Electrically and Optically Active Nanostructures and Interfaces

在纳米尺度下结构化的晶体材料表现出与块状晶体不同的低维（1D和2D）特性。限制效应在过去引发了重要的科学突破，导致了重要的技术，如固态激光器，晶体管，二极管等。一维和二维纳米结构中的量子限制效应已被用于调节材料的带隙能量，改善其电导率和热导率，增强光-物质相互作用，甚至诱导选择性催化。然而，纳米结构固有的巨大表面与体积比加剧了小扰动的影响，并在电子器件中产生寄生行为。使用最先进的成像和光谱工具，该计划旨在进一步探索纳米材料的物理特性，并更具体地研究在其表面和界面发生的化学现象。剥离黑磷（bP），石墨烯，纳米管（CNT和BNNT），以及由这些构建块（混合纳米结构）制成的更复杂的结构将通过涉及化学功能化，1D光学纳米探针，2D膜和纳米器件的项目进行研究。更具体地说，这些项目将针对几个主要研究领域：1）开发由封装在纳米管中的染料制成的光学拉曼和荧光纳米探针，用于化学过程的高光谱成像，包括远程pH传感; 2）探索剥离的黑磷和功能化石墨烯薄膜和膜的特性; 3）开发具有大尺寸（cm尺度）的石墨烯膜的器件概念，以放大光谱的中红外区域中的光学响应; 4）探索基于电子显微镜和光谱学的隧道原理的场发射电子源。** 本项目将利用申请人实验室开发的工艺，结合从表面化学和微电子学中借鉴的其他技术，开发纳米器件和混合纳米结构。拟议的项目本质上是多学科的，并融合了从材料表面和界面，纳米科学和固态化学和物理学中借鉴的概念。通过这项实验研究，申请人将在纳米尺度上推进界面化学的基础知识，并挑战使用电子作为探针的传感和分辨率的极限。更重要的是，该计划旨在作为主要的培训平台，为电子材料和器件制造领域培养高素质的人才。**

Crystalline materials structured at the nanometer-scale exhibit low-dimensional (1D and 2D) properties that are distinct from that of bulk crystals. The effects of confinement have triggered in the past important scientific breakthroughs, which led to important technologies, such as, the solid-state laser, the transistor, the diode and so forth. Quantum confinement effects in 1D and 2D nanostructures has been used to tune the bandgap energy of materials, improve their electrical and thermal conductivities, enhance light-matter interaction, and even induce selective catalysis. The huge surface to volume ratio inherent to nanostructures exacerbates, however, the influence of small perturbations and creates parasitic behaviours in electronic devices. Using the most advanced imaging and spectroscopic tools, this program aims to explore further the physical properties of nanomaterials and study more specifically chemical phenomena taking place at their surfaces and interfaces.******Exfoliated black-Phosphorus (bP), graphene, nanotubes (CNTs and BNNTs), and more complex structures made of these building blocks (hybrid nanostructures) will be investigated through projects involving chemical functionalization, 1D optical nanoprobes, 2D membranes and nanodevices. More specifically, these projects will target few main areas of research: 1) Develop optical Raman and fluorescence nanoprobes made of dyes encapsulated in nanotubes for applications in hyperspectral imaging of chemical processes, including remote pH sensing; 2) Explore the properties of exfoliated black phosphorus and functionalized graphene films and membranes; 3) Develop a device concept with graphene film having large dimensions (cm scale) to amplify optical responses in the mid-infrared region of the spectrum; 4) Explore field-emitting electron sources based on tunnelling principles for electron microscopy and spectroscopy. ******This program will develop nanodevices and hybrid nanostructures using processes developed in the lab of the applicant combined with other techniques borrowed from surface chemistry and microelectronics.The proposed projects are multidisciplinary in nature and blend concepts borrowed from surface and interface of materials, nanoscience, and solid-state chemistry and physics. Though this experimental research, the applicant will advance the basic knowledge on interfacial chemistry at the nanometer scale and challenge the limits of sensing and resolution using the electrons as a probe. More importantly, this program is designed to serve as the main training platform to develop highly qualified personnel for the area of electronic materials and device fabrication. **