Collaborative Research: Continuous Manufacturing of Hetero-Nanostructures Enabled by Colloidal Atomic Layer Deposition

硒化镉纳米片是下一代节能显示器和固态照明设备的诱人材料。高质量纳米血小板的合成是一个多步骤的过程，很难用传统方法进行研究和放大。该奖项支持合作研究，以开发持续生产高效纳米小板片的持续制造战略。计划中的战略利用了一层一层的生长过程，使高性能纳米材料的合成具有成本效益。该项目有助于了解纳米板生长过程的基础知识，流动合成方法的要求，并通过光致发光-性能关系确定纳米板的结构。如果研究成功，这项研究可以减少美国大中型公司生产的显示器和固态照明设备的能源消耗，从而有利于国家的繁荣、健康和安全。这一合作研究项目涉及胶体合成、反应与化学工程和材料科学等多个领域的整合。这项资助培养研究生和本科生不断制造先进材料。此外，该项目的多学科性质促进了妇女和代表性不足的群体参与研究，并通过本科生的动手实验极大地影响了工程教育。此外，YouTube还被用来向更广泛的受众传播所获得的先进制造知识。基于胶体原子层沉积(ALD)技术的连续流制造工艺用于合成高质量的纳米晶片具有高度模块化和多功能性。连续流制造有可能克服目前批量生产发光纳米材料的局限性。然而，要实现利用胶体ALD工艺连续制造半导体纳米片，还需要深入探索一些关键的科学问题。这项研究项目开发了纳米材料合成的逐层生长过程的每一步所需的基本知识。该连续流动合成工艺能够使用多个反应器模块的线性序列来合成和纯化胶体纳米片材异质结构。在连续流动中制造的纳米小片由梯度合金发射层和几个用于固态照明和微显示器应用的钝化壳层组成。连续流动反应器设计、新型合成前驱体库和在线液-液相分离技术使胶体纳米小片的先进制造实现了前所未有的过程强化。采用强化流动反应器的新型连续制造工艺为其他胶体纳米晶体的流动制造铺平了道路。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。

Cadmium selenide nanoplatelets are attractive materials for next generation, energy efficient displays and solid-state lighting devices. The synthesis of high-quality nanoplatelets is a multi-step process that is difficult to study and scale up using conventional approaches. This award supports collaborative research to develop a continuous manufacturing strategy that consistently produces highly efficient nanoplatelets. The projected strategy utilizes a layer-by-layer growth process that enables cost-effective synthesis of the high-performance nanomaterials. The project contributes to fundamental knowledge of the nanoplatelet growth process, the requirements of flow synthesis methods, and determine nanoplatelet structure through photoluminescence-performance relationships. If successful, the research could reduce the energy consumption of displays and solid-state lighting devices produced by mid to large-scale U.S. companies, and thereby benefit the nation's prosperity, health, and security. This collaborative research project involves integration of several fields including colloidal synthesis, reaction and chemical engineering, and materials science. This grant trains graduate and undergraduate students in the continuous manufacture of advanced materials. Additionally, the multi-disciplinary nature of this project facilitates participation of women and underrepresented groups in research and greatly impacts engineering education through hands-on experiments for undergraduate students. Furthermore, the YouTube is used to disseminate the acquired advanced manufacturing knowledge to a broader audience.The continuous flow manufacturing process based on the colloidal atomic layer deposition (ALD) technique for synthesis of high-quality nanoplatelets is highly modular and versatile. Continuous flow manufacturing has the potential to overcome the current limitations of the batch scale production of emissive nanomaterials. However, some key scientific questions need to be thoroughly explored to realize the continuous manufacturing of semiconductor nanoplatelets using the colloidal ALD process. This research project develops the fundamental knowledge required for each step of the layer-by-layer growth process for nanomaterial synthesis. The continuous flow synthesis process is capable of synthesizing and purifying colloidal nanoplatelet heterostructures using a linear sequence of multiple reactor modules. The nanoplatelets manufactured in continuous flow are composed of a graded alloy emissive layer and several passivating shell layers engineered for solid-state lighting and micro-display applications. Continuous flow reactor design, a library of novel synthesis precursors, and in-line liquid-liquid phase separation technique enable unprecedented process intensification in advanced manufacturing of colloidal nanoplatelets. The novel continuous manufacturing process utilizing intensified flow reactors paves the way for in-flow manufacturing of other colloidal nanocrystals.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.