Comparative analysis, modeling, and optimization of nanocrystal synthesis for magnetic storage and field emission

我们正在习惯于享受手中的高科技产品，如手机、可放在口袋里的笔记本电脑、窗户大小的平板电视屏幕等许多其他产品。然而，我们是否一直记得，如果没有发现和设计新技术流程等强制性里程碑，这些东西就不会存在？在此基础上，实现新工艺设计的新思想依赖于我们知识的深度和强度，并随着我们的理解的增长而发展。因此，纳米技术，这是一种利用大小在1纳米到100纳米之间的物体的技术，取决于我们理解、操纵和表征这些小东西的能力。由于这些都是许多学科的前沿挑战，纳米科学成为科学和工程媒体的头条新闻。该项目有助于理解并因此有助于开发在平底(衬底)上合成纳米晶体阵列的最佳工艺。许多不同的技术都需要这一点，例如，制造平板显示器和传感器、更高密度的信息存储或更强大的电子芯片。该项目的重点是被称为物理气相沉积(PVD)的合成方法，该方法使用物理过程(例如蒸发)来获得材料的原子通量，然后在真空中沉积在衬底上。PVD不使用或产生危险化学品，是清洁的，可以有效地控制。到目前为止，缺乏的是对哪些特定晶体在特定条件下会生长的足够清楚的了解，这些晶体的形状、大小和面密度都是如此。这个项目提供了足够详细的理论模型和数值模拟来回答这些问题。该项目被设计为一个长期计划的第一步，该计划旨在建立一个关于合成功能纳米结构的全面知识库。知识库将包含必要的模拟软件、分析评论和相关数据库，这些软件通过一个交互式管理系统进行操作，该系统旨在帮助用户选择方法、材料和工艺条件来合成所需的纳米结构。

We are getting used to enjoying high-tech products at our hand, such as cell phones, laptops that fit a pocket, window-size flat TV screens, and many others. However, do we always remember that these things would not exist without such mandatory milestones as discovery and design of new technological processes? The new ideas enabling new process design depend, in the basis, on the depth and strength of our knowledge and develop as our understanding grows. Thus nanotechnology, which is a technology employing objects sized between 1 nm and 100 nm, resides on our ability to understand, manipulate, and characterize those small things. As these are frontier challenges in many disciplines, nanoscience makes headlines in scientific and engineering press. This project contributes to understanding, and therefore to development, of optimal processes to synthesize arrays of nanosize crystals on a flat base (substrate). Many various technologies require this, for example, fabrication of flat displays and sensors, higher-density information storage, or more powerful electronic chips. The project focuses on methods of synthesis known as physical vapor deposition (PVD), which use physical processes (for example, evaporation) to obtain atomic fluxes of material that are then deposited on a substrate in vacuum. PVD does not employ or produce hazardous chemicals, is clean, and can be efficiently controlled. What is missing so far is a clear enough understanding of which particular crystals, of which shape, size, and area density, will grow under particular conditions. This project provides theoretical models and numerical simulations detailed enough to answer these questions. The project is designed as the initial step in a long-term program of creating a comprehensive knowledge base on synthesis of functional nanostructures. The knowledge base will contain the necessary simulation software, analytical reviews, and relevant databases, which are operated through an interactive management system designed to help users to select methods, materials, and process conditions to synthesize desired nanostructures.