PROCESSING PARTICLE ASSEMBLIES INTO FUNCTIONAL THIN FILMS: ELUCIDATING MECHANISMS OF DEFECT FORMATION
Abstract
Manipulating both order and position of micro- and nanoparticle assemblies is essential to the next generation of functional composites for optics, sensing, and electronics. The presence of defects in particle assemblies, as in any material, limits the potential of such structures in achieving desired performance. In the last year, there have been several instances of lasers aimed at American pilots signifying a growing threat of photonic weapons in aviation safety and defense. Harnessing optical properties of colloidal and nanoparticle assemblies to absorb or scatter photons over large areas is an urgent need. Common approaches for incorporating particle assemblies into materials are by deposition of particles onto supports; the inverse approach of depositing supports onto colloids assembled at liquid surfaces is seemingly unexplored. We propose harnessing interfacial phenomena to incorporate colloidal assemblies stabilized at liquid surfaces into polymer thin films via chemical vapor deposition. This approach will strategically leverage trapped states of colloidal assemblies with dynamic polymer growth to independently control the organization of colloids from the polymer matrix for customization of material properties. Our overarching goal is harnessing simultaneous assembly and synthesis to preserve microstructures of colloidal assemblies for direct translation into thin film supports. Advances in precision processing of particle assemblies will create a new platform for producing next generation composites for Air Force applications.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 12, 2021
- Source ID
- FA95502010011
Entities
People
- Laura C Bradley
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- United States Air Force
- University of Massachusetts