Inorganic nanomaterials: Structure, properties and function

无机纳米材料：结构、性质和功能

• 批准号: RGPIN-2016-04562
• 负责人: Trudel, Simon
• 金额: $ 2.19万
• 依托单位: University of Calgary
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=748130
• 关键词: Inorganic; nanomaterials; Structure; properties; function

This research program's overarching goal is to develop insight into how structure and composition affect functional properties in simple solid-state inorganic primarily metal-oxide materials. This program targets systems with broadly-defined low dimensionality (e.g. nanomaterials with a physical size less than 100 nm; or materials in which local atomic order is greatly reduced beyond a few nanometers, i.e. amorphous materials). Functionality is always at the centre of our focus; useful catalytic, magnetic and/or optical functional properties are core to this program.Our group has shown that simple, low-cost amorphous metal-oxide coatings offer state-of the art performance for water splitting, an energy-storage method wherein water is split into O2 and H2 fuel, using renewable energy. A challenge in working with amorphous materials is the lack of a structural description, especially under active catalysis. Taking advantage of x-ray spectroscopic methods we will probe structure and oxidation states of materials in situ and in operando. Combined with electrochemical investigations, this will provide an unprecedented insight into how these complex yet simple catalysts function. A second stream of this research program compares how synthetic approaches to amorphous zinc oxide semiconductors influence their physical properties, with the aim of identifying champion methods to making semiconductors that are compatible with low-temperature processing. Finally, a third stream focuses on our recent efforts to develop high-performance iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) for use in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We have recently shown that maltol, a simple chelating molecule, can bind to the surface of IONPs. We will adapt the strategy we have taken thus far to form IONPs with different compositions to improve magnetic properties and / or toxicity, and create more intricate (e.g. core-shell) nanostructures. The end deliverable of these modifications is a capable MRI contrast agent with maximized solubility and shelf-life, minimized cytotoxicity and adverse biological effects, while at the same time maintaining or improving MRI capabilities.This research program develops the conceptual tools to further design next-generation functional nanoscaled materials that tackle grand-challenge problems, including clean-energy transformation and storage (water-splitting catalysis) and better, accessible health solutions for non-invasive diagnostics (MRI). We take a multidisciplinary approach to preparing and characterizing materials with state-of-the-art methods. The implications of this research program are far-reaching: e.g. the deeper understanding of the oxygen-evolution reaction can find application and benefit myriad industries where energy-intensive small-molecule transformations are required.

该研究计划的总体目标是洞悉结构和组成如何影响简单的固态无机材料中主要是金属氧化物材料的功能性能。该程序针对具有广泛定义的低维度的系统（例如，物理尺寸小于100 nm的纳米材料；或局部原子序列的材料大大降低了几纳米，即无定形材料）。功能始终是我们重点的中心。有用的催化性，磁性和/或光学功能性能是该程序的核心。我们的组表明，使用可再生能源，简单的低成本非定量金属氧化物涂层为水分裂提供了最新的最先进的表现，其中一种能量存储方法将水分为O2和H2燃料。使用无定形材料的挑战是缺乏结构描述，尤其是在主动催化下。利用X射线光谱方法，我们将探测原位和操作中材料的结构和氧化态。结合电化学研究，这将为这些复杂而简单的催化剂如何功能提供前所未有的见解。该研究计划的第二个流进行了比较如何将无定形氧化锌半导体的合成方法影响其物理特性，目的是识别冠军方法以使与低温处理兼容的半导体方法。最后，第三个流着重于我们最近开发高性能铁纳米颗粒（IONP）的努力，用于磁共振成像（MRI）。我们最近表明，一种简单的螯合分子Maltol可以与IONP的表面结合。我们将适应迄今为止我们采取的策略，以形成不同的组成，以改善磁性和 /或毒性，并创建更复杂的（例如核心壳）纳米结构。这些修改的结束是一种有能力的MRI对比剂，具有最大化的溶解度和保质期，最小化的细胞毒性和不良生物学效果，同时保持或改善MRI功能。这项研究计划开发了概念工具，以进一步设计的材料，包括越来越多的材料，包括越来越清洁的材料，包括越来越清洁的材料（包括固定型号），并构成了良好的效果，并构成了良好的效果，并构成了良好的效果（效果），并构成了良好的效果，并构成了良好的效果（包括），并构成了良好的效果（效果）。更好，可访问的非侵入性诊断解决方案（MRI）。我们采用多学科方法来准备和表征最先进的方法。该研究计划的含义是深远的：对氧气进化反应的更深入的了解可以找到应用和有益于能源密集的小分子转化的无数行业。