Preparation, Characterization, and Application of Monodisperse Carbon-Based Nanomaterials

技术：碳基纳米材料，包括单壁碳纳米管(SWNTs)、双壁碳纳米管(DWNTs)、多壁碳纳米管(MWNTs)和石墨烯，因其优异的电子、热、机械和化学性能而引起了科学界的极大兴趣。尽管在选定的样品上取得了令人印象深刻的表现，但合成的碳基纳米材料的结构不均一性阻碍了大规模技术的发展。为了克服这种多分散性问题，一种称为密度梯度超速离心法的技术被用来根据碳基纳米材料的物理结构和电子结构对其进行分类。该项目旨在解决围绕单分散碳基纳米材料的制备、表征和应用的悬而未决的问题。具体的研究目标包括：(1)调整助表面活性剂的比例和负载量，以获得单分散的小直径(1 Nm)单壁碳纳米管，因为它们具有近红外光电子应用的光谱优势。(2)证明了多壁碳纳米管的直径和电子型分类，以期阐明激子在同心碳纳米管壳之间的能量转移。(3)定量研究了表面活性剂分散石墨烯的结构-密度随表面活性剂种类、助表面活性剂比例、密度梯度和pH的变化关系。(4)在电子设备和材料应用中使用单分散碳基纳米材料，如晶体管、光电子学、透明导体和传感器。非技术性：该项目解决材料科学中具有高度技术相关性的热门领域的基础研究问题。预计这项研究将带来大量的知识产权和商业化机会。此外，该项目的一个重要组成部分是教育和推广计划，该计划与上述研究目标很好地结合在一起，其中包括：(1)通过修订和更新一门名为“纳米材料”的跨学科课程，制定本科课程。(2)与材料世界模块项目合作，为预科学生开发基于动手、探究和设计的课程。(3)通过西北大学科学政策行动网，让学生和公众了解科学和科学政策。

Technical: Carbon-based nanomaterials, including single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWNTs), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs), and graphene, have attracted significant interest in the scientific research community due to their superlative electronic, thermal, mechanical, and chemical properties. While impressive performance has been achieved on selected samples, large-scale technological development has been hindered by the structural inhomogeneity of as-synthesized carbon-based nanomaterials. In an effort to overcome this polydispersity problem, a technique called density gradient ultracentrifugation is employed to sort carbon-based nanomaterials by their physical and electronic structure. This project seeks to resolve the outstanding issues surrounding the preparation, characterization, and application of monodisperse carbon-based nanomaterials. Specific research objectives include: (1) Tuning co-surfactant ratio and loading to achieve monodisperse small diameter ( 1 nm) SWNTs due to their spectral advantages for near-infrared optoelectronic applications. (2) Demonstrating diameter and electronic type sorting of DWNTs in an effort to elucidate exciton energy transfer between concentric carbon nanotube shells. (3) Quantifying structure-density relationship for surfactant dispersed graphene as a function of surfactant type, co-surfactant ratio, density gradient, and pH. (4) Employing monodisperse carbon-based nanomaterials in electronic device and materials applications such as transistors, optoelectronics, transparent conductors, and sensors.Non-technical: The project addresses basic research issues in a topical area of materials science with high technological relevance. It is anticipated that this research will lead to substantial intellectual property and commercialization opportunities. Furthermore, an important component of the project is an education and outreach plan that is well integrated with the aforementioned research objectives including: (1) Undergraduate curriculum development through a revision and updating of an interdisciplinary course entitled Nanomaterials. (2) Hands-on, inquiry and design-based curriculum development for pre-college students in collaboration with the Materials World Modules program. (3) Engaging students and the general public about science and science policy via the Northwestern University Science Policy Action Network.