EAGER: Preparation of Free Standing Quasicrystalline Nanoparticles

技术概述：这个EAGER项目旨在通过化学和电化学方法从适当退火的锆基非晶合金中获得独立的准晶纳米颗粒。已知在某些锆基非晶合金的初始结晶过程中会析出亚稳准晶纳米颗粒。这些颗粒嵌入在非晶基体中，在进一步退火后转变为稳定的结晶相。沉淀颗粒的大小从几纳米到100纳米不等。这些纳米颗粒将通过化学和电化学方法从非晶基质中分离出来。准晶纳米颗粒的析出已被证实的zr基非晶合金，将被化学或电化学蚀刻。非晶基质会被优先去除，使纳米颗粒落入溶液中，然后通过过滤将其回收。对实验条件进行优化。由于其缩小的尺寸和独特的原子构型，富锆粒子有望表现出新的性能。非技术总结：在本项目中合成的颗粒代表了一类新的材料，对基础研究和潜在的医学应用或作为储氢材料都有兴趣。由于其纳米尺寸，这些纳米颗粒的性质预计将不同于正常的晶体和/或非晶态对应物。本项目的成功可以刺激对这种粒子的需求，用于商业开发或与其他领域的研究人员开展联合项目。目前的项目将对Clarion大学的教学和研究活动产生重大影响，并将激发附近机构对纳米技术的兴趣。四名本科生将在不同阶段参与该项目，为在以教学为主的大学环境中解决现实问题提供宝贵的机会。除了在同行评议的期刊上发表论文和在专业会议上发表报告外，研究结果还将在纳米技术课程和全校范围的系列研讨会上介绍。克莱里昂大学与当地的中学和高中有着非常密切的关系。这个项目的成果将会介绍给这些学校的老师和学生。本项目的首席研究员是宾夕法尼亚州立大学国家科学基金会纳米技术应用和职业知识（NACK）中心的活跃成员。该项目的结果也将传达给NACK中心。

TECHNICAL SUMMARY: This EAGER project is aimed at obtaining free standing quasicrystalline nanoparticles from properly annealed Zirconium-based amorphous alloys through chemical and electrochemical approaches. It is known that metastable quasicrystalline nanoparticles precipitate during the initial crystallization of some Zr-based amorphous alloys. These particles are embedded in the amorphous matrix and transform to stable crystalline phases upon further annealing. The size of the precipitated particles ranges from several to a 100 nanometers. The separation of these nanoparticles from the amorphous matrix will be carried out by chemical and electrochemical approaches. A Zr-based amorphous alloy, in which the precipitation of quasicrystalline nanoparticles has been confirmed, will be either etched chemically or electrochemically. The amorphous matrix will be removed preferentially, enabling the nanoparticles to fall into the solution, after which they will be recovered through filtering. The experimental conditions will be optimized. Due to their reduced sizes and unique atomic configurations, the Zr-rich particles are expected to exhibit novel properties.NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: The particles synthesized in the present project represent a new class of material and are of interest for both fundamental studies and potential medicinal applications or as hydrogen storage materials. The properties of these nanoparticles are expected to differ from their normal crystalline and/or amorphous counterparts because of their nanometer size. The success of the present project could stimulate the demand for such particles for commercial exploitation or for the initiation of joint projects with researchers in other fields. The present project will have a significant impact on the teaching and research activities at Clarion University and will stimulate interest in nanotechnology in nearby institutions. Four undergraduate students will be involved in this project at different stages, providing valuable opportunities to work on real-world problems within the environment of a predominantly teaching university. In addition to publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at professional meetings, the results will be introduced in a nanotechnology course and in a campus-wide seminar series. Clarion University has a very close relationship with local middle and high schools. The results of this project will be introduced to teachers and students in these schools. The principal investigator of the present project is an active member of the National Science Foundation's Nanotechnology Application and Career Knowledge (NACK) Center at Pennsylvania State University. The results of this project will also be communicated to the NACK Center.