Synthesis of multi-functional materials with tailored properties using scalable ultrasound directed self-assembly and additive manufacturing
Abstract
The technical objective of the proposed effort is to explore the use of bulk ultrasound waves as a scalable directed self-assembly method, to organize large amounts of nanoparticles dispersed in a polymer host medium, into a three-dimensional user-specified pattern. The proposed effort is based on significant breakthroughs in ultrasound manipulation of large quantities of nanoparticles in two dimensions, and seeks to accomplish the stated technical objective by focusing on three primary scientific efforts. First, the proposed research will seek to derive a direct solution method to relate any three-dimensional (3D) pattern of particles to the ultrasound transducer settings and transducer arrangement required to assemble that pattern of particles. This portion of the work will target expanding the existing ultrasound directed self-assembly (DSA) model from two to three dimensions, accounting for operating and design parameters of the ultrasound transducers that create the pressure wave field, the particle and host medium properties, in addition to reflections of ultrasound waves from the reservoir walls and particles. Second, the proposed effort will account for non-spherical particles in the ultrasound directed self-assembly method established by the first effort. This will include derivation of the theory to calculate the ultrasound transducer settings (amplitude and phase) for any number of ultrasound transducers around the perimeter of a fluid reservoir of any geometry. Furthermore, a bead-chain model will be implemented to represent carbon nanotubes and other elongated particle geometries as a chain of rigidly connected spheres. Finally, the proposed work will endeavor to experimentally validate the ultrasound directed self-assembly method established in the first two efforts, and characterize the operating limits of the ultrasound directed self-assembly method in a macroscale (~ cm3) liquid polymer volume. The preliminary portion of this effort will seek to validate the 3D ultrasound directed self-assembly forward and inverse model in air to provide simple visual observation and verification. Validation in polymer media will require more complex analysis and microscopy techniques, which we will be performed after successful validation in air. This portion of the effort will also attempt to incorporate the ability to assemble macroscale user-specified patterns of particles with stereolithographic additive manufacturing.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Mar 27, 2017
- Source ID
- W911NF1610457
Entities
People
- Bart Raeymaekers
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- United States Army
- University of Utah