NIRT: Nanotube Based Structures for High Resolution Control of Thermal Transport

摘要提案编号：CTS-0404370主要研究者： 塞西莉亚·D Richards所属机构： 华盛顿州立大学提案标题：NIRT：基于纳米管的结构，用于热传输的高分辨率控制该提案是响应纳米尺度科学与工程倡议，NSF 03-043，类别NIRT而收到的。 这项工作的重点是使用混合规模的架构，从纳米级结构到微米级组件到毫米级器件和材料的桥梁规模。 我们建议将碳纳米管纳入到微尺度复合材料中，以创建一种新的中尺度器件，热开关。 然后将批量生产热开关阵列，以创建具有空间和时间可控的“数字”热导率的片材。 混合尺度架构可用于桥接从纳米到微米到毫米的尺度，以便制造其相关尺寸范围从纳米尺度到微米尺度到中尺度的材料和器件。 碳纳米管（CNT）本质上是一维混合尺度结构，直径在nm范围内，长度在mm范围内。我们利用103的纵横比将上级热性能和机械性能（由于CNT的纳米尺度直径）带到微米尺度组件（利用CNT的微米尺度长度）。 许多微机电系统（MEMS）也是固有的二维混合尺度结构，厚度在mm范围内，平面尺寸在mm范围内。我们利用这个103的纵横比，使上级热性能和机械性能的微尺度组件有效地使用在中尺度。碳纳米管将被合成，然后进行广泛的表征。 将模拟CNT的纳米级热和机械性能。然后将CNT组装成矩阵内的对齐阵列并形成微米级块。 然后将表征和建模对齐的CNT复合物块的热和机械性能。 最后，碳纳米管复合材料块将用于制造热开关器件的原型。教育计划的目标是本科生，代表性不足的群体，K-12和教师。这项工作将导致一个大型的农村研究机构和两个城市校区之间的强有力的互动，使来自广泛人口统计的学生更容易参与尖端的研究项目。 将创建用于表征纳米管组件的热机械响应的仪器，允许在这些领域进行未来的工作。 来自西北地区的高中教师将能够获得将纳米技术带回学校的工具，这有助于激励未来几代科学家和工程师。 该项目的研究将密切结合本科生和研究生，有助于促进研究融入各级教育，特别是在传统上科学和工程学代表性不足的群体中。 该研究由化学和运输系统部门的热运输和热处理计划资助。

AbstractProposal Number: CTS-0404370Principal Investigator: Cecilia D. RichardsAffiliation: Washington State UniversityProposal Title: NIRT: Nanotube based structures for high resolution control of thermal transportThis proposal was received in response to Nanoscale Science and Engineering initiative, NSF 03-043, category NIRT. The focus of this work is the use of mixed-scale architectures to bridge scales from nanometer level structures to micrometer level components to millimeter level devices and materials. We propose to incorporate carbon nanotubes into microscale composites to create a new kind of mesoscale device, a thermal switch. Arrays of thermal switches will then be produced in batch to create sheets with spatially and temporally controllable "digital" thermal conductivity. Mixed-scale architectures can be used to bridge scales from nanometers to micrometers to milimeters in order to manufacture materials and devices whose pertinent dimensions range from nanoscale to microscale to mesoscale. Carbon nanotubes (CNT's) are inherently one-dimensional mixed-scale structures, with diameters in the range of nm and lengths in the range of mm. We take advantage of this 103 aspect ratio to bring superior thermal and mechanical properties (due to the CNT's nanometer scale diameters), to micro-scale components (making use of the CNT's micrometer scale lengths). Many microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) are also inherently two-dimensional mixed-scale structures with thicknesses in the range of mm and planar dimensions in the range of mm. We take advantage of this 103 aspect ratio, to bring the superior thermal and mechanical properties of the micro-scale components to effective use on the meso-scale. Carbon nanotubes will be synthesized and then extensively characterized. The nanoscale thermal and mechanical properties of the CNT's will be modeled. The CNT's will then be assembled into aligned arrays within a matrix and formed into micron scale blocks. The thermal and mechanical properties of the aligned CNT composite blocks will then be characterized and modeled. Finally, the CNT composite blocks will be utilized to fabricate prototypes of thermal switch devices.The educational plan targets undergraduates, under represented groups, K-12, and teachers. This work will result in strong interactions between a large, rural research institution and two urban campuses, making it easier for students from a wide range of demographics to participate in cutting edge research projects. Instrumentation for characterizing thermo-mechanical responses of nanotube assemblies will be created, allowing future work to proceed in these areas. High school teachers from the Northwest will be able to get hands on tools to bring nanotechnology back to their schools, helping to motivate future generations of scientists and engineers. Research on this project will closely couple undergraduates and graduate students, helping to foster integrating research into all levels of education, particularly in groups traditionally under-represented from science and engineering. The research is being funded by the Thermal Transport and Thermal Processing Program of the Chemical and Transport Systems Division.