Nanocluster-polymer composites for light emitters, gas sensors and electrodes

该项目的目的是通过将尺寸选定的金属团簇的光束沉积到导电聚合物薄膜中来创建一类新的功能纳米结构材料。在-lt；20个原子的尺寸范围内，金属团簇显示出荧光的证据，因此一个应用是电致发光显示。大小选定的星团有望在它们与气体分子的相互作用中显示出不均匀的振荡，这可能会导致一种新的气体传感器。将催化簇引入聚合物或纳米结构石墨(碳纸)等纳米孔导电材料中，为燃料电池、电解器和电催化剂(二氧化碳还原、NH3合成)创造了新的高性能气体渗透电极。沉积的团簇将通过HAADF-STEM成像与同分异构体模拟相结合来表征结构-将探索手动和自动匹配。最终目的是通过将测量的功能特性与合成和表征步骤相关联来证明至少一种新系统的原理。

The aim of this project is to create a new class of functional nanostructured materials by the deposition from the beam of size-selected metal clusters into electrically-conducting polymer films. In the size regime <20 atoms, metal clusters show evidence of fluorescence, so one application is electroluminescent displays. Size-selected clusters are expected to show an off-even oscillation in their interaction with gas molecules, potentially leading to a new class of gas sensors. Incorporation of catalytic clusters into polymers or nanoporous conducting materials such as nanostructured graphite (carbon paper) create the possibility of new high performance gas-permeable electrodes for fuel cells, electrolysers and electrocatalysts (CO2 reduction, NH3 synthesis). The deposited clusters will be characterised structurally by HAADF-STEM imaging coupled to isomer simulations - both manual and automated matching will explored. The ultimate aim if proof-of-principle of at least one new kind of system by correlation of the measured functional properties with the synthesis and characterisation steps.