Quantitative Structure-Property Relationships in Insulator-Conductor Composites

非技术描述：设计和开发一种方法，用于监测均匀性、质量控制、环境降解、机械降解和多组分材料的传感能力。多组分材料用于许多电子、结构和化学应用。例子包括生物传感器、高能存储超级电容器、燃料电池以及用于空中和太空飞行器的高温部件。从纳米尺度到宏观尺度，了解底层结构对最终性能的影响，可以为未来设计更好的传感器和更准确的结构部件寿命评估提供指导。在这些新的尖端技术方面对学生进行培训，将使他们成为负责任的公民，能够最大限度地为我们国家的福利做出贡献。技术细节：阻抗谱是一种交流电技术，可以同时检测多种机制，它将被用作原子力显微镜上的扫描探针。由填充不同尺寸和形状的导电颗粒的绝缘基体组成的复合材料将逐点表征，从而生成二维和三维完整的频率电图，可以与地形图像进行比较。将进行平面内和平面外测量。局部测量的总和将与整体测量进行比较，从而首次提供直接比较微观结构和控制电响应的机会，并允许基于微观结构的电模型的开发。额外的支持微观结构定量将收集使用各种互补技术。该项目将培养至少从本科到博士水平的学生。研究经费将用于研究生奖学金，并在夏季接待来自其他校园项目的学生。

NON-TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION:Design and development of a method for monitoring homogeneity, quality control, environmental degradation, mechanical degradation and sensing capability of multicomponent materials. Multicomponent materials are used in many electronic, structural and chemical applications. Examples include biosensors, high-energy storage super-capacitors, fuel cells as well as high temperature components for air and space vehicles. Understanding the effect of the underlying structure on the resultant performance, from the nanoscale to the macroscopic scale, may serve as a guide for future design of better sensors and more accurate life assessment of structural components in the future. Training of students in these new cutting edge technologies will prepare them to become responsible citizens who can maximize their contributions for the welfare of our nation.TECHNICAL DETAILS:Impedance spectroscopy, an alternating current technique that can detect several mechanisms at once, will be used as a scanning probe on an atomic force microscope. Composites comprising of an insulating matrix filled with conducting particles of different size and shape will be characterized point by point so as to generate 2D and 3D complete frequency electrical maps that can be compared with topographical images. Both in plane and out of plane measurements will be carried out. Summation of the localized measurements will be compared to bulk measurements thus providing for the first time the opportunity to compare the microstructure and the controlling electrical response directly and permit development of microstructure-based electrical models. Additional supporting microstructural quantification will be collected using a variety of complementary techniques. This project will train at least students from the undergraduate to doctoral level. Research funds will be leveraged with graduate fellowships and by hosting students over the summer months from other on-campus programs.