IRES Track-1: Nanofiber Materials and Structures: Advancing Science and Technology

该项目由OISE、Engineering(CMMI、EEC)和MPS(XC和OMA)董事共同资助。第1部分纳米纤维显示出独特的特性，这些特性刺激了纳米纤维研究的巨大努力，以应对高性能过滤、电池隔膜、伤口愈合、复合材料、血管和组织工程、电化学传感、智能纺织品、药物输送和催化等关键挑战。最近的一些例子包括：用于创新治疗粘膜疾病的DermTreat的纳米纤维Rivelin贴片，以及杜邦的基于纳米纤维的EneraggT电池隔膜，它将锂离子电池的功率提高高达30%，仅举几例。到2021年，全球纳米纤维市场预计将达到20亿美元左右，但其增长潜力受到规模生产纳米纤维材料的能力有限的阻碍，纳米纤维材料具有可预测的复杂宏观结构和理想的性能。来自阿拉巴马大学伯明翰分校、南阿拉巴马大学、特洛伊大学和蒙特瓦洛大学的不同背景的本科生和研究生将通过一种不常见的、高产量的交流电纺(ACE)工艺来制造纳米纤维，通过紧张的现实生活研究来应对纳米纤维科学与技术中的挑战。ACES推出了几种新的物理现象和功能，大大减少或消除了传统技术的许多缺点，同时极大地提高了生产率和简化了材料处理。所有IRES学员将通过在三个欧洲国家的多个知名实验室和相关行业的合作、联合演讲/出版物、社交活动，以及在理工学院、德克萨斯大学罗兹分校和阿尔托分校与不同的国际学生群体的互动，获得超越每个参与者的重要国际研究、行业和文化敏感性经验-S机构。这个项目的目标是加速纳米纤维材料领域的创新和增加成果，培养未来的领导者和专家，能够在高水平的先进研究和全球合作中胜任。第2部分本项目将正在进行的合作提升到一个更高的水平，并在新兴的纳米纤维材料和结构制造和应用领域与以下机构建立了新的合作关系：利伯莱克工业大学(捷克共和国的TUL，纳米纤维研究的领先学术中心)、罗兹理工大学(波兰的UT-Lodz，多相催化领域的地区领导者)和阿尔托大学(芬兰，芬兰排名第一的大学，在纳米科学和工程领域拥有强大的产业转化项目)。来自阿拉巴马大学伯明翰分校(UAB)、南阿拉巴马大学、特洛伊大学和蒙特瓦洛大学的至少27名学生将参加UAB的实践旅行前培训，以及在这些一流的欧洲机构进行为期8周的纳米纤维科学和技术前沿前沿研究，随后是长期的旅行后研究和成果传播活动。IRES学员将使用高产量交流电纺丝(ACE)工艺制造纳米纤维，该工艺揭示了几种物理现象，显著减少或消除了传统直流技术的主要缺点，同时大幅提高了生产率。学员们将把制造的材料应用于TUL的生物医学支架和智能织物、UT-Lodz的多相催化剂以及Alalto的新型电化学传感器。学生将有广泛的选择，沉浸在外国网站快速发展的研究生态系统中，刺激突破和发现，以及培养探索和创新的热情以及影响和出类拔萃的勇气的多重机会。通过团队和个人研究项目、专业和软技能培养练习，IRES将：(I)促进ACES的理论和实践；(Ii)帮助设计更好的设备，用于大规模生产纳米纤维材料和结构；(Iii)以受控和可预测的方式开发具有所需性能和性能的新型纳米纤维材料和结构；以及(Iv)促进为快速增长的纳米纤维研究和制造领域以及相关领域培训全球参与的专家、远见卓识者、领导者和团队建设者。IRES学员将定期接触公众、其他大学和中小学生，例如，通过TUL由IRES学生主导的新的年度纳米材料研讨会，UAB的研究浸入式高中研讨会，以及美国学生运营的电视台JagTV的广播。所有参与者都将通过不断扩大的先进研究和培训设施网络互惠互利。该项目将从长远的角度，通过引入新的合作者和促进国际学生交换的持续进行，在国内和国际研究小组之间实现更广泛的协同耦合。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project is co-funded by OISE, Engineering (CMMI, EEC) and MPS (XC and OMA)Directorates.Part 1Nanofibers exhibit unique properties that have stimulated a massive effort in nanofibers research to address key challenges in high performance filtration, battery separators, wound healing, composites, blood vessel and tissue engineering, electrochemical sensing, smart textiles, drug delivery, and catalysis. Some recent examples include: Dermtreat's nanofibrous Rivelin patch for innovative treatment of mucosal diseases and DuPont's nanofiber-based EnergainT battery separator, which boosts up to 30% power of Li-ion batteries, just to name a few. The global market for nanofibers is expected to reach ~$2 billion by 2021, but its growth potential is hindered by limited ability of sizeable production of nanofibrous materials with predictable complex, macroscopic architectures, and desirable properties.Undergraduate and graduate trainees with diverse backgrounds from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, University of South Alabama, Troy University, and University of Montevallo will tackle the challenges in the nanofiber science and technology through intense real-life research on fabrication of nanofibers by an uncommon, high-yield alternating-current electrospinning (ACES) process. ACES unveils several new physical phenomena and features that significantly reduce or eliminate many disadvantages of traditional techniques while greatly increasing the productivity and simplifying material handling. All IRES trainees will gain critical international research, industry, and cultural sensitivity experiences expanding beyond each participant?s institution through the collaborative work at a number of high-profile labs and related industries in three European countries, joint presentations/publications, social activities, and interactions with diverse international student population at TUL, UT-Lodz and Aalto. The goals of this project are to accelerate innovation and increase outcomes in the nanofiber materials domain and to develop future leaders and experts capable of operating at a high level of advanced research and competence in global collaboration.Part 2This project brings the ongoing collaborations to a higher level and establishes new collaborations in the emerging area of fabrication and application of nanofiber materials and structures with Technical University of Liberec (TUL, Czech Republic, a leading academic center in nanofiber research), Lodz U of Technology (UT-Lodz, Poland, a regional leader in heterogeneous catalysis), and Aalto University (Finland, the #1 Finnish University with strong idea-to-industry programs in nanoscience and engineering). At least 27 students from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), University of South Alabama, Troy University, and University of Montevallo will engage in the hands-on pre-trip training at UAB and a 8 week-long cutting-edge research at the forefront of nanofibers science and technology at those premier European institutions, followed by the long-term post trip research and outcomes dissemination activities. IRES trainees will fabricate nanofibers using a high-yield Alternating Current Electrospinning (ACES) process, which unveils several physical phenomena that significantly reduce or eliminate major disadvantages of traditional DC-techniques, while greatly increasing the productivity. Trainees will apply the fabricated materials to biomedical scaffolds and smart fabrics at TUL, heterogeneous catalysts at UT-Lodz, and novel electrochemical sensors at Aalto. Students will have broad options to immerse in quickly evolving research ecosystem at foreign sites that stimulates breakthroughs and discoveries, as well as multiple opportunities to develop passion for exploration and innovation, and courage to influence and excel. Through the team and individual research projects, professional and soft skills-building exercises, this IRES will: (i) advance the theory and practice of ACES, (ii) help to design a better equipment for sizeable production of nanofiber materials and structures, (iii) develop new nanofiber-based materials and structures with desired properties and performance in controlled and predictable manner, and (iv) foster the training of globally-engaged experts, visionaries, leaders, and team builders for the fast-growing nanofibers research and manufacturing domain, and for the relevant fields.IRES trainees will regularly reach out to the public, other college and school kids, e.g., through a new annual IRES student-led Nanomaterials Workshop at TUL, research immersion high school workshop at UAB, and broadcasts by JagTV, USA's student-run TV station. All participants will mutually benefit through a growing network of advanced research and training facilities. This project will enable, in a long-term perspective, a broader synergistic coupling between domestic and international research groups by bringing new collaborators and catalyzing the continuation of international student exchanges.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.