Innovative materials containing functionalized clays: graphene, piezoelectric and fluorescent clays

我的愿景是成功地创造出具有智能功能的经济材料，这些材料来源于现成的材料。这一点至关重要，因为未来几年自然资源将更加紧张。这项研究计划的目标是创造含有功能化粘土的创新材料。粘土被认为是模板材料，因为它们储量丰富，而且价格合理。粘土的使用目前仅限于被动材料的应用。三项具体进展将大大提高粘土的实用性：1)从创新的生产途径中获得含有石墨烯的导电粘土；2)创造智能粘土基质，最常见的是水泥和混凝土；3)封装用于成像和传感应用的有机分子。我的最终目标是创造可持续的智能和可调材料。

My vision is to successfully create economical materials with intelligent functionality that are derived from readily available materials. This is critical as natural resources will be more strained in years to come. The goal of this research program is to create innovative materials containing functionalized clays. Clays are considered template materials, because they are abundant and available at a reasonable cost. The use of clay is currently limited to passive applications in materials. Three specific advances would greatly enhance the usefulness of clays: 1) conductive clay containing graphene from innovative production pathways; 2) creating an intelligent clay matrix, with the most common being cement and concrete; and 3) encapsulating organic molecules for imaging and sensing applications. My ultimate aim is to create sustainable smart and tunable materials. (1) Clay containing graphene has a range of potential applications, in the electric power industry, geothermal energy, optical devices, pollutant catalysis and more. The formation of graphene with clays from natural organic precursors has the potential to make a ground breaking impact. The procedure for producing conductive clay is safe, scalable, and economical. Characterization will require various spectroscopy methods, X-ray diffraction, and thermal analysis. (2) Cement, which is considered a clay material, can be rendered intelligent using piezoelectric additives to make self-reporting construction materials. This will permit the monitoring of mechanical overloads and fatigue, which allows for easy detection and intervention. A geopolymer is a cementitious matrix formed by alkaline activation of aluminosilicate. Piezoelectric additives will be tested for self-reporting in conventional cement and in a geopolymer matrix. The implications would be significant for design, safety, security and maintenance. (3) Clay improves the fluorescence efficiency of encapsulated organic fluorochromes, which allows for a detectable visual signal at low concentration. This capacity is beneficial for making embedded sensors for composite materials with high precision engineering requirements. Laponite clay will be mixed with a fluorescent marker; this creates an economical quality control mechanism for composite manufacturing, especially in aerospace applications. Increased conductivity, self-reporting, and precision imaging are desirable functionalities that are achievable in clays. This research program relies on a common methodology of mixing clays with additives and characterization, which leads to the possibility of functionalizing materials. Training graduate students is essential in order to face the current challenges of sustainability and material quality. The economic impact of these technologies is very significant, ranging from construction to electricity transportation to aeronautics.