SNM: Continuous Synthesis and Stabilization of Nanoparticles in a Carbon Matrix Using Rapid Thermal Shock

在导电基质中的纳米颗粒（NPs）对于从电化学能量存储到催化到能量装置的一系列应用是重要的。然而，以高质量和高效率制造NP仍然是一个挑战。为了应对这一挑战，这个可扩展的纳米制造（SNM）奖计划通过独特的热冲击过程研究嵌入导电基质中的纳米颗粒的可扩展的纳米制造和稳定方法。该项目可以在10毫秒内基于高温（高达3000 K）热冲击的碳基质中实现超快速和简便的NP纳米制造方法。通过加热在导电基质中制造纳米粒子的相对简单的方法为高中和本科生提供了理想的教学工具。让这些学生参与这个项目有助于提高他们对科学和技术的兴趣，并提供培训机会以获得研究经验。通过iMechanica.org开展的网络推广活动也将进一步扩大拟议研究和教育活动的影响。该项目源于该团队最近演示的超快速（0.01 s）合成导电基质中均匀分布的金属纳米颗粒的方法，该方法通过焦耳加热，随后快速淬火。在本项目中，将研究使用铝NP和还原氧化石墨烯或碳纳米管基质作为模型系统在导电基质中超快速原位形成NP的基本原理。对该过程的基本理解将被应用于研究导电基质中纳米粒子的放大合成，重点是克服主要的放大障碍，例如在整个厚度方向上的均匀分布和低成本，然后通过设计和基准测试实验室规模的卷对卷加工设置的可扩展性。该团队还将展示，评估和优化用于制造铝NP复合材料的卷对卷系统，并研究与纳米制造相关的关键问题，如制造速率，产量，产品质量，再现性，产量，效率和成本。

Nanoparticles (NPs) hosted in a conductive matrix are important for a range of applications from electrochemical energy storage, to catalysis to energetic devices. However, manufacturing NPs in high quality and at high efficiency remains as a challenge. Aiming to address this challenge, this Scalable NanoManufacturing (SNM) award plans to investigate a scalable nanomanufacturing and stabilization method for NPs embedded within a conductive matrix through a unique thermal shock process. This project can lead to an ultra-fast and facile NP nanomanufacturing approach in a carbon matrix based on high-temperature (up to 3000 K) thermal shock within 10 milliseconds. The relatively simple approach to manufacturing NPs in a conductive matrix by heating provides an ideal teaching tool for high school and undergraduate students. Involving these students in this project helps increase their interests in science and technology and offering training opportunities to gain research experience. Cyber-based outreach activities via iMechanica.org will also further broaden the impacts of the proposed research and educational activities.The project originates from the team's recent demonstration of ultra-fast (0.01 s) synthesis of uniformly distributed metal NPs within a conductive matrix by Joule heating, followed by subsequent rapidly quenching. In this project, the fundamentals of ultra-fast, in situ NP formation in conductive matrices using aluminum NP and reduced-graphene oxide or carbon nanofiber matrix as a model system will be investigated. The fundamental understanding of the process will be applied to investigate the scale-up synthesis of the NPs in a conductive matrix, focusing on overcoming major scale-up roadblocks, such as uniform distribution throughout the thickness direction, and low cost, followed by designing and benchmarking scalability with a lab-scale roll-to-roll processing setup. The team will also demonstrate, evaluate and optimize the roll-to-roll system to fabricate aluminum NP composites, and investigate the key nanomanufacturing-related issues, such as fabrication rate, throughput, product quality, reproducibility, yield, efficiency and cost.