(5bj) Advanced Nanosystems for Energy, Environmental and Biomedical Applications

The main topic of this presentation will focus on development of nanostructured particulate systems and fabrication of advanced devices for energy storage, environmental protection, national security and health care. I will present novel nanoenergetic systems that have the potential to enable a more concentrated energy release and potentially can be used for various military applications such as an actuation parts, igniter, propulsion unit, gas-generators as well as an active part for high power electromagnetic pulse generators. Most previous research on metastable intermolecular composites or nanoenergetic materials focused on the impact of the particle size on the amplitude and velocity of the temperature front and the ignition features of the binary thermite reacting systems. Only few studies were concerned with the gas pressure evolution. We have recently shown that among common thermite reactions, the Al/Bi2O3 mixture generated the highest pressure pulse and may be used as a nanoenergetic gas generator (NGG) and has the potential of being used in next generation of weapons and explosives.

I will describe a novel cost-effective and energy efficient production of nanostructured complex oxides that we referred to as Carbon Combustion Synthesis of Oxides (CCSO). In this process, the reactive oxidation of carbon/graphite nanoparticles generates a steep thermal wave (temperature gradient of up to 500 ?aC/cm) that propagates through the solid reactant mixture (oxides, carbonates or nitrates) converting it to the desired products. The high rate of gas release enables synthesis of highly porous complex oxides having a particle size in the range of 50-800 nm. The experimental results of fabrication of various systems such as hard and soft magnetic materials, superconductors, multiferroics, bulk ceramic resistors, capacitors, photocatalysts with p-n junction, MRI contrast agents and cancer hyperthermia will be presented. Key factors that affected to the device characteristics (magnetization, conductivity, magnetic resonance relaxivity and other) will be discussed. The process may be scaled up for continuous large-scale production of complex oxides nanoparticles. Development of this emerging technologies warrant a multifaceted approach, which includes interdisciplinary collaboration, partnerships with industry and academia, and integration of modern problems into our curriculum.