Double Gyroid Structured Functional Materials

The development of new high-tech applications and devices has created a seemingly insatiable demand for novel functional materials with enhanced and tailored properties. Such materials can be achieved by three-dimensional structuring on the nanoscale, giving rise to a significant enhancement of particular functional characteristics which stems from the ability to access both surface/interface and bulk properties. The highly ordered, bicontinuous double-gyroid morphology is a fascinating and particularly suitable 3D nanostructure for this purpose due to its highly accessible surface area, connectivity, narrow pore diameter distribution and superb structural stability. The presented study encompasses a wide range of modern nanotechnology techniques in a highly versatile bottom-up nanopatterning strategy that splits the fabrication process into two successive steps: the preparation of mesoporous double-gyroid templates utilizing diblock copolymer self-assembly, and their replication with a functional material employing electrochemical deposition and atomic layer deposition. The double-gyroid structured materials discussed include metals, metal oxides, and conjugated polymers, which are applied and characterized in high-performance devices, such as electrochromic displays, supercapacitors, chemical sensors and photovoltaics. This publication addresses a wide range of readers, from researchers and specialists who are professionally active in the field, to more general readers interested in chemistry, nanoscience and physics.

This thesis explores the fabrication of gyroid-forming block copolymer templates and the optical properties of the resulting gyroid optical metamaterials, significantly contributing to our understanding of both. It demonstrates solvent vapour annealing to improve the long-range order of the templates, and investigates the unique crystallisation behaviour of their semicrystalline block. Furthermore, it shows that gyroid optical metamaterials that exhibit only short-range order are optically equivalent to nanoporous gold, and that the anomalous linear dichroism of gyroid optical metamaterials with long-range order is the result of the surface termination of the bulk gyroid morphology. Optical metamaterials are artificially engineered materials that, by virtue of their structure rather than their chemistry, may exhibit various optical properties not otherwise encountered in nature (e.g. a negative refractive index). However, these structures must be significantly smaller than the wavelength of visible light and are therefore challenging to fabricate using traditional “top down” techniques. Instead, a “bottom up” approach can be used, whereby optical metamaterials are fabricated via templates created by the self-assembly of block-copolymers. One such morphology is the gyroid, a chiral, continuous and triply periodic cubic network found in a range of natural and synthetic self-assembled systems.

Metamaterials are artificially designed materials engineered to acquire their properties by their specific structure rather than their composition. They are considered a major scientific breakthrough and have attracted enormous attention over the past decade. The major challenge in obtaining an optical metamaterial active at visible frequencies is the fabrication of complex continuous metallic structures with nano metric features. This thesis presents the fabrication and characterization of optical metamaterials made by block copolymer self assembly. This approach allows fabrication of an intriguing and complex continuous 3D architecture called a gyroid, which is replicated into active plasmonic materials such as gold. The optical properties endowed by this particular gyroid geometry include reduction of plasma frequency, extraordinarily enhanced optical transmission, and a predicted negative refractive index. To date, this is the 3D optical metamaterial with the smallest features ever made.

Triply Periodic Minimal Surface Lattices by Selective Laser Melting Additive Manufacturing presents the design, manufacturing, microstructure, mechanical properties and applications of TPMS structures fabricated by selective laser additive manufacturing technology. The title explains these complex and useful structures based on systematic work in the UK and China. Sections introduce structure design methods, assess TPMS structures, explain mathematical their modeling, present the manufacturing, microstructure, mechanical and fatigue properties of metal uniform TPMS structures, discuss manufacturing and mechanical responses for functionally graded TPMS structures, give numerical analysis methods for predicting the mechanics of uniform and functionally graded TPMS structures, and more. Presents the state-of-the art in triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) structures by surface laser melting (SLM) Describes how to assess manufacturability of TPMS structures by additive manufacturing (AM) Analyzes the mechanical properties of TPMS structures through experimental and numerical methods Details topology optimization for pore size Gives fatigue fracture mechanics for TPMS structures

An authoritative introduction to the science and engineering of bioinspired materials Bioinspired Materials Science and Engineering offers a comprehensive view of the science and engineering of bioinspired materials and includes a discussion of biofabrication approaches and applications of bioinspired materials as they are fed back to nature in the guise of biomaterials. The authors also review some biological compounds and shows how they can be useful in the engineering of bioinspired materials. With contributions from noted experts in the field, this comprehensive resource considers biofabrication, biomacromolecules, and biomaterials. The authors illustrate the bioinspiration process from materials design and conception to application of bioinspired materials. In addition, the text presents the multidisciplinary aspect of the concept, and contains a typical example of how knowledge is acquired from nature, and how in turn this information contributes to biological sciences, with an accent on biomedical applications. This important resource: Offers an introduction to the science and engineering principles for the development of bioinspired materials Includes a summary of recent developments on biotemplated formation of inorganic materials using natural templates Illustrates the fabrication of 3D-tumor invasion models and their potential application in drug assessments Explores electroactive hydrogels based on natural polymers Contains information on turning mechanical properties of protein hydrogels for biomedical applications Written for chemists, biologists, physicists, and engineers, Bioinspired Materials Science and Engineering contains an indispensible resource for an understanding of bioinspired materials science and engineering.

This three-volume set LNCS 10666, 10667, and 10668 constitutes the refereed conference proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Image and Graphics, ICIG 2017, held in Shanghai, China, in September 2017. The 172 full papers were selected from 370 submissions and focus on advances of theory, techniques and algorithms as well as innovative technologies of image, video and graphics processing and fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and networking.

A timely overview of fundamental and advanced topics of conjugated polymer nanostructures Conjugated Polymer Nanostructures for Energy Conversion and Storage Applications is a comprehensive reference on conjugated polymers for energy applications. Distinguished academic and editor Srabanti Ghosh offers readers a broad overview of the synthesis, characterization, and energy-related applications of nanostructures based on conjugated polymers. The book includes novel approaches and presents an interdisciplinary perspective rooted in the interfacing of polymer and synthetic chemistry, materials science, organic chemistry, and analytical chemistry. This book provides complete descriptions of conjugated polymer nanostructures and polymer-based hybrid materials for energy conversion, water splitting, and the degradation of organic pollutants. Photovoltaics, solar cells, and energy storage devices such as supercapacitors, lithium ion battery electrodes, and their associated technologies are discussed, as well. Conjugated Polymer Nanostructures for Energy Conversion and Storage Applications covers both the fundamental topics and the most recent advances in this rapidly developing area, including: The design and characterization of conjugated polymer nanostructures, including the template-free and chemical synthesis of polymer nanostructures Conjugated polymer nanostructures for solar energy conversion and environmental protection, including the use of conjugated polymer-based nanocomposites as photocatalysts Conjugated polymer nanostructures for energy storage, including the use of nanocomposites as electrode materials The presentation of different and novel methods of utilizing conjugated polymer nanostructures for energy applications Perfect for materials scientists, polymer chemists, and physical chemists, Conjugated Polymer Nanostructures for Energy Conversion and Storage Applications also belongs on the bookshelves of organic chemists and any other practicing researchers, academics, or professionals whose work touches on these highly versatile and useful structures.

Mechanics of Composite, Hybrid, and Multifunctional Materials, Volume 7 of the Proceedings of the 2016 SEM Annual Conference & Exposition on Experimental and Applied Mechanics, the seventh volume of ten from the Conference, brings together contributions to this important area of research and engineering. The collection presents early findings and case studies on a wide range of areas, including: Recycled-Constituent Composites Nano and Particulate Composites Damage Detection and Non-Destructive Evaluation of Composites Fracture and Fatigue Novel Developments in Composites Additive Manufacturing of Composites Mechanics of Graphene & Graphene Oxide Smart Materials Novel Developments in Composites Manufacturing and Joining of Composites