Growth Mechanisms and Controlled Synthesis of Nanomaterials

The goal of this program is to to develop a fundamental understanding of the non-equilibrium aspects of nanomaterial synthesis by exploring the growth mechanisms and resulting structures of nanoscale materials formed in controlled environments. Pulsed, non-equilibrium growth and processing approaches, such as those involving lasers and supersonic molecular beams, are developed to supply the necessary kinetic energy required to explore the synthesis of nanostructures with metastable phases and structures that are inaccessible using traditional synthetic methods. A distinguishing feature of the program is the development and application of time-resolved, in situ diagnostics of nanomaterial growth kinetics and a corresponding development of models to understand the underlying kinetic and chemical pathways. Spatial confinement and reactive quenching approaches are developed to explore the synthesis mechanisms of rationally-designed nanostructures with enhanced intrinsic properties, targeting: (1) oxide, carbon, and alloy nanomaterials produced in metastable states by catalyst-free or catalyst-mediated processes, and (2) doped, decorated, and filled nanomaterial hybrids designed to induce permanent electric fields or distribute charge within nanostructures. Predictive theoretical methods are used to guide and understand the synthesis and processing experiments for the formation of nanostructures relevant to DOE#s energy mission.