NSF-BSF: Architecting metallic nanoparticles for ultimate strength

非技术摘要：尺寸在微米或纳米尺度上的物质物体可以表现出比宏观物体更高的强度。为了实现这类物体提供的令人兴奋的新机会，有必要了解无缺陷纳米系统中的塑性或材料变形规律。这样的定律在很大程度上是未知的，很可能与宏观金属中的不同。美国和以色列首席调查人员将开展一项合作研究计划，将实验和计算机建模紧密结合起来，以实现对纳米级金属和合金塑性规律和机制的更深层次的基本了解。这项研究将为设计新的纳米材料创造一个理论框架，将尽可能高的机械强度与其他使用特性结合起来。这项研究将影响许多科学和技术领域，其中机械强度是材料设计的目标之一。首席调查员将通过在跨学科会议上作陈述、发表综述文章以及组织专题讨论会/专题讨论会来传播这一项目的成果，这些专题强调跨学科的纳米尺度现象。这将包括一系列有广泛国际参与的美国-以色列纳米机械研讨会。为了接触到更广泛的社区，将做出重大努力，利用在线科学新闻媒体普及这项研究。美国调查员和学生将访问当地(Fairfax Co.)技术综述：美国和以色列首席调查员(PIs)提出了一项紧密结合实验和计算机建模的合作研究计划，以实现对纳米级金属和合金形核控制塑性规律和机制的更深层次的基本理解。研究将集中在镍和几种战略性选择的镍基合金上，以探索影响颗粒强度的一些关键因素。这些因素包括颗粒大小和形状、表面氧化状态、合金的化学成分、长程有序和相变。这项研究将为设计新的纳米材料创造一个理论框架，将尽可能高的机械强度与其他使用特性结合起来。私营部门将通过在跨学科会议上发表演讲、发表综述文章以及组织专题讨论会/专题讨论会来传播这一项目的成果，这些专题强调跨学科的纳米尺度现象。这将包括一系列有广泛国际参与的美国-以色列纳米机械研讨会。为了接触到更广泛的社区，将做出重大努力，利用在线科学新闻媒体普及这项研究。美国PI和学生们将参观当地(Fairfax Co.)这一奖项反映了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。

Non-technical Summary:Material objects with dimensions on the micrometer or nanometer length scales can exhibit much higher strength than macroscopic objects. To realize the exciting new opportunities offered by such objects, it is necessary to understand the laws of plasticity, or material deformation, in defect-free nano-scale systems. Such laws are largely unknown and are likely to be different from those in macroscopic metals. The US and Israeli Principal Investigators will conduct a collaborative research program that tightly integrates experiments and computer modeling to achieve a deeper fundamental understanding of the laws and mechanisms of plasticity in nano-scale metals and alloys. This research will create a theoretical framework for the design of new nano-scale materials combining the highest-possible mechanical strength with other service characteristics. This research will impact many areas of science and technology where mechanical strength is one of the goals of materials design. The Principal Investigators will disseminate the results of this project through presentations at interdisciplinary meetings, publishing overview articles, and by organizing workshops/symposia on broad topics emphasizing nano-scale phenomena across disciplines. This will include a series of US-Israel nano-mechanics workshops with broad international participation. To reach out to broader communities, significant efforts will be put in popularizing this research using online scientific news outlets. The US Investigator and the students will visit local (Fairfax Co.) high schools to give popular presentations including examples of nano-scale phenomena and their impact on modern technology.Technical Summary:The US and Israeli Principal Investigators (PIs) propose a collaborative research program that tightly integrates experiments and computer modeling to achieve a deeper fundamental understanding of the laws and mechanisms of nucleation-controlled plasticity in nano-scale metals and alloys. The research will be focused on Ni and several Ni-based alloys strategically chosen to probe some of the key factors that can impact the particle strength. Such factors will include the particle size and shape, the surface oxidation state, the chemical composition of the alloy, the long-range order, and the phase transformations. This research will create a theoretical framework for the design of new nano-scale materials combining the highest-possible mechanical strength with other service characteristics. The PIs will disseminate the results of this project through presentations at interdisciplinary meetings, publishing overview articles, and by organizing workshops/symposia on broad topics emphasizing nano-scale phenomena across disciplines. This will include a series of US-Israel nano-mechanics workshops with broad international participation. To reach out to broader communities, significant efforts will be put in popularizing this research using online scientific news outlets. The US PI and the students will visit local (Fairfax Co.) high schools to give popular presentations including examples of nano-scale phenomena and their impact on modern technology.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.