| Scope |
Nanostructured materials (nanoparticles, nanowires, nanosheets, etc.) show great promise to enable a broad range of new applications as well as improve existing technologies because of their unique physical and chemical properties. This includes high energy conversion efficiency fuel cells, solar cells, piezoelectric and ferroelectric devices, electrochemical energy storage systems, and structural applications. However, many barriers still exist in understanding and controlling the processing of nanostructured materials. Novel nanostructure designs are critically needed at all stages of nanoparticle-based material formation processes to enable unique performances, low cost, and green engineering. Great challenges also remain on the composition and morphology control of multi-component functional nanomaterials. This symposium will focus on the following general topics: 1) Processing and characterization to preserve and improve nanoscale size, structure, and properties; 2) Novel design and understanding of new nanoparticle-based materials templating and 3D assembly technologies; and 3) Theoretical and computational study of the growth behavior in 1-D to 3-D nanomaterials. Special efforts on energy conversion, harvesting, storage, and use will be emphasized. |