Design and Development of Energetic Nanostructured Systems for Energy, Environmental and Biomedical Applications
Karen Martirosyan
Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX
Date: February 1, 2008, Time: 3:30 pm, Location: W122-D3 Engineering Building 1, The University of Houston
Abstract:
The main topic of this presentation will focus on the fundamental aspects of strongly reactive/exothermic nano-particulate and multilayer nano-foils systems and its potential for fabrication of advanced electronic nanomaterials and devices for applications of power systems, energy storage, environmental, national security and health care. I will
show novel reactive systems that have the potential to enable a more concentrated energy release and potentially can be used as an active part for high power electromagnetic pulse generators in military application. Electromagnetic field generation and plasma emission during the combustion of high exothermic systems will be presented as well. A study of impact of the characteristics of the heat release on the evolution and features of the electro-magnetic field will be discussed. In addition, a novel cost-effective and energy efficient fabrication method of nanostructured complex oxides that we referred to as Carbon Combustion Synthesis of Oxides (CCSO) will be presented. In this process, the reactive oxidation of carbon/graphite nanoparticles generates a steep thermal wave (temperature gradient of up to 500 °C/cm) that propagates through the solid reactant mixture (oxides, carbonates or nitrates) converting it to the desired product. The high rate of CO2 release enables synthesis of highly porous complex oxides having a particle size in the range of 50-800 nm. XRD patterns, SEM and Raman Spectroscopy revealed the formation of high crystalline single phase particles with regular particle shape. The experimental results of fabrication of various devices such as hard and soft magnetic systems, bulk ceramic resistors, capacitors, catalytic trap, MRI contrast agent markers will be presented. Key factors that affected to the phase composition, particle size, and morphology of compositions as well as coercivity, magnetization, conductivity and other device characteristics will be discussed in detail.
