-----------------------------------------------------------

Applied Math Colloquium

Friday, Oct 12, 2012, 11:30 AM
Cullimore Lecture Hall, Lecture Hall II
New Jersey Institute of Technology

Directed, Liquid Phase Assembly of Patterned Metallic Films by Pulsed Laser Dewetting

Philip D. Rack

Department of Material Science and Engineering, The University of Tennessee

Abstract

Self-assembly of materials offer the potential to synthesize complex systems by defining the initial and bounding conditions if the fundamental scientific principles guiding the assembly are known. Much work has been performed studying the assembly of continuous thin polymer and metal films which reveal interesting dewetting phenomenon. Less work has been devoted to the directed assembly and pattern formation of confined or patterned metallic thin films. Meanwhile, the synthesis of functional metallic nanomaterials via self-assembly has been an effective and low-cost approach to realize many critical applications of nanoscience and nanotechnology. In this study, the dewetting and nanopattern formation of nanolithographically pre-patterned thin films of various shapes via pulsed nanosecond laser melting were investigated to understand how initial boundary conditions facilitate precise assembly. Specifically we will show experimental and computational results (continuum and molecular dynamics) illustrating how so-called synthetic perturbations can vary the dispersion of the resultant nanoparticle size and shape distribution of pseudo-one-dimensional liquid metal wires. Furthermore, we will show how controlling the shape and size of bi-metallic nanostructures, the assembly of multifunctional nanoparticles can be assembled.

Dr Rack's bio can be found here .