Scalable nanomanufacturing of 2D layered materials and their integration into nano-enabled systems

该提案概述了一项关于2D材料的可扩展纳米制造及其功能集成到受益于纳米尺寸缩放的系统和设备的研究计划。2D纳米材料抓住了原子尺寸效应的本质，可以从机械性能、电导和热传导性、高比表面积和独特的量子力学效应等方面受益于各种应用。然而，它们在日常生活中的全部潜力受到当前制造方法的限制，这些方法要么在质量上，要么在数量上。该计划旨在通过研究最近构思的可压缩流剥离(CFE)来解决自上而下处理的2D材料系统生产规模中的基本科学和应用问题，CFE是一种使用超音速流机械剥离2D层状材料的连续和高通量方法。*拟议的研究计划旨在阐明任何从板凳到地板的过渡所必需的关于CFE的基本加工-结构-性能关系。该方法将包括：(1)利用理论和数值工具，结合实验观察，建立剥离机制；(2)优化加工和后处理条件，以实现完全连续的操作；(3)展示CFE处理的2D纳米材料在柔性电子、热管理和合成珍珠层系统等纳米系统中的可行应用。通过这项总共将涉及10个HQP(4个MS、2个PhD和4个UG)的工作，将解决围绕(I)2D材料碎裂理论、(Ii)处理时间对2D材料质量的影响以及(Iii)2D材料的连续、快速和环保处理的几个现有知识空白。*石墨烯和其他2D纳米材料的前景到目前为止还没有兑现，因为实验室和工厂之间存在着严重的脱节。最近的一项研究(Kauling等人2018年在先进材料)检查了来自60家供应商的“石墨烯”，发现大多数只是昂贵的球磨石墨，平均只有10%的产品是10个原子层或更少。这些纯粹的商业、烟雾弥漫的合资企业正在削弱2D材料可扩展纳米制造仍然需要的基础研发努力，导致国际标准组织(ISO)和英国国家物理实验室等组织呼吁制定产品资格标准。拟议的2D材料可伸缩纳米制造及其集成到纳米使能系统的研究计划将依赖于2D材料科学、可压缩气体动力学、胶体表面科学和复合材料设计原理中的现有概念和新兴概念。它将通过随后的研发以及总部的技能和经验培训，使加拿大的自然资源和制造业受益。*

This proposal outlines a research program on the scalable nanomanufacturing of 2D materials and their functional integration into systems and devices that benefit from nano-size scaling. 2D nanomaterials capture the essence of atomic-size effects, and can benefit a diverse range of applications from mechanical properties, electrical and thermal conductivities, high surface areas and unique quantum-mechanical effects. However, their full potential in everyday life is limited by the current methods of fabrication which compromise either quality or quantity. The proposed program seeks to address fundamental scientific and applied issues in production scaling of top-down processed 2D material systems by researching the recently conceived compressible flow exfoliation (CFE), which is a continuous and high-throughput method for mechanically exfoliating 2D layered materials using supersonic flows. ******The proposed research program seeks to elucidate the fundamental processing-structure-property relations regarding CFE that are necessary for any bench-to-floor transition. The approach will consist of (1) using theory and numerical tools, coupled with experimental observations to establish the exfoliation mechanism, (2) optimize the processing and post-processing conditions for fully continuous operations, (3) demonstrate feasible applications of CFE processed 2D nanomaterials in nano-enabled systems such as flexible electronics, thermal management and synthetic-nacre systems. Through this work, which will involve a total of 10 HQP (4 MS, 2 PhD and 4 UG), several existing knowledge gaps surrounding the (i) theory of 2D material fragmentation, (ii) effect of treatment time on 2D material quality, and (iii) continuous, rapid and environmentally friendly processing of 2D materials will be addressed. ******The promise of graphene and other 2D nanomaterials has not delivered thus far, because of a major disconnect between what's happening in the lab vs. the factory floor. A recent study (Kauling et al. 2018 in Advanced Materials) examined “graphene” from 60 suppliers and found that most were just expensive milled graphite and that on average only 10% of the product was 10 atomic layers or less. These purely commercial, smoke-and-mirror ventures are detracting from the fundamental R&D efforts that are still needed in scalable nanomanufacturing of 2D materials resulting in calls for developing standards for product qualification from organizations like International Organization of Standards (ISO) and the UK's National Physical Laboratory. The proposed research program on scalable nanomanufacturing of 2D materials and their integration into nano-enabled systems will rely on established as well as emerging concepts from 2D materials science, compressible gas dynamics, colloid surface science and composites design principles. It will benefit the Canadian natural resources and manufacturing sectors through the ensuing R&D and the skills and experience training of HQP.***