Nanotechnology Research in Chemical & Biomolecular

Engineering

Participating faculty: Ruben Carbonell (photoresists, bioseparations, coatings)

Joe DeSimone (PRINT nano particle fabrication)Michael Dickey (nanoelectronics, nano-fabrication,

theory)Jan Genzer (polymers at interfaces, assembly,

theory)Keith Gubbins (transport in porous media)Carol Hall (pattern recognition, protein

aggregation)Saad Khan (polymer rheology, associative

polymers)Henry Lamb (catalysis, electronic materials)Greg Parsons (molecular electronics, solar energy)Rich Spontak (polymer morphology, processing,

blends)Orlin Velev (nanodevice fabrication, colloidal

science)

Microfluidics

Combinatorial research

Bulk & surface

assembly Energy harvesting

Biointerfaces

Molecular transportatio

n

Chemical pattern

recognitionOrganic/inorganic

nanocomposites

Computer simulations vs.

experiment

Bio-colloids

Chemical & topographical control of

surfaces

“nanotopics” of interest in NCSU’s CBE

Electronic materials

Self-organizing systemsBlock and graft copolymersFunctionalized polymersAsphaltenic aggregatesNanoparticlesPatterning

Interfacial modificationSelf-assembly and forced assemblyCombinatorial polymer-grafted surfacesHierarchical dewetting and stabilization

Nanocomposites & nanoporous mediaNanofiller-induced physical gelationControlled nanoparticle growthAdsorption phenomena & separationsNanoparticle assemblies

Novel materials processingCryomechanical alloyingPolymerizations in scCO2

Thin-film foaming in scCO2

Electric field-induced material organization

m

Nanoscience Concentration @ NCSU’s CBE

For students who wish to develop expertise in the technology associated with nanoelectronics, nanotechnology, and functional nanomaterials

Chemical Processing of Electronic Materials Colloid & Surface Science Polymeric Nanomaterials

CHE/MSE 455 Polymer Technology and Engineering  CHE 460: Nano-Electronic Materials           CHE 461: Polymer Sciences and TechnologyCHE 462: Fundamentals of Bio-NanotechnologyCHE 465: Colloidal and Nanoscale EngineeringCHE 467: Polymer RheologyCHE 596-006: Nanoscience           CHE 596-008: Polymers at Interfaces and in Confined Geometries    MSE 355: Electrical, Magnetic & Optical Properties of Materials                  MSE 460: Microelectronic MaterialsPY 407: Intro to Modern Physics          

In addition to the “core CHE courses”, the nanoscience concentration includes:

“The principles of physics, as far as I can see, do not speak against the possibility of maneuvering things atom by atom…… it is interesting that it would be, in principle possible for a physicist to synthesize any chemical substance that the chemist writes down. Give the orders, and physicist synthesizes it. How?

Put the atoms where the chemist says, and so you make the substance”

Richard Feynman Nobel LaureateCaltech, 1959

10 nm

Atomic/Subatomic scale

Meso-scale

1 nm

1 Å

100 nm

1 m “Top down” approach - Lithography

“Bottom-up” approach - Chemical Synthesis

A.N. Shipway et al., Chemphyschem, 2001

“There is plenty of room at the bottom”

Courtesy of the Archives, Caltech

J an Feb Mar

Apr May J un

J ul Aug Sep

Oct Nov Dec

Historic Periods:(1 day in our calendar 30 real years)

Neolithic 9000BC Jan 1

Bronze 3200BC Jul 5

Iron 1200BC Sep 10

(steel) 1850 Dec 27

Silicon 1950 Dec 30(semiconductors) (10 AM)

Synthetic 1990 Dec 31(polymers, superconductors,...) (4 PM)

Humans appear on Earth about 230 days ago and live

in caves until early May !

(I fear that some people still live there now…)

History of a humankind in a more blunt perspective…

Nanotechnology: the last few minutes of December 31Nanotechnology: the last few minutes of December 31stst ! !

Some of the applications outlined there may be rather “far fetched”, but it’s okay… one

never really knows…

If you want to get more info about

nanotechnology or even get inspiration about possible applications, check out this special

issue of Scientific American

Before we start building these

nanomachines or even start thinking about doing so, we

have to learn about surfaces and surface patterns.

Let’s start then…

• Knowledge base better comprehension of nature, life

• A new world of products ~ $1 trillion / year in 10-15 years Materials beyond what chemistry can do: $340B/y in 10 years for

materials and processingElectronics in 10-15 years: $300B/y for semiconductor industry, times more for global integrated circuits Pharmaceuticals in 10-15 years: about half of production will depend on nanotechnology, affecting about $180 B/y Chemical plants in 10-15 years: nanostructured catalysts in petroleum and chemical processing, about $100B/y Aerospace: (about $70B/y in 10 years, estimation by industry group)

• Would require worldwide ~ 2 million nanotech workers

• Improved healthcare extend life-span, its quality, human physical capabilities (~ $31B in tools for healthcare in 10 years)

• Sustainability agriculture, water, energy (~$45B/y in 10 years), materials, environment; ex: lighting energy reduction ~ 10% or $100B/y

M.C. Roco, NSF, 05/23/02Ref: Societal Implications of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Kluwer, 2001, pp. 3-4.

Promise of nanotechnology(M. Roco, Senior NSF and government advisor)

Areas that already see (or could do so shortly) of commercial applications of nanotechnology

drug delivery catalysts (many applications)

solar energy (photovoltaic or direct hydrogen production)

coatings (extra hard or with novel properties)

batteries implants that encourage cell growth

display technologies and e-paper insulation (thermal and electrical)

medical imaging technologies composites containing nanotubes (multi-walled)

sensors (bio and chemical) nanoparticle composites

bioanalysis tools textiles and filters

bioseparation technologies higher capacity hard drives

printable electronic circuits new forms of computer memory

alloys (e.g. steel or those used in prosthetics)

single photon generators and detectors; new solid-state lasers

abrasives; glues; lubricants; paints; fuels and explosives

optical and electro-optical components

NANOTECH: The Tiny Revolution2001-2002 CMP Cientifica

Do “ChEM-ies” fit into the NANO-world?

Absolutely YES.

Many new great opportunities exist for growth, development, and progress in traditional areas… + NANO!

Traditional Chemical Engineering morphed into many new fields…

And it pays off!

Graduates with B.S in Chemical Engineering (“universal engineers”) are the highest paid engineers in the US (starting $63K in 2012)

Wheel of

fortune!