Collaborative Research: Large-Scale Fabrication of Thin Polymer Nanocomposite Films

合作研究：薄聚合物纳米复合膜的大规模制造PI：霍华德王（纽约州立大学宾厄姆顿分校）和Cheol Park（NIA）摘要本研究的目的是调查与柔性塑料基板上的功能聚合物纳米复合膜（PNF）的大规模制造相关的基本材料加工问题。 特别地，将探索狭缝模头涂布（SDC）方法，因为SDC是用于从液体悬浮液精确涂布高质量膜的少数工业工艺之一，并且与卷对卷（R2 R）制造兼容。更具体地说，该研究将调查使用两种代表性材料系统涂覆PNF的挑战和可能的解决方案：（1）含有单壁碳纳米管的聚酰亚胺，（2）Pd纳米颗粒/聚碳酸酯复合材料。 这种用于这些新功能纳米材料的大规模SDC从未尝试过，并且还提出了创新的外场（电或磁）诱导的形态改变。 随着更好地了解纳米胶体/聚合物溶液和薄膜中的分散和亚稳态，将研究控制平衡，亚稳态和非平衡结构的技术上有意义的方法，从而获得最佳的器件性能。此外，还将通过受控的紫外线辐射和各种材料表征技术研究PNF的降解和纳米材料向环境中的释放。如果成功，这个合作项目将对纳米技术和柔性电子新兴行业的更广泛材料挑战产生深远影响。特别是，（1）将解决大规模制造PNF的关键科学和技术问题，例如复杂流体的结构和动力学及其对流场和力场的响应;（2）将获得对由于复杂流体和PNF中的竞争热力学/动力学驱动力而产生的非平衡和亚稳态结构的新理解和更好的控制;（3）将建立一个加工/形态/性质/性能数据库，作为材料信息学工作的一部分，这将使本构方程和计算流体动力学模型的开发成为可能;（4）将评估PNF的降解和环境影响。该项目将在BU？的NSF资助的本科纳米技术教育计划？制造柔性电子产品的纳米技术？，并参加Go绿色研究所，该研究所涉及来自纽约州南部15个学区的中学生和教师。通过介绍纳米技术和柔性电子的基础知识，包括少数民族和代表性不足的初中和高中学生，并为他们提供机会，以获得在当地电子和材料公司的真实的工业环境中的实践经验，该计划旨在帮助所有背景的学生利用纳米技术和柔性电子的智力，职业和商业前景。

Collaborative Research: Large-Scale Fabrication of Thin Polymer Nanocomposite FilmsPI: Howard Wang (SUNY Binghamton) and Cheol Park (NIA)Abstract The objective of this research is to investigate fundamental materials processing issues associated with the large-scale fabrication of functional polymer nanocomposite films (PNFs) on flexible plastic substrates. Particularly, slot die coating (SDC) methods will be explored since SDC is one of a few industrial processes for precisely coating high quality films from liquid suspensions, and is compatible with roll-to-roll (R2R) manufacturing. More specifically, the research will investigate the challenges and possible solutions in coating PNFs using two representative materials systems: (1) polyimide containing single walled carbon nanotubes, (2) Pd-nanoparticle/polycarbonate composites. This large-scale SDC for these new functional nanomaterials has never been attempted and innovative external field (electrical or magnetic) induced morphology alteration is also proposed. With better understanding the dispersion and metastability in nanocolloid/polymer solutions and films, technologically meaningful methods to control equilibrium, metastable and non-equilibrium structures that lead to optimum device performance will be investigated. Furthermore, the degradation of the PNFs and the release of nanomaterials into the environment will be investigated by controlled UV radiation and through various materials characterization techniques. If successful, this collaborative project will have a profound impact on broader materials challenges in the emerging industry of nanotechnology and flexible electronics. Particularly, (1) critical scientific and technological issues in large-scale fabrication of PNFs, such as the structure and dynamics of complex fluids and their responses to flow and force fields, will be addressed; (2) new understanding and better control of non-equilibrium and metastable structures arising due to the competing thermodynamic/dynamic driving forces in complex fluids and PNFs will be obtained; (3) a processing/morphology/property/performance database will be constructed as a part of materials informatics effort that will enable the development of constitutive equations and computational fluid dynamics models; and (4) the degradation and environmental impact of PNFs will be assessed. This project will engage in the BU?s NSF-funded undergraduate nanotechnology education program in ?Nanotechnology for Manufacturing Flexible Electronics?, and participate in the Go Green Institute which involves middle school students and teachers from 15 school districts in the southern tier of New York State. By introducing the basics of nanotechnology and flexible electronics to middle and high school students including minority and underrepresented ones, and providing the opportunity for them to gain hands-on experiences in real industrial settings in local electronics and materials companies, this program intends to help students of all backgrounds to capitalize on intellectual, career and commercial promises of nanotechnology and flexible electronics.