Award Abstract #0243160
Experimental and Theoretical Investigation of Laser-Nanoparticle Interactions

NSF Org:	CBET Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems
Initial Amendment Date:	June 11, 2003
Latest Amendment Date:	July 30, 2003
Award Number:	0243160
Award Instrument:	Standard Grant
Program Manager:	Patrick E. Phelan CBET Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems ENG Directorate for Engineering
Start Date:	June 15, 2003
Expires:	May 31, 2007 (Estimated)
Awarded Amount to Date:	$470667
Investigator(s):	Shaochen Chen scchen@mail.utexas.edu (Principal Investigator) John Howell (Co-Principal Investigator)
Sponsor:	University of Texas at Austin P.O Box 7726 Austin, TX 78713 512/471-6424
NSF Program(s):	NANOMANUFACTURING, THERMAL TRANSPORT PROCESSES
Field Application(s):	0308000 Industrial Technology
Program Reference Code(s):	OTHR, 9251, 0000
Program Element Code(s):	1788, 1406

ABSTRACT

Nanoparticles are among the most important nanomaterials in nanoscience and nanoengineering. Innovative applications of these nanoparticles in an engineering system such as nanosphere-enhanced photolithography are emerging. However, little is known about the physics of the process, especially the optical and thermal transport issues involving extremely small length and time scales. This project will offer comprehensive investigations on the laser-nanosphere interaction process by a combination of experimental techniques and theoretical simulation, including ultrafast laser interaction with the nanospheres resting on a solid substrate, conduction and radiative heat transfer between the nanopsheres and the substrate, as well as surface nanostructuring as a result of the nanoscale optical interaction and heat transfer. From this research, a practical nanolithography tool will be developed for massively parallel nanomanufacturing of a variety of materials.

Results from this project will make a significant impact on the interdisciplinary field of nanoscale thermal transport, nanooptics, and nanomanufacturing. Moreover, the results of this work will provide exciting teaching materials and interesting lab projects for undergraduates, graduate students, and K-12 students and teachers.

The award has been funded jointly by the Thermal Transport and Thermal Processing Program of the Chemical and Transport Systems Division and by the Nanomanufacturing Program of the Division of Design, Manufacturing and Industrial Innovation.

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