Surface nanodroplets for reproducible extraction and nanomaterial synthesis

我们建议开发一种创新的制造技术，用于生产广泛的纳米材料，用于水，食品和环境中的敏感化学分析，即时诊断或疾病的早期检测。 该技术是基于表面纳米液滴的可重复形成，通过一个可扩展的自下而上的过程，称为溶剂交换，速度高达每秒约100万滴。该方法是绿色和低成本的，适用于形成多种类型的液体的液滴。这些纳米液滴表现出长期稳定性，有效的传质和可调的化学组成。在本项目中，通过控制纳米液滴的化学和物理特性以及与纳米液滴的反应动力学，将实现高度可重复的纳米颗粒合成过程。该项目的潜在成果将是（1）生产功能性多组分纳米液滴的流入系统;（2）在不使用有毒溶剂的情况下进行敏感化学分析之前进行快速可靠的纳米提取的协议;（3）高度可重复的纳米材料合成方法，包括金属氧化物（氧化铁和氧化铟锡）、金属有机框架和碳量子点;（4）用银纳米颗粒功能化的原型芯片，用于通过表面增强拉曼散射进行超灵敏检测。该项目的成果将使建议的制造技术的技术准备水平达到4或以上，准备进行中等规模的试点测试。 拟议的研究是在先进材料和制造技术的主题的合成和沉积/制造过程的可扩展性的基础技术。 研究成果的商业化将导致创造就业机会和使地方经济机会多样化。

We propose to develop an innovative manufacturing technique for production of a wide range of nanomaterials that are applied for sensitive chemical analysis in water, food and environment, point-of-care diagnostics, or early detection of diseases. The technique is based on reproducible formation of surface nanodroplets by a scalable bottom-up process called solvent exchange at a rate up to ~ 1 million droplets per second. The process is green and low-cost, applicable for forming droplets of many types of liquid. Those nanodroplets exhibit long-term stability, efficient mass transfer and tunable chemical composition. In this project, highly reproducible process for nanoparticle synthesis will be achieved by controlling chemical and physical characteristics of nanodroplets and reaction kinetics with nanodroplets. The potential outcomes of the project will be (1) a flow-in system for production of functional multicomponent nanodroplets; (2) a protocol for fast and reliable nanoextraction prior to sensitive chemical analysis without using toxic solvents; (3) highly reproducible approach for nanomaterial synthesis including metal oxides (iron oxide and indium tin oxide), metal organic frameworks and carbon quantum dots; (4) a prototype chip functionalized with silver nanoparticles for supersensitive detection by surface-enhanced Raman scattering. The outcome of the project will bring the technology readiness level of the proposal manufacturing technique to 4 or above, ready for mid-scale pilot test. The proposed research is in line with the underlying technology for scalability of synthesis and deposition/manufacturing processes in the theme of Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies. Commercialization of the research outcome will lead to job creation and diversify local economic opportunities.