Collaborative Research: Exploration of Graphene-Nanocrystal Metamaterials

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。本奖项的研究目标是推进石墨烯-纳米晶体超材料或石墨烯-纳米晶体混合结构的制造、基本理解和器件应用，即表面具有离散纳米晶体装饰的石墨烯片。具体任务包括超材料的实验和理论表征，特别是纳米晶体和石墨烯片在各种外部刺激下的电子和物理相互作用；研究低成本和大规模制造这类材料的方法；以及探索它们在气体传感器中的应用。可负担的混合纳米结构的可用性及其基本特性将为纳米科学和纳米技术开辟新的机会，并加速发现和发明。纳米晶体和石墨烯的协同反应可以用于各种创新设备的应用，包括气体传感器、生物传感器和光伏电池。如果成功，该项目的成果将使石墨烯纳米晶体超材料的广泛创新应用成为可能，这些材料具有可针对特定条件量身定制的最佳性能。这种新型传感器将在环境监测中具有吸引力，并直接造福于社会。该项目将对石墨烯工程和应用领域的研究生和本科生进行培训，并将通过混合纳米结构的课程模块，将小型纳米技术项目整合到UWM和UT的现有课程中，以及培训科学教师，让更广泛的学生群体受益。通过“科学星期六”的额外努力将用于吸引更多代表性不足的学生进入STEM领域。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5). The research objective of this award is to advance the manufacture, the fundamental understanding, and the device application of graphene-nanocrystal metamaterials or hybrid graphene-nanocrystal structures, i.e., graphene sheets with discrete nanocrystals decorations on their surfaces. Specific tasks to be performed include experimental and theoretical characterization of the metamaterials, particularly electronic and physical interactions between nanocrystals and graphene sheets with various external stimuli; investigation of methods for low-cost and large-scale manufacturing of such materials; and exploration of their use for gas sensors. The availability of affordable hybrid nanostructures and their fundamental properties will open up new opportunities for nanoscience and nanotechnology and accelerate discoveries and inventions. The synergistic response from the nanocrystal and the graphene can be harnessed for various innovative device applications, including gas sensors, biosensors, and photovoltaic cells. If successful, the project results will enable a wide range of innovative applications of graphene-nanocrystal metamaterials with optimal properties that can be tailored for specific conditions. The new sensor to be demonstrated will be attractive for environmental monitoring and directly benefit society. The project will train both graduate and undergraduate students in areas of graphene engineering and applications, and will reach the broader student population through a course module on hybrid nanostructures, integration of small nanotechnology projects into existing curricula at both UWM and UT, and training of science teachers. Additional efforts through "Science Saturdays" will be used to attract more underrepresented students to STEM fields.