Science and Technology of Nanotube-Based Materials and Devices
Principal Investigators: O. Zhou (Physics), S. Washburn (Physics) Stephen M. Pizer, Russell M. Taylor II
Funding Agency: Office of Naval Research
Agency Number: N00014-98-1-0597
Abstract
We shall combine our expertise in nanometer-scale manipulations, polymer synthesis and super-critical CO2 processing, large scale ab initio and molecular dynamics simulations, low and high temperature electrical and optical characterization to the manipulation and control of carbon (and other) nanotubes for scientific studies and to enhance commercial possibilities in four major areas: energy storage, flat panel display emitters, structural composites and nano-scale electronic and mechanical devices.
Our collaboration combines 15 world-renowned chemists, computer scientists, materials scientists and condensed-matter physicists into a unique and powerful group within in a 30-mile-radius. This has already made for a tightly knit collaboration across campuses and disciplines in our studies of nanotubes. We are poised to attack problems of special relevance to the Department of Defense such as high density energy storage from metal intercalants in nanotubes and nanotube bundles or flat-panel displays made from (extremely sharp) nanotube emitters.
We will synthesize both single-wall and multi-wall carbon and non-carbon nanotubes with laser ablation or CVD. The resulting tubes will be studied in their pure form or intercalated with metals to form interesting and technologically useful materials. Patterned substrates will be studied for selective growth and for alignment of the tubes.
Structural and morphological analysis (Raman, TEM, etc) of tube diameter, helicity, uniformity and defects will be conducted simultaneously with synthesis to aid in directed synthetic parameters.
Use acids or our unique supercritical CO2 to separate the bundles of single-wall into individual molecules that can be studied one at a time (as with the nanoManipulator).
We shall use the nanoManipulator to study mechanical properties of individual tubes or complexes of tubes or tubes and other structures.
Our unique advantage of advanced image analysis and high speed graphics computing will be used to aid intuitive grasping of complex behavior of nanotubes during manipulation.
Nanotubes will be embedded into polymer or di-block co-polymer matrices to form composites. The wetting of tubes by the polymer and the ultimate strength of the composite will be studied with feedback into the polymer processing and an eye toward improved structural integrity of composites.
Individual tubes and complexes of tubes will be characterized electrically for photoconductivity and the effects of strain on conductivity.
Quantum effects in tubes and tube complexes will be studied at low temperature (down to 0.01K) as they appear in electronic conduction and magnetic susceptibility.
Throughout all phases of investigation quantum and classical models of tube behavior will be employed through large scale computational methods to understand the tube behavior in detail for a particular set of environmental constraints on the tubes (light, strain, ...).
Ultimately, the results of the scientific investigations will be applied to processing the nanotubes for use in four areas of vital interest to the Department of Defense: lightweight composites for mechanical strength, field emission electrodes for flat-panel displays, efficient charge transfer for compact energy storage and nanometer scale electrical and mechanical devices.