2011 NSF RESEARCH EXPERIENCES FOR UNDERGRADUATES (REU) IN
NANOMATERIALS AND NANOMECHANICS
May 20 – July 27, 2012
Department of Mechanical Engineering
PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS
Research Topic #1: Carbon Nanotubes for ISFET Application
Faculty Mentor: Uchechukwu C. Wejinya (PI), Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Ph.D. Graduate Student Mentor: Zhuxin Dong
Problem Statement: In recent years, there has been increasing interest in monitoring and controlling of
pH. It has become an important aspect of many industrial wastewater treatment processes. At the same
time, the demand for smaller electronic devices used for various industrial and commercial applications
has greatly increased. Micro and nano materials, such as Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs), are known for their
excellent electrical and mechanical properties, as well as for their small size, therefore they are good
candidates to manufacture micro or nano electronic devices. These devices can be used for pH control.
However, this cannot be achieved unless CNTs with metallic or semiconducting band structures can be
successfully deposited and separated.
Objectives and Research Plan: The objective of this work is to study the electrical and mechanical
properties of carbon nanotubes in order to determine the band structures. The research plan consists
primarily of three main tasks: 1) Micro electrode design and fabrication, 2) Carbon nanotube deposition
and verification using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), and 3) Measurement and testing. Training
Plan:Week 1—Project Overview, Introduction to Atomic Force Microscope, Weeks 2-3, Clean room
training, Weeks 4-5, Microchips fabrication, CNT deposition, Weeks 6-8, Measurements and Testing,
Weeks 9-10, Report writing and preparation of final presentation
Research Facilities:Micro and Nano Systems Engineering Laboratory
Research Project #2: Diffusion/Corrosion Sensing with Metal Nano-Particle Polymer Composites
Faculty Mentor: Adam Huang, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Ph.D. Graduate Student Mentor: Feng Pan
Problem Statement: The annual cost of corrosion prevention and damage to our nation’s infrastructure is
over 5% of the GDP. The majority of the cost related to corrosion is on metallic structures.
Miniaturizing corrosion sensors will enable the development of smart infrastructures and reduce the cost
associated with structure health monitoring (SHM) since conventional corrosion sensors are large and
difficult to embed into structures at a large scale. Metal nano-particle polymer composites can provide
new capabilities as sensing elements for MEMS-based corrosion sensors. The key in the development of
such a sensor is the understanding of its diffusion and corrosion processes. Such a sensor uses the
reaction of metal particles embedded in elastomeric polymers to detect corrosion, while the polymer
matrix provides the selectivity of the penetrating ion and gas species.
Objectives and Research Plan: The objectives are to study the diffusion and corrosion processes of such
a polymer. The objective for the diffusion process entails the study of diffusion rates in the composites
with different filler and matrix composition ratios and types. The objective for the corrosion process
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entails the emersion of various sensor element materials and types into corrosive mediums and salt sprays
to gather corrosion data from physical morphology and electrical conductivity.
Training Plan: Weeks 1-3: electrode mask design and nano-particle composite fabrication; Week 4: test
sample measurements. Training equipment includes basic micro fabrication techniques and atomic force
microscopy.
Research Facilities: Engineered Micro/Nano-Systems Laboratory
Research Topic #3: Minimum Quantity Lubrication using Nanolubricants
Faculty Mentor: Ajay P. Malshe, Ph.D., Professor and 21st Century Chair of Materials, Manufacturing
and Integrated Systems
Ph.D. Graduate Student Mentor: Parash Kalita
Problem Statement: In current grinding and deep hole drilling applications, minimum quantity
lubrication (MQL) is not often applied. However, the benefits are clear in terms of potentially better
surface quality and improved environmental impact. A better understanding of the role of nanoparticles
in achieving an ideal MQL is needed.
Objectives and Research Plan: The objective is to establish a fundamental understanding of the
mechanical behavior of nanoparticle-based lubricants for MQL machining. In particular, MoS2
nanoparticles will be added to conventional lubricants and tested in grinding applications. Preliminary
results indicated significant improvement, but more tests are needed.
Training Plan: Weeks 1-3: MQL background; Weeks 2-3: SEM.
Research Facilities: Materials and Manufacturing Research Laboratories
Research Topic #4: Creep-Fatigue Behavior of Power-Plant Materials
Faculty Mentor: Ashok Saxena, Ph.D., Dean, Distinguished Professor, and 21st Century Graduate
Research Chair of Materials Science and Engineering
Ph.D. Graduate Student Mentor: Valli Kalyansundaram
Problem Statement: New and accurate models are needed to predict the design life of high efficiency
power-plant components such as turbines, headers and piping. New, high chromium materials are being
developed for higher temperature applications to boost the thermal efficiencies of fossil power-plants.
Creep-fatigue life of these materials will determine the service temperatures of these components.
Objectives and Research Plan: The objective is to separate the role of creep and fatigue and their
synergistic effects in determining the damage kinetics of high chromium steels. The test material chosen
for the study will be a 9Cr steel. These tests will be incorporated into physically based models for
predicting high temperature time and cycle dependent crack formation and growth in a nonlinear fracture
mechanics framework.
Training Plan: Week 1: fracture mechanics, familiarity with servo-hydraulic machines, creep machines;
Weeks 2-4: laboratory testing and SEM analysis.
Research Facilities: Mechanical Properties Research Laboratory
Research Topic #5: Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Polymers and Polymer Structure
Faculty Mentor: Douglas Spearot, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Ph.D. Graduate Student Mentors: Varun Ullal
Problem Statement: Atomistic simulation methods are quite robust for crystalline materials, such as
metals and ceramics. However, methods for applying molecular dynamics simulations to polymers and
other semi-amorphous materials to study mechanical properties are still in their infancy.
Objectives and Research Plan: The objective of this work is to study the structure and mechanical
properties of polymers via molecular dynamics simulations. Both coarse-grained and all-atom atomistic
simulation models will be employed using existing codes in the Spearot research group. This research is
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designed to strengthen the student’s current knowledge of polymers from chemistry and materials
sciences courses.
Training Plan: Weeks 1-2: Molecular dynamics and atomic visualization; Weeks 3-4: Polymer structure
and cross-linking; Weeks 5-9: Molecular dynamics simulations of polymer structure and mechanical
properties; Week 10: Report writing and final presentation.
Research Facilities: Arkansas High Performance Computing Center (hpc.uark.edu).
Research Topic #6: Carbon Nanotube Based Biosensor
Faculty Mentor: Steve Tung, Ph.D., Associate Professor, and 21st Century Professorship in ME
Ph.D. Graduate Student Mentor: Balaji Srinivasan
Problem Statement: The development of micro and nanoscale biosensors for biological and biomedical
applications has become increasingly important in recent years due to concerns of homeland security and
rising health care costs. Carbon nanotubes, with their naturally small size and remarkable material
properties, provide an ideal building block for manufacturing ultrasensitive biosensors at the nanoscale.
Objectives and Research Plan: The objective is to design and fabricate a carbon nanotube based
biosensors. The research plan is composed of three main tasks: nanotube manipulation between
electrodes, bio-functionalization of the aligned nanotubes, and sensor testing in a micro/nano fluidic
system.
Training Plan: Weeks 1-2: microfabrication; Weeks 3-4: carbon nanotube processing; Week 5: sensor
testing.
Research Facilities: Micro and Nano Systems Laboratory
Research Topic # 7: Utilizing Nanoparticles to Enhance Heat Transfer in Heating and Cooling Equipment
Faculty Mentor: Darin Nutter, Ph.D., P.E., Associate Professor
Ph.D. Graduate Student Mentor: Wei Guo
Problem Statement: The heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system plays a vital role in
maintaining comfort, health, and security within residential or commercial buildings. Surprisingly, the
basic HVAC system has not significantly changed over the last 20-30 years, including the use of the
vapor compression refrigeration cycle and the use of common and more recently alternative refrigerants.
The use of nanoparticles in heat transfer media is in its infancy and their potential impact toward
efficiency gains in HVAC equipment. More specifically, the REU student will participate in the
performance of comparative heat transfer experiments using nanoparticles entrained with refrigerant R134a and R-410a.
Objectives and Research Plan: The objective is to evaluate the applicability of nanoparticles to increase
heat transfer in the field of heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems. The Research
Plan involves learning about the various nanoparticles available and testing their performance.
Training Plan: Weeks 1-2: nanoparticle fundamentals; Weeks 3-6: experiments; Weeks 7-10: analysis
and paper/reporting.
Research Facilities: Laboratory for Energy Systems Studies (LESS)
Research Topic #8: Mechanical and Tribological Properties of Nano-engineered Surfaces
Faculty Mentor: Min Zou, Ph.D., Associate Professor and 21st Century Professorship in ME
Ph.D. Graduate Student Mentor: Robert Fleming
Problem Statement: Tribological issues affect the production yield and product reliability in nanoelectro-mechanical systems due to the large surface-area-to-volume ratios. Our research effort focuses on
surface nano-engineering to improve tribological performances in miniaturized systems.
Objectives and Research Plan: The objective is to study the mechanical and tribological properties of
the nano-engineered surfaces produced by various fabrication techniques. The REU student will study
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the mechanical and tribological properties of various nano-engineered surfaces using nanomechanical
and tribological characterization equipment.
Training Plan: Week 1: Tribometer, Week 2-3: TriboIndenter.
Research Facilities: Nanomechanics and Tribology Laboratory
Contact Information for program:
Prof. Uche Wejinya, Program Director
NSF REU Program in Nanomaterials and Nanomechanics
Department of Mechanical Engineering
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR 72701
V-mail: 479-575-4800
Fax: 479-575-6982
E-mail: uwejinya@uark.edu Electroinic submission prefered.
REU Website: http://www.meeg.uark.edu/reu.php
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION IS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2012
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