(DURIP) PROGRAMMABLE LASIS (PRO-LASIS)- LARGE-SCALE MACHINE LEARNING DRIVEN NANOMANUFACTURING OF COMPOSITE ENERGETIC NANOMATERIALS (ENMS) WITH TUNABLE INTERFACIAL ACTIVITIES
Abstract
Energetic nanomaterials (ENMs) find applications in solid-state propellants and explosives due to the anticipated kinetically controlled ignition arising from large specific surface areas, metastable structures and smaller diffusion lengths in nanoscale regimes. Past works have provided fundamental understanding on size-dependent properties and heat release mechanisms of metal nanoparticles (NPs) (Al, Ni, Si, etc.) and composite Al-oxidizer mixtures including nano-Al in explosives and pyrotechnics, as reported in the PI’s earlier works. Yet, the large heat release in first-generation ENMs are often offset by hindered detonation rates due to the fuel-oxidizer diffusion lengths and rates being compromised by excessive oxide shell formations and NP aggregations. To this end, few research efforts have tapped into the unique yet, diverse possibilities of tuning ENM reactivity by tailoring their metastable states and surface structural rearrangements in organic-inorganic fullerene-like shell-core nanostructures that can lead to excess internal stresses while preserving the active cores for safe activation under desired conditions. Although such efforts would be novel and commendable, inherent challenges in the design and synthesis of metastable NPs have stymied their potential as future ENMs. The PI’s group has recently conceptualized and patented the Laser Ablation Synthesis in Solution-Galvanic Replacement Reaction (LASiS-GRR; US Pat.- 2017-0296997 A1) for the synthesis of diverse composite NPs, including tailored Al cores in graphitic C shells and metastable Al-C NPs in pyrolyzed carbonaceous matrices. Under current ARO (W911NF1820305) and AFOSR (FA9550-19-1-0366) grants, these composite ENMs were tested at the US Army Research Lab (Aberdeen, MD) to indicate high reactivity and reduced activation barriers. Such promising results are still limited by the small-scale batch production (~10-30 mgs) and the lack of complete knowledge on the structure-composition-function properties of the as-manufactured metastable ENMs. This DURP proposal aims to address the aforementioned bottlenecks in the current batch LASiS system via design, installation and operation of a programmable LASiS (Pro-LASiS) system. The proposed system will enable advanced data-driven large-scale nano-manufacturing by integrating the current LASiS set-up with the following systems- 1) kHz-MHz frequency pulsed (psec and nsec) lasers with tunable pulse energies and beam profiles, 2) spatially controlled, high accuracy laser focusing via ultra-fast laser scanners operated with a continuous-flow laser ablation cell, and 3) in-situ, data-driven laser spectroscopic characterizations of the laser-induced plasma species evolution via machine learning-driven spectral data analyses. The diverse yet, precise tuning of the LASiS process parameters achieved via such data-driven nano-manufacturing systems will allow- 1) superior control on the thermodynamics and kinetics of the technique to drive desired structure-property relations in tailored sizes-shapes, crystallinity, and compositions of unique and metastable composite ENMs, and 2) enable desired tuning of the rate-controlled kinetics to ensure high productivity (up to ~200-500 gms in less than 1-2 hrs.), stability, and lowcost manufacturing.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Mar 07, 2023
- Source ID
- FA95502110187
Entities
People
- Dibyendu Mukherjee
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- United States Air Force
- University of Tennessee