) fine tune the magnetic properties of these assemblies by incorporating chemical cross-links and spin-coupling modulators to control inter-particle magnetic interactions. The precise control of both particulate properties and inter-particulate interactions will provide for immediate applications in important areas such as superior performance magnetic memory, sensors, and ultra-high speed device architectures. The broader impacts on education resulting from an interdisciplinary research program using state-of-the-art synthesis and multi-facetted characterization will be significant. Continued advances in ultra-high speed electronics and super dense memory requires the synthesis, development and use of new magnetic materials as superior performance magnetic memory, sensors, and devices. The interdisciplinary nature of this research, containing elements of virology, microbiology, physics, and chemistry, will not only provide new magnetic materials for significant advances in the information technologies, it will also provide a superb training environment for future scientists and engineers in many other nanotechnology areas of high priority to industry and national security. The project is jointly supported by the Division of Materials Research, the Chemistry Division, and the Division of Biological Infrastructure.