MIT-NANO. Investigations on a multiscale integration technique for one dimensional nanostructures

与纳米粒子等零维纳米物体相比，一维纳米材料可以在高度组织的架构中生成，从而为将此类物体集成到传感器，演员和能量收集系统等微系统中提供了可能性。这一领域为化学、材料和工程科学的合作研究联盟开辟了一个有前途的领域。我们致力于研究一维纳米结构如碳纳米管（CNT）和金属纳米线（MNW）的集成技术。我们研究的中心目的是由垂直排列的单个CNT或MNW的致密实体组成的3D纳米结构集合体。我们的目标是实现单个组件的高纵横比结构（单个CNT和MNW > 1000）。这种方法应该允许以横向和水平方式将这些微纳米结构化架构嵌入到各种功能微结构化单元中。微纳米线和碳纳米管组成的三维块体结构的微纳集成是微工程领域一个值得研究的挑战。为了实现这些目标，材料以及包括不同层次的微观技术知识（从纳米到微米到毫米到厘米大小）是必要的。为了解决这个问题，我们开始（i）合成MNW和CNT以及（ii）在它们的外表面上功能化和修饰这些纳米结构。为了建立完整的微结构化方法，我们必须在不同的长度尺度上开发个性化的方法和技术解决方案。这一努力可以概括为多尺度集成技术。作为一个模型，举例说明我们的多尺度集成问题，我们选择了一个锂离子微蓄能器。为了解决与此相关的挑战，开发了材料合成和电化学活性材料在CNT和MNW结构化电极上的沉积技术，以及允许设置电极结构以及电极的最终外壳的构造和连接技术（包装），从而构建完整的，即完全可操作的微纳米系统。由于电极的总体微型尺寸，完整的微型蓄能器的最终总体尺寸约为1 mm。该计划的目标是，在整个资助期结束时，这种微型蓄能器将作为第一个演示装置。该项目中开发的多尺度集成技术知识将为更广泛的集成工程元件（如传感器）铺平道路。

In contrast to zero-dimensional nano objects like nanoparticles, one-dimensional nano materials can be generated in highly organized architectures, thus offering possibilities for integration of such objects into microsystems like sensors, actors and energy harvesting systems. This area opens up a promising field for a cooperative research alliance at the borderline of chemistry, material and engineering sciences. We are strieving to investigate integration techniques for one dimensional nano-structures like carbon nanotubes (CNT) and metal nano wires (MNW). Central purpose of our research are 3D nanostructured ensembles composed of dense entities of vertically aligned single CNT or MNW. We are aiming towards high aspect ratio structures of the individual components (single CNT and MNW > 1000). This approach should allow to embed those micro-nanostructured architectures in a lateral as well as horizontal fashion into a variety of functional micro structured units. Micro-nano integration of three dimensional block structures composed of MNW and CNTs represents a challenge deserving utmost research importance in micro engineering. To reach such goals, material as well as microtechnological knowledge comprising different hierarchical orders (from nm to µm to mm up to cm size) are necessary. To tackle this we set out (i) to synthesize MNW and CNT as well as (ii) to functionalize and modify these nanostructures on their outer surface. To establish the whole line of micro-structuring methods necessary for this we have to develop individual methods and technological solutions on different length scales. This endeavour can be summarized by phrasing the term multiscale integration technique. As a model exemplifying our multiscale integration problem we have chosen a lithium ion micro energy accumulator. To tackle the challenges connected with this is the development of material synthesis and deposition techniques of electrochemically active materials onto the CNT and MNW structured electrodes as well as the construction and connection techniques (packaging) allowing to set up the electrode structures as well as the final housing of the electrodes thus building a complete, that is fully operational micro nano system. Due to the overall micro size dimensions of the electrodes, the complete micro energy accumulator will have a final overall size of about one mm. The goal of this program is that such a micro energy accumulator will be available as a first demonstrator unit at the end of the complete funding period. The knowledge towards the multiscale integration techniques developed in this project will pave the way for a wider variety of miniaturised engineering elements e.g. sensors.