Instrumentation for the Research and Education in the Field of Organic- Inorganic Nano-Composite Films
Abstract
The application is submitted in response to DoD Research and Education Program for HBCU/MI Equipment/Instrumentation Fiscal Year 2019, FOA W911NF-18-S-0006. The requested instrumentation includes (a) high-power femtosecond laser system based on laser Mai-Tai and amplifier Spitfire ACE PA from Newport/Spectra-Physics; (b) high brightness UV-Visible LED illuminator SSSOT-106X from SSS Optical Technologies; (c) variable-temperature resistivity measurement system PR04-4400 from Lucas/Signatone; and (d) high frequency 4-Stage, 4-Port low temperature/variable temperature microprobe system MHFK20P4-4R from MMR Technologies, Inc. The instrumentation will support the ongoing research/research-related education efforts of Dr. Darwish, the PI, in the direction of synthesis of organic-inorganic nanocomposite films. This research matches the needs of AFOSR: Scientific Directorate: Chemistry and biological sciences (RTB2): Technical Area/Program: Organic material chemistry. Such films combine organic and inorganic components in various proportions and have functionalities not attributed to the components themselves. The films include a least one component in the form of nanoparticles with sizes from one to few hundred nanometers. One of the few technologies that make possible to mix efficiently organic and inorganic components with broad variations of proportions and sizes is the concurrent multi-beam multi-target pulsed laser deposition (MBMT-PLD), which Dr. Darwish has been actively developing. Dr. DarwishÕs research is focused on two extreme types of the organic-inorganic nanocomposites. The first type are the films where the organic component (polymer) has a fractional volume of no less than 90% and serves as a host for the inorganic nanoparticles of fluorides of rare-earth (RE) elements with optical spectrum down-conversion functionality. The films work as efficient luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) converting solar UV light in the near-IR radiation optimized for silicon-based photovoltaic cells. The requested femtosecond laser system will make possible efficient open-air deposition of the films on the substrates of realistic dimensions larger then 6x 6 inches. The LED illuminator will simulate the UV solar spectrum to measure the capability of concentrating solar power by the films. The second, extreme type of the films are those where the organic component (polymer) occupies less than 10% of the volume. Inorganic material (thermoelectric (TE) semiconductor Al-doped ZnO or AZO) serves as a host for the polymer (poly(methyl methacrylate) known or PMMA) nano-inclusions. Adding the polymer improved the TE efficiency of the three times over pure AZO. The requested resistivity measurement and the microprobe systems together with femtosecond laser will make possible to build a complete in-house capability of the characterization of TE properties of the films and optimize their performance. The instrumentation will also have a positive impact on the STEM education at three departments of the School of STEM at Dillard: Physics/Pre-Engineering, Biology, and Chemistry. Additionally, the equipment will be made available to the faculty and students Tulane University and the University of New Orleans, collaborating with Dr. Darwish. There will be multiple occasions that the local high-school teachers and students will visit the lab of Dr. Darwish to become familiar with the requested instrumentation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Sep 04, 2019
- Source ID
- W911NF1910451
Entities
People
- Abdalla Darwish
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Dillard University
- Office of the Secretary of Defense