Macroscopic Electronic and Electrochemical Properties of Networks of Purified SWNTs

这个奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案(公法111-5)资助的。本项目将探索一种新的方法来制备大规模有序的单壁碳纳米管阵列(SWNTs)。其目的是通过以下几个方面加强对纳米材料性质的理解：1)研究一种温和的提纯单壁碳纳米管的技术，2)研究单壁碳纳米管网络的电学应用，3)研究单壁碳纳米管密度对电化学响应的影响。SWNT沉积方法包括从水悬浮液中形成电连续的SWNT阵列。由于溶液沉积过程将生长过程(在~800℃下发生)与沉积过程(在室温下发生)分离，因此有望获得一个主要优势。这允许对材料进行提纯以去除残留杂质，以及使用热敏衬底，从而增加了潜在的应用领域。非技术性。该项目涉及具有技术相关性的电子/光子材料科学专题领域的基础研究问题。将单壁碳纳米管结合到可制造的电子设备中的一个主要障碍是缺乏形成低密度排列的单壁碳纳米管阵列的低温沉积方法。这一努力提供了一条将分子水平系统整合到电子系统中的途径，这些电子系统在柔性电子学和光电子学中有直接应用。这项研究还将提供一个极好的机会，向广泛的民众传授纳米科学研究的基本方面。教学和研究的结合将涉及在小学、高中、本科生和研究生层面的推广。PI得到了由NSF资助的桃州路易斯·斯托克斯少数民族参与联盟(PSLAMP)计划执行的教学和男子训练的支持。此外，PI最近还向这所大学招收了两名非裔美国女研究生。研究机会通过NSF资助的暑期本科生研究计划(SURP)扩展到亚特兰大附近历史悠久的黑人大学的本科生。本科生和研究生研究人员将在这个项目上共同工作，体验和培养团队合作技能。

"This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5)."Technical. This project will explore a novel method for deposition of large-scale ordered arrays of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). The aim is to enhance current understanding of the properties of nanomaterials by: 1) investigating a mild technique for purification of SWNTs, 2) investigating the electrical applications of SWNT networks, and 3) studying the effect of SWNT density on electrochemical response. The SWNT deposition method involves formation of electrically continuous SWNT arrays from aqueous suspensions. A major advantage is expected since solution deposition processes decouple the growth process (which occurs at ~800C) from the deposition process (which occurs at room temperature). This allows purification of the material to remove residual impurities, as well as the use of heat sensitive substrates, presenting an increased area of potential applications. Non-Technical. The project addresses fundamental research issues in a topical area of electronic/photonic materials science having technological relevance. A major impediment to the incorporation of SWNTs into manufacturable electronic devices is the lack of low-temperature deposition methods for the formation of low-density arrays of aligned SWNTs. This effort provides a route to incorporation of molecular level systems into electronic systems that have direct applications in flexible electronics and optoelectronics. This research will also provide an excel-lent opportunity to teach the fundamental aspects of nanoscience investigations to a broad range of the populace. Integration of teaching and research will involve outreach at the elementary-, high school-, undergraduate- and graduate-level. The PI receives support for teaching and men-toring performed with the NSF-funded Peach State Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (PSLAMP) program. Further, the PI has recently recruited two African American female graduate students to this university. Research opportunities are extended to undergraduate stu-dents at nearby historically black colleges in Atlanta through the NSF-funded Summer Under-graduate Research Program (SURP) program. Undergraduate and graduate researchers will work together on this project, experiencing and building teamwork skills.