Mechanics of Nanoporous Metal Foams

该奖项的研究目标是通过纳米机械测试，通过实验研究内部几何形状对纳米多孔金属泡沫机械性能的影响。最终目标是了解通过纳米多孔泡沫的智能材料设计可以在多大程度上提高机械性能。纳米多孔金属泡沫塑料是由纳米尺度的支柱组成的相互连接的网络，由于其大的比表面积和体积比，在电池、燃料电池、传感器等领域显示出巨大的应用前景。由于其独特的脱合金化合成技术导致了具有纳米特征的不同几何结构，纳米多孔金属泡沫的性质不能简单地从块体金属泡沫或其他纳米结构材料的性质中推断出来。这项拟议研究的成功完成将加深对这些新材料的结构-性能关系的理解。大部分实验工作将由研究生完成，他们将在纳米技术研究方面获得宝贵的经验。通过本科生研究经验(REU)计划，PI将吸引本科生参与该项目的部分工作。PI还将通过佐治亚州实习生教师联谊会计划(GIFT)与当地高中教师合作，将拟议工作的结果引入演示/实验，向大学预科学生介绍纳米技术和能源概念。

The research objective of this award is to experimentally study, via nanomechanical tests, the effect of internal geometry on the mechanical properties of nanoporous metal foams. The ultimate goal is to provide understanding of the extent to which the mechanical properties can be enhanced via intelligent material design of nanoporous foams. Nanoporous metal foams consist of an interconnected network of nanosized struts and show great promise in a variety of applications including batteries, fuel cells, sensors, etc. due to their large surface to volume ratios. Due to their unique synthesis technique by dealloying that results in distinct geometrical structure with nanosized features, nanoporous metal foam properties cannot be simply inferred from the properties of bulk metal foams or other nanostructured materials. Successful completion of the proposed research will establish a deeper understanding of the structure-property relation of these novel materials. The majority of the experimental work will be performed by graduate students who will gain invaluable experience in nanotechnology research. Through Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program the PI will attract undergraduate students to work on parts of this project. The PI will also work with local high-school teachers through the Georgia Intern-Fellowships for Teachers Program (GIFT) to introduce results from the proposed work into demos/experiments that introduce nanotechnology and energy concepts to pre-college students.