The Synthesis and Distribution of Carbon Nanostructures in the Interstellar Medium

碳纳米结构的合成及其在星际介质中的分布

• 批准号: 2137919
• 负责人: Jacob Bernal
• 金额: $ 30万
• 依托单位: Bernal, Jacob J
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Fellowship Award
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2021-09-01 至 2024-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2137919&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Synthesis; Distribution; Carbon; Nanostructures; Interstellar

Jacob J Bernal is awarded a Mathematical and Physical Sciences Ascending Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (MPS-Ascend) to conduct a program of research and education at the University of Arizona. He will explore the synthesis and interstellar presence of carbon nanostructures (such as fullerenes and nanotubes) from shock heating of silicon carbide (SiC) circumstellar dust grains. The astronomical detection of fullerenes transformed our understanding of chemical complexity in the Interstellar Medium (ISM). Dr. Bernal is working to overcome the perception that education has historically been used as a tool of assimilation and control of Native Americans, resulting in a lasting negative perception and distrust of higher learning institutions. Recent findings, published by Bernal and collaborators, revealed that shock heating of SiC grains produced carbon nanobuds, which can subsequently close to form fullerenes. The findings also point to formation of carbon nanotubes, if SiC molecules are heated to higher temperatures and longer heating durations. These nanostructures would become the largest known molecules in the ISM, consisting entirely of reduced carbon, and destruction of these nanotubes may account for the presence of previously detected complex organic molecules. This could have implications for studies of meteoritic materials and astrobiology. He will build awareness of astronomical observatory facilities on the Tohono O’odham Nation and demonstrate that STEM careers are attainable while remaining in the supportive local community structure of the Tribe.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

雅各布·J·伯纳尔 (Jacob J Bernal) 获得数学和物理科学提升博士后研究奖学金 (MPS-Ascend)，在亚利桑那大学开展研究和教育项目，他将探索碳纳米结构（例如富勒烯和纳米管）的合成和星际存在。 ) ) 来自碳化硅 (SiC) 星周尘埃颗粒的冲击加热 富勒烯的天文探测改变了我们对星际介质 (ISM) 化学复杂性的理解。伯纳尔博士正在努力克服这样一种观念，即教育历来被用作同化和控制美洲原住民的工具，从而导致人们对高等教育机构产生持久的负面看法和不信任。伯纳尔及其合作者最近发表的研究结果表明，碳化硅颗粒的冲击加热产生了碳纳米芽，这些碳纳米芽随后可以接近形成富勒烯，这些发现还表明，如果碳化硅分子被加热到更高的温度和更长的加热时间，这些纳米结构将成为已知的最大分子。在 ISM 中，完全由还原碳组成，这些纳米管的破坏可能解释了先前检测到的复杂有机分子的存在，这可能会对陨石材料和天体生物学的研究产生影响。 O'odham Nation 并证明，在部落的支持性当地社区结构中，STEM 职业是可以实现的。该奖项反映了 NSF 的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优点和能力进行评估，被认为值得支持。更广泛的影响审查标准。

项目成果

Destructive Processing of Silicon Carbide Grains: Experimental Insights into the Formation of Interstellar Fullerenes and Carbon Nanotubes

碳化硅颗粒的破坏性加工：星际富勒烯和碳纳米管形成的实验见解

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.2c01441
• 发表时间: 2022-06
• 期刊: The Journal of Physical Chemistry A
• 作者: Bernal, Jacob J.;Zega, Thomas J.;Ziurys, Lucy M.
• 通讯作者: Ziurys, Lucy M.