Chemical routes to nanostructured materials

Abstract

Chemical synthesis has been used to fabricate polymerisable nanoparticles. Agglomerate free, well crystallised particles have been obtained by hydrothermal treatment and by using surface modifiers. Polymerisable liquids are used as modifiers to obtain polymerisable particles. Suspensions of these particles were used to carry out dip and spin on coating processes, either for optical applications or for superhard coatings. For optical purposes, a wet coating antireflection technology has been developed. The superhard coatings have been developed for polycarbonate plastic glazing for automobiles. These coatings are employed on top of nanocomposite (Nanomer) hard coatings and are cured by UV polymerisation. They show abrasion resistance of 1.5 haze after 1000 taber abrador cycles, a value which is similar to glass.     

Combustion synthesis: mechanically induced nanostructured materials

Combustion synthesis (CS) is a specific approach for fabrication of a variety of advanced materials through use of self-sustaining chemical reactions. Controlling over the microstructure of the material is a key factor in defining the maturity of a technology. In this work, we demonstrate that under specific conditions, morphology and microstructure of the initial reaction media do not change during the CS process. Thus, one may control the microstructure of CS materials by preparing the desired structure of the initial reaction media. Specifically, using examples from several systems, which include intermetallics (NiAl), ceramics (SiC) and refractory carbides (TiC), we demonstrate that combination of short-term high-energy ball milling and CS allows precise control over the morphology and phase composition of product powders.     

One dimensional nanostructured materials

The quest for materials with molecular scale properties that can satisfy the demands of the 21st century has led to the development of one dimensional nanostructures, ODNS. Nearly, every class of traditional material has an ODNS counterpart. ODNS has a profound impact in nanoelectronics, nanodevices and systems, nanocomposite materials, alternative energy resources and national security. The interface of nanoscience and technology with biological and therapeutic sciences is expected to radically improve the ability to provide efficient treatments in otherwise impossible situations. Ironically, the huge investment in the past few years across the globe is yet to bring the real benefit of nanotechnology in day to day life. While scientists and engineers are working towards this goal, concerns about the possible harmful effects of the high aspect ratio materials are increasing every day. Following is an effort to assimilate most of the aforementioned aspects including the entire gamut of ODNS, i.e., elements, ceramics, polymers and composites, with a brief discussion on CNT and toxicology. The focus of this article is mainly on the science behind the synthesis and properties of the ODNS rather than the device fabrication. However, a few challenges in the field of device fabrication are mentioned in appropriate contexts. Possible mechanisms of the ODNS evolution from various methods, such as vapor liquid solid (VLS), template based and electrochemically induced growth, have been discussed in detail. Electron microscopy analysis has received special focus in determining the unique structural features. The article concludes by discussing current research related to environment and toxicology effects and current challenges in this rapidly evolving field.     

Computational materials: Multi-scale modeling and simulation of nanostructured materials

The paper provides details on the current approach to multi-scale modeling and simulation of advanced materials for structural applications. Examples are given that illustrate the suggested approaches to predicting the behavior and influencing the design of nanostructured materials such as high-performance polymers, composites, and nanotube-reinforced polymers. Primary simulation and measurement methods applicable to multi-scale modeling are outlined. Key challenges including verification and validation are highlighted and discussed.     

Using biological inspiration to engineer functional nanostructured materials

Humans have always looked to nature for design inspiration, and material design on the molecular level is no different. Here we explore how this idea applies to nanoscale biomimicry, specifically examining both recent advances and our own work on engineering lipid and polymer membrane systems with cellular processes.     

Review: nanoparticles and nanostructured materials in papermaking

The introduction of nanoparticles (NPs) and nanostructured materials (NSMs) in papermaking originally emerged from the perspective of improving processing operations and reducing material consumption. However, a very broad range of nanomaterials (NMs) can be incorporated into the paper structure and allows creating paper products with novel properties. This review is of interdisciplinary nature, addressing the emerging area of nanotechnology in papermaking focusing on resources, chemical synthesis and processing, colloidal properties, and deposition methods. An overview of different NMs used in papermaking together with their intrinsic properties and a link to possible applications is presented from a chemical point of view. After a brief introduction on NMs classification and papermaking, their role as additives or pigments in the paper structure is described. The different compositions and morphologies of NMs and NSMs are included, based on wood components, inorganic, organic, carbon-based, and composite NPs. In a first approach, nanopaper substrates are made from fibrillary NPs, including cellulose-based or carbon-based NMs. In a second approach, the NPs can be added to a regular wood pulp as nanofillers or used in coating compositions as nanopigments. The most important processing steps for NMs in papermaking are illustrated including the internal filling of fiber lumen, LbL deposition or fiber wall modification, with important advances in the field on the in situ deposition of NPs on the paper fibers. Usually, the manufacture of products with advanced functionality is associated with complex processes and hazardous materials. A key to success is in understanding how the NMs, cellulose matrix, functional additives, and processes all interact to provide the intended paper functionality while reducing materials waste and keeping the processes simple and energy efficient.     

Dissipative properties of nanostructured materials

Results of studies of the effect of the size of micro-and substructure elements (grains, twin domains, etc) on the dissipative properties of materials have been generalized. It has been shown that when the size of the microstructure elements of materials decreases to nanoscale, their dissipative properties change qualitatively. This is due to a change in mechanical energy dissipation mechanism on the transition of material to nanostructured state. The possibility of creating a new class of highly damping hard coatings based on nanostructured materials is discussed. __________ Translated from Problemy Prochnosti, No. 5, pp. 96–104, September–October, 2008.     

Sodium vanadium oxides: From nanostructured design to high-performance energy storage materials

Developing high-capacity and low-cost cathode materials for metal-ion rechargeable batteries is the mainstream trend and is also the key to providing breakthroughs in making high-energy rechargeable batteries. Vanadium has a variety of valence states and can form a variety of vanadate structures. As a typical positive electrode material, vanadate has abundant ion adsorption sites, a unique “pillar” framework, and a typical layered structure. Therefore, it has the advantages of high specific capa...     

Review Stability of nanostructured materials

The different aspects of nanostructured material (NM) stability such as thermal and chemical stability as well as NM behavior under deformation and radiation are characterized and analyzed in detail. Grain growth, phase transitions (including spinodal decomposition), homogenization diffusion processes, relaxation of residual stresses, and behavior of grain boundary and triple junction segregations are discussed in context of the change of nanostructure and properties. Special interest is given to the availability of NMs with ultra-fine grain size and their behavior during annealing as soon as to the possibility of development of nanostructures with high thermal stability. Some unsolved problems are emphasized.     

Aerosol route to functional nanostructured inorganic and hybrid porous materials

The major advances in the field of the designed construction of hierarchically structured porous inorganic or hybrid materials wherein multiscale texturation is obtained via the combination of aerosol or spray processing with sol-gel chemistry, self-assembly and multiple templating are the topic of this review. The available materials span a very large set of structures and chemical compositions (silicates, aluminates, transition metal oxides, nanocomposites including metallic or chalcogenides nanoparticles, hybrid organic-inorganic, biohybrids). The resulting materials are manifested as powders or smart coatings via aerosol-directed writing combine the intrinsic physical and chemical properties of the inorganic or hybrid matrices with defined multiscale porous networks having a tunable pore size and connectivity, high surface area and accessibility. Indeed the combination of soft chemical routes and spray processing provides "a wind of change" in the field of "advanced materials". These strategies give birth to a promising family of innovative materials with many actual and future potential applications in various domains such as catalysis, sensing, photonic and microelectronic devices, nano-ionics and energy, functional coatings, biomaterials, multifunctional therapeutic carriers, and microfluidics, among others.     

Mimicking cellular environments by nanostructured soft interfaces

We present herein an innovative technique for decorating soft polymer surfaces with metallic nanostructures fabricated by diblock copolymer micelle nanolithography. Thus far, such nanolithography has been limited to plasma-resistant inorganic substrates such as glass. Our new development is based on the transfer of nanopatterns from glass to soft substrates. Special emphasis is given to hydrogel surfaces with respect to their properties for tailoring cell adhesion. Besides planar surfaces, periodic gold nanopatterns on curved surfaces have been fabricated, as demonstrated on the interior surface of a tubelike hydrogel, which potentially mimic situations of vessels in vivo.     

One-dimensional organic and organometallic nanostructured materials

One-dimensional (1D) organic and organometallic nanomaterials are of considerable interests for both fundamental research and potential applications. They are likely to play critical roles in improving the efficiency of various electronic, photonic, biosensing devices, etc. In this context, the authors present a comprehensive review of current research on 1D organic and organometallic nanostructures. The synthetic strategies for achieving the 1D growth are elucidated by four categories: (1) template-based synthesis, (2) vapor-solid method, (3) solution-based self-assembly, and (4) dictation by the anisotropic nature. The unique thermal, optical, electronic, field emission properties and biocidal activity of 1D organic and organometallic nanostructures are consequently highlighted. Some promising applications in (integrated) molecular electronic, optoelectronic and photonic devices are also discussed.     

微乳液及其制备纳米材料的研究

本文综述了目前存在的微乳液的制备方法、微观结构模型和形成理论 ,以及它在制备纳米粒子及纳米粒子 -聚合物复合材料方面的研究进展。对微乳液制备纳米材料的实施方法、影响因素及控制机理进行了归纳总结。     

Magneto-optical stokes polarimetry and nanostructured magnetic materials

Stokes parameters fully characterize the polarization state of light in an experimentally accessible manner. Photoelastic modulator (PEM) based Stokes polarimetry offers a very high sensitivity which is particularly suitable for the investigation of the magneto-optical properties of nanostructured magnetic materials. In this paper, we shall describe a robust methodology recently developed by us that utilizes a dual PEM setup. As an example of its application, we report on the magneto-optical characteristics of focused Ga ion beam patterned Fe films. We have investigated Ga ion irradiation of single-layer polycrystalline Fe films deposited on Si3N4 substrates, which allows us to study the effects of ion implantation with minimum added complications. Complemented by structural and other characterization techniques, the absolute measurement of magneto-optical effects through the determination of Stokes parameters has enabled us to effectively separate the various contributions from film thinning due to sputtering, structural modifications and compositional changes caused by Ga incorporation. A comparison is also made between the magneto-optical behavior of patterned thin films and that of anodic aluminum oxide embedded magnetic nanowire arrays.     

新型纳米结构炭材料的储氢研究

氢能是一种清洁的可再生能源。由于传统的储氢材料和储氢技术达不到氢燃料电池电动车的实用要求,储氢问题已成为氢能应用中最急需解决的关键问题。近年来,各种新型纳米结构炭材料的储氢已成为国际上的一个研究热点,引起了人们的广泛关注。但在这一研究领域中一直存在着许多争议和很大的分歧。通过综述国内外近几年来各种新型纳米结构炭材料如单壁碳纳米管、多壁碳纳米管、石墨纳米纤维以及炭纳米纤维等的储氢研究进展,指出了这一领域中需要解决的问题如储氢测试方法的标准化、纳米结构炭材料的评价以及储氢机制和吸附位的研究等。     

Synthesis and processing of nanostructured WC-Co materials

In this study a novel approach, termed the integrated mechanical and thermal activation (IMTA) process, was used to synthesize nanostructured WC-Co powder. As a result of the integration of mechanical and thermal activation, nanostructured WC-Co powder was synthesized below 1000°C, starting from WO₃, CoO and graphite powder mixtures. Furthermore, consolidation of the nanostructured WC-Co powder via high velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) thermal spraying and solid state sintering was investigated. The results demonstrated the feasibility of converting the nanostructured WC-Co powder to coatings and bulk components, the properties of which are either comparable to or better than that of the conventional coarse-grained counterparts.     

Modification of nanostructured materials for biomedical applications

Adaptation (or incorporation) of nanostructured materials into biomedical devices and systems has been of great interest in recent years. Through the modification of existing nanostructured materials one can control and tailor the properties of such materials in a predictable manner, and impart them with biological properties and functionalities to better suit their integration with biomedical systems. These modified nanostructured materials can bring new and unique capabilities to a variety of biomedical applications ranging from implant engineering and modulated drug delivery, to clinical biosensors and diagnostics. This review describes recent advances of nanostructured materials for biomedical applications. The methods and technologies used to modify nanostructured materials are summarized briefly, while several current interests in biomedical applications for modified and functionalized nanostructured materials are emphasized.     

Self-assembly of colloidal nanocrystals as route to novel classes of nanostructured materials

Colloidal crystallisation is the only way to obtain three-dimensional ordered materials in which semiconductor, metallic, and magnetic nanocrystals are in close contact. It is expected that the quantum mechanical and dipolar interactions between the nanocrystal units can lead to unseen physical phenomena and materials. Here we review the development of this new and exciting field. We first compare nanocrystal superlattices with regular atomic solids regarding their mechanical strength and opto-electronic properties. We describe how nanocrystal superlattices have been obtained from colloid suspensions in several ways. The thermodynamic driving force for colloidal crystallisation is discussed in terms of inter-particle interactions in a good solvent and entropy. We compare the binary superlattices that have been obtained by solvent evaporation with the predictions of the hard-sphere model and show that semiconductor nanocrystals in a good solvent can behave as hard spheres. Finally, we discuss the quantum mechanical and dipolar interactions in nanocrystal superlattices and review recent studies of the opto-electronic and magnetic properties of novel superlattice materials.