Nanophases and Nanofabrication

在这项研究计划中，阿拉斯加大学费尔班克斯分校的梁红教授试图开发一种新的、或许是革命性的纳米制造工艺，以产生纳米级的相--这是进一步扩大新兴纳米技术制造业的关键一步。这项计划有两个目标。第一个目标是开发纳米制造工艺，以产生纳米尺寸的相。第二个目标是了解机械刺激在小规模相形成和相变中的作用。主要的实验方法是使用原子力显微镜(AFM)进行机械刺激。梁教授将使用几种接触和扫描模式将元素从AFM尖端掺杂到衬底表面。随后将对掺杂表面进行热处理，以形成所需的相。原子力显微镜还将用于表面表征，以及X射线光电子能谱和高分辨率电子显微镜技术。我们将研究机械能和热处理工艺对结构-表面性能的影响。机械操纵技术的简单性和灵活性是纳米结构合成和表征的重要优势。在纳米加工、组装、纳米传感器以及MEMS和NEMS的开发方面的潜在应用是非常令人兴奋的。智力的价值还在于发展对一系列新现象和非平衡转变的科学理解。这些包括：纳米相的性质、纳米尺度的相变及其与材料的性能-性能关系。了解摩擦诱导的纳米相和相变将为表面科学和纳米结构材料的材料研究开辟新的领域。这项研究与教育活动相结合，包括正在进行的材料科学项目开发以及与阿拉斯加K-12和学校教师的接触。研究生和本科生都将参与这项研究。学生们将有机会探索最先进的制造技术。推广这种新技术并使其在当地社区引起公众的注意，是鼓励阿拉斯加小公司的第一步。这样的公司可以在该州创造更多的就业机会，并可能使阿拉斯加的技术基础设施变得更好。

In this research program, Professor Hong Liang at the University of Alaska Fairbanks seeks to develop a new and perhaps revolutionary nanofabrication process to generate nano-scale phases - a crucial step for further expansion of the fledgling nanotechnology manufacturing industry. There are two objectives in this program. The first objective is to develop nanofabrication processes to generate nanodimension phases. The second objective is to understand the role of mechanical stimulation on phase formation and transformation at small scale. The primary experimental approach is to use an atomic force microscope (AFM) to conduct mechanical stimulation. Professor Liang will use several contact and scanning modes to dope elements from an AFM tip to a substrate surface. The doped surfaces will be subsequently heat-treated to form desired phases. The AFM will also be used for surface characterization, along with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscope techniques. How structure-surface properties are impacted by the effects of mechanical energy and heat treatment processes will be studied. The simplicity and flexibility of the mechanical manipulation techniques is a significant advantage for synthesis and characterization of nano-structures. The potential applications in nanomachining, assembly, nanosensors, and development of MEMS and NEMS are extremely exciting. Intellectual merit also lies in developing scientific understanding of a series of new phenomena and non-equilibrium transformations. These include: properties of nanophases, nanoscale phase transformation, and their property-performance relationships with materials. Understanding friction-induced nanophases and phase transformation will open new areas of materials research in surface science and nanostructured materials. This research is integrated with education activities, including ongoing program development in Materials Science and outreach to Alaskan K-12 and schoolteachers. Both graduate and undergraduate level students will be involved in this research. Students will have an opportunity to explore the most advanced manufacturing technologies. Expanding such new technologies and bringing them to public attention in the local community is the first step to encouraging small companies in Alaska. Such companies can create more job opportunities in the state, and could change Alaska's technology infrastructure for the better.