Mechanisms of Surface Reactions and Materials Performance in Ionizing Radiation Environments

我的目标是提高我们对暴露在电离辐射系统中的界面质量和电荷转移及其动力学的理解。连续辐照创造了独特的反应环境，可以改变界面上的电势，从而影响跨相边界的质量和电荷转移。通过合理地结合使用辐射和水的条件，我们可以驱动界面反应，以实现(1)尺寸均匀的过渡金属氧化物纳米颗粒的定制形成，(2)均匀致密的氧化膜，以及(3)离子液体(IL)/水体系中的胶束。拟议的研究旨在对这些和其他界面过程有一个基本的了解。为此，我将采用尖端实验和理论相结合的方法。溶解的金属离子可以被水的辐解产物氧化或还原。这种氧化或还原会导致可溶的金属氢氧化物转化为不溶的物种，该物种凝聚并生长成尺寸均匀的氧化物纳米颗粒。我打算研究控制这种颗粒的大小、组成和形态的因素。这是一种生产纳米颗粒的新技术，在先进技术中有许多潜在的应用。金属表面氧化膜的基本特性取决于膜的生长条件。水的辐射分解可以改变金属表面的电位，并导致形成与传统氧化截然不同的氧化膜。我打算研究薄膜生长的动力学和薄膜的特性，目的是详细地了解界面过程，并发现如何创建具有特定化学、电和磁性的致密氧化物薄膜。IL/水体系的辐照会导致胶束的快速形成。这可能是由于离子辐解产物改变了IL/水界面的电化学电位间隙，或者作为表面活性剂来增加胶束的稳定性。我打算同时使用实验和分子动力学模型来理解这些系统中的化学成分。发现补助金将用于每年培训5名高素质的多学科科学家。

My objective is to improve our understanding of interfacial mass and charge transfer, and their kinetics, in systems exposed to ionizing radiation. Continuous irradiation creates unique reactive environments that can alter the electric potential at interfaces and thereby influence both mass and charge transfer across phase boundaries. By using a judicious combination of ?-irradiation and aqueous conditions, we can drive interfacial reactions to achieve tailored formation of (1) uniform-sized transition metal oxide nanoparticles, (2) uniform and compact oxide films, and (3) micelles in ionic liquid (IL)/water systems. The proposed research aims to develop a fundamental understanding of these and other interfacial processes. To this end, I will employ a combination of cutting-edge experimental and theoretical approaches. Dissolved metal ions can be oxidized or reduced by water radiolysis products. Such oxidation or reduction can cause a soluble metal hydroxide to be converted to an insoluble species that condenses and grows to uniform sized oxide nanoparticles. I intend to study the factors controlling the size, composition and morphology of such particles. This is a new technique for nanoparticle production that has many potential applications in advanced technologies. The fundamental characteristics of oxide films on metals depend on the conditions in which the films are grown. Radiolysis of water can change the potential at a metal surface and cause the formation of oxide films that are very different from those seen in conventional oxidation. I intend to study the kinetics of film growth and the film characteristics with the aim of understanding the interfacial processes in detail and discovering how to create compact oxide films having specific chemical, electrical, and magnetic properties. Irradiation of IL/water systems causes fast formation of micelles. This may be due to ionic radiolysis products that alter the electrochemical potential gap at the IL/water interface or that act as surfactants to increase stability of the micelles. I intend to use both experiments and molecular dynamic modelling to understand the chemistry in such systems. The Discovery Grant will be used to train 5 highly qualified multidisciplinary scientists per year.