Nanoparticles in Situ Surface Growth for Direct Fabrication of Functional Patterned Nanomaterials

Introduction

Due to their unique physicochemical properties, nanopatterned surfaces can contribute to important technological innovations for efficient optical and communication devices, long-lasting batteries, and ultrasensitive diagnostic devices.

Bottom-Up Synthesis

Bottom-up synthesis enables the construction of nanomaterials atom-by-atom from precursors using synthetic chemistry, usually producing colloidal nanoparticle suspensions that are later assembled on a surface. Alternatively, the fabrication process can be greatly simplified by applying bottom-up growth directly on a substrate. However, these “in situ” growth routes remain largely unexplored and poorly understood.

Proposed Methodology

To address this knowledge gap and improve the versatility and quality of this class of approaches, I propose to use an unconventional methodology called “chemical contrast in situ growth” or CC-iSG, where precise nanometric chemical contrast drives nanostructure formation at pre-determined sites.

Objectives of NANOGROWDIRECT

With NANOGROWDIRECT, I will develop a foundational understanding of CC-iSG through the interrogation of fundamental synthetic aspects and maximize its potential for achieving exemplary control over nanoscale properties of nanosurfaces and metamaterials.

Key Focus Areas

I will interrogate the effect of the identity, concentration, and delivery of various reactants to the pre-determined reaction sites, focusing on:

1. Chemical control (Objective 1)
2. Fluid dynamic control (Objective 2)
3. Testing the use of non-chemical external factors, such as electromagnetic fields (Objective 3)
4. Electrochemical potentials (Objective 4)

Short-Term and Long-Term Impact

In the short term, CC-iSG will open up unexplored directions for engineering physicochemical properties of patterned nanosurfaces, combining wet chemistry and external stimuli.

Consequently, in the long term, the far-reaching impacts of NANOGROWDIRECT will go beyond the field of nanochemistry and yield breakthroughs in:

• (Photo/electro)catalysis
• Energy production and storage
• Medicine
• Communications