Catalyst discovery through megalibraries of nanomaterials
Abstract
Discovering new materials is traditionally a slow process, as the materials genome encompasses a massive parameter space, particularly on the nanoscale where synthesis methods are less universal. To overcome this challenge, a cantilever-free lithography method has been used to deposit millions of discrete nanoreactors on a substrate, which can be transformed into millions of nanoparticles spatially encoded in terms of composition and size. These compositions were screened for their ability to catalytically grow carbon nanotubes, and a composition (Au 3 Cu) was identified as optimum for this application. More generally, this combinatorial method of synthesizing nanoparticle megalibraries offers researchers a platform for identifying structures with desired properties at a rate not previously possible.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Dec 17, 2018
- Source ID
- 10.1073/pnas.1815358116
Entities
People
- Benji Maruyama
- Brian Meckes
- Chad Mirkin
- Edward J Kluender
- James L. Hedrick
- Jingshan Du
- Keith A Brown
- Liane M. Moreau
- Rahul Rao
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Air Force Research Laboratory
- Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate
- Division of Electrical, Communications & Cyber Systems
- Division of Materials Research
- National Cancer Institute
- Northwestern University
- Office of Naval Research
- Sherman Fairchild Foundation