CINT Organization Chart

Complex Functional Nanomaterials
Rick Averitt, LANL
J. Liu, SNL

Description: Capabilities and expertise in materials synthesis and assembly, interfacial science, self-assembly processes, and structure/function characterization will form the basis of the Complex Functional Nanomaterials thrust area. The thrust area will support CINT's user program not only in areas directly related to the scientific directions of this thrust, but by providing materials synthesis and characterization capabilities essential to other thrust areas. Broad scientific themes that will be explored are understanding the relationships between materials synthesis approaches, resulting structure on the molecular and nanoscale, and the properties and performance of nanostructured materials. A key goal is to establish the scientific principles needed to design, synthesize and integrate nanomaterials into robust nanocomposite architectures and systems with desired functions and performance. To achieve this goal, it will be necessary to understand and investigate self-assembly processes, relevant interfacial phenomena, approaches to hierarchical organization of materials, and integration strategies to access phenomena not available in individual components. Another goal is to develop and exploit novel properties that are uniquely achieved through nanoscale structure, which will lead to materials with novel electronic and optical properties, mechanical behavior, transport phenomena, and chemical and catalytic responses. The activities within this thrust will be closely integrated with other CINT thrusts. For example, improved modeling and simulation tools will help predict behavior and guide the design of new materials that yield new phenomena, the integration of nanocomposite materials with biomolecular assemblies will be explored, and the synthesis and characterization capabilities within this thrust will support the other thrusts and needs of the user community.

Key equipment and facilities at full operation:
Í Versatile synthesis laboratories to support nanoparticle synthesis, synthesis and characterization of self-assembled materials, and colloid chemistry.
Í Preparation facilities for doing soft lithography and for depositing metallic and dielectric oxide layers on van der Waals-bonded solids such as pentacene and C60.
Í Characterization facilities, including solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance, infrared spectroscopic, Raman spectroscopy, UV-visible absorption, and thermal analysis.
Í High-resolution electron microscopy with automated spectral imaging system, focused ion beam system, X-ray diffraction and reflectivity.
Í Various electronic, magnetic and transport measurement capabilities.

Equipment and facilities at startup:
Í Laboratories for nanoparticulate materials synthesis and self-assembled, mesoporous film synthesis and characterization.
Í Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance laboratory, including high field and magic angle spinning capabilities.
Í High-resolution electron microscopy with automated spectral imaging system, focused ion beam system.
Í Magnetoelectric characterization laboratory.
Í Capability to deposit metallic and dielectric oxide layers on van der Waals-bonded solids such as pentacene and C₆₀.
Í X-ray diffraction (including microdiffraction and texture analysis).

Programs and personnel at startup: A number of ongoing programs will help sustain the capabilities required for the Complex Functional Nanomaterials thrust area during the startup phase. Scientific areas that are currently being explored under existing programs include:
(1) Nanoparticulate Materials Synthesis. Nano-scale powders of metals, metal oxides, metal hydroxides, and organo-metallic complexes can be synthesized. Size, uniformity and surface chemistry of the nanopowders can be controlled;
(2) Self-Assembled, Mesoporous Films. Silica based, mesoporous films are formed through an evaporation-assisted self-assembly process. The pore size and spacing be adjusted either through the processing conditions or after the film is fabricated by optically activating a photoacid generator;
(3) Modeling. The molecular modeling of self-assembly is elucidating the underlying phenomena and assisting in the interpretation of the experimental results. We use a variety of atomistic and molecular level modeling approaches that can handle sufficiently large systems and still keep enough molecular detail. This effort is closely integrated with activities in the Theory and Simulation thrust area;
(4) Fabrication and performance of field-effect devices in conductive polymers and C₆₀.

Key personnel who will contribute to the thrust area include the thrust leaders and the PI's of leveraged programs (A. Ramirez, D. Dimos, T. J. Boyle, C. J. Brinker, T. M. Alam, F. B. van Swol, V. Y. Butko, W. Cook, M. A. Rodriguez) along with their colleagues and collaborators. Collectively, the team's expertise spans chemistry synthesis, materials characterization (structure and properties), materials physics, computational modeling and simulation, electron spin resonance, nuclear magnetic resonance, polymeric materials, self-assembly processing, and microscopy.
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