CAREER: Nanowire Interfaces for Increased Strength and Multifunctionality

这个职业研究和教育计划的目标是研究一种新的陶瓷ZnO纳米线界面最近由PI确定，以研究纳米线界面对纤维增强复合材料的机械和多功能性能的作用。 这项基础研究将发展一种理论，定义从纳米线界面到宏观响应的属性的翻译，并表征界面的失效机制。 实验和理论分析将被用来研究界面的结构-性能关系及其对材料的影响？的机械和功能反应。 这项研究的智力价值超出了碳纤维复合材料，具有潜在的科学发现，可应用于连续和不连续的纤维增强金属和陶瓷基复合材料。 这一努力也可能导致新的方法，用于功能分级其他接口，如那些发现在假肢和生物植入物，导致新的生物灵感的接口，很少表现出离散的边界之间的两种材料的巨大不同的机械性能。 在界面具有活性纳米级夹杂物的复合系统建模方面的根本性进展将得以实现，从而导致这项技术的未来应用，从自我监控的生物植入物到能量收集结构。该职业计划的教育部分旨在将将艺术研究引入课堂，并通过针对中学到研究生水平的学生，加强工程招聘和保留。一个家庭工程之夜（FEN）已计划将包括亚利桑那州立大学本科生从四个少数民族学生团体，在纳米和多尺度复合材料的研究驱动的课程，并继续一个强大的本科研究计划。其目的是加强招聘和留住工程师，包括少数民族和代表性不足的群体，并激励学生致力于终身学习和持续参与科学和工程领域。

The objective of this CAREER research and education plan is to study a novel ceramic ZnO nanowire interface recently identified by the PI to study the role of a nanowire interphase on the mechanical and multifunctional properties of a fiber reinforced composite. This fundamental study will develop a theory defining the translation of the properties from the nanowire interface to the macroscopic response and characterize the failure mechanism of the interface. Both experimental and theoretical analyses will be employed to study the structure-property relationships of the interface and their influence on the material?s mechanical and functional response. The intellectual merit of this research extends beyond carbon fiber composites with potential scientific findings that can be applied to continuous and discontinuous fiber reinforced metal and ceramic matrix composites. The effort may also lead to new methods for functionally grading other interfaces such as those found in prosthetics and biological implants leading to new biologically inspired interfaces which rarely exhibit discrete boundaries between two materials of vastly different mechanical properties. Fundamental advances in the modeling of composite systems with active nanoscale inclusions in the interphase will be accomplished, resulting in future applications of this technology, ranging from self-monitoring biological implants to energy harvesting structures.The educational component of this CAREER plan is designed to transfer state-of-the-art research to the classroom and enhance engineering recruitment and retention by targeting students from middle school to graduate level. A Family Engineering Night (FEN) has been planned which will incorporate ASU undergraduates from four minority student groups, a research-driven course in nano and multi-scale composites, and the continuation of a strong undergraduate research program. The purpose is to enhance recruitment and retention of engineers, including minorities and underrepresented groups, and motivate students to commit to a life-long process of learning and sustained involvement in science and engineering fields.