Scalable Self-Assembly of Colloidal Nanoparticles

该研究项目旨在发展对强大的纳米制造技术的基本理解，该技术将自底向上自组装的简单性和成本效益与自顶向下微制造的可扩展性和兼容性相结合。粒径小于100纳米的胶体纳米粒子的自发组织对于开发具有前所未有的电子、光学、磁性和机械性能的实用装置具有重要的科学意义和技术重要性。该研究有三个目标：(1)阐明在简单的自旋涂覆过程中不寻常的非紧密排列纳米颗粒组装的基本机制；(2)组装铁磁性纳米颗粒阵列用于超高密度磁记录；(3)利用周期性金属纳米结构开发超灵敏的化学和生物传感器。如果成功，这项工作将导致从磁性记录介质到生物传感器等广泛领域的重大突破。胶体纳米颗粒的可扩展组装将推动许多其他领域的发展，从高效太阳能电池到生物微分析，在这些领域中，大面积周期性纳米结构的创建是重要的。紧密结合的教育计划侧重于发展几项外展活动，以教育K-12学生以及公众迷人的仿生学和自下而上的纳米制造。佛罗里达自然历史博物馆的“蝴蝶雨林中心”将创建一个教育展览，以传播在大闪蝶翅膀和蝴蝶眼睛上发现的迷人的纳米结构和相关的独特功能，以及如何使用纳米粒子自组装来模拟这些纳米结构涂层。将通过大学的成功项目寻求来自代表性不足群体的高中生直接参与研究项目。

This research project aims to develop fundamental understanding of a robust nanomanufacturing technology that combines the simplicity and cost benefits of bottom-up self-assembly with the scalability and compatibility of top-down microfabrication. Spontaneous organization of colloidal nanoparticles with diameter smaller than 100 nm is of great scientific interest and considerable technological importance in developing practical devices with unprecedented electronic, optical, magnetic, and mechanical properties. The research has three objectives: (1) elucidate the basic mechanisms by which unusual nonclose-packed nanoparticle assemblies form during a simple spin-coating process, (2) assemble ferromagnetic nanoparticle arrays for ultra-high density magnetic recording, and (3) develop ultra-sensitive chemical and biological sensors by using periodic metallic nanostructures.If successful, this work will lead to significant breakthroughs in a wide spectrum of fields ranging from magnetic recording media to biosensors. The scalable assembly of colloidal nanoparticles will advance many other areas not covered by this proposal ranging from highly efficient solar cells to bio-microanalysis, where the creation of large-area periodic nanostructures is important. The closely integrated educational plan focuses on developing several outreach activities to educate K-12 students as well as general public on fascinating biomimetics and bottom-up nanomanufacturing. An educational display for the Florida Museum of Natural History's "Butterfly Rainforest Center" will be created to disseminate the fascinating nanostructures and the associated unique functionalities found on morpho butterfly wings and butterfly eyes, along with how to mimic these nanostructured coatings using nanoparticle self-assembly. Direct participation of high school students from underrepresented groups in the research program will be sought through a successful program at the university.