Solution processable metal boride nanostructures for functional hard coatings in extreme conditions (BORNANO)

Description du projet

L’ingénierie des nanocristaux pour les conditions extrêmes

Les matériaux à l’échelle du nanomètre sont intéressants, mais ils ne durent pas lorsqu’ils sont exposés à de fortes radiations, à des produits chimiques réactifs ou à des températures élevées. Dans ce contexte, le projet BORNANO, financé par le CER, vise à résoudre ce problème en fabriquant des films minces à partir de nanocristaux colloïdaux de borure métallique. Ces films combinent la résistance des matériaux à base de bore avec une ingénierie de surface moderne, ce qui les rend adaptés à l’aérospatiale, aux structures en eaux profondes et à d’autres environnements difficiles. Ce projet explore de nouvelles méthodes de fabrication, étudie la croissance des nanocristaux, et crée des ligands de surface pour maintenir la stabilité des suspensions. Il convertit les nanocristaux simples en films minces résistants. Ce projet entend créer un nouveau type de revêtement fonctionnel capable de résister aux conditions les plus difficiles en combinant la chimie de base et les techniques de construction du monde réel.

Objectif

Nanometer-sized solids such as nanocrystals (NCs) or layers that are one or few atomic layers thick offer advantages in fields from catalysis to optoelectronics. However, they are mostly incompatible with ‘extreme’ conditions, e.g. high levels of radiation, harsh chemicals, or extreme temperatures as found in aerospace or deep-sea infrastructures. To introduce nanomaterials to these conditions, I propose to combine innovative chemical design and surface engineering to create thin films composed of colloidal metal boride NCs. Based on the boron chemistry, these NCs promise unparalleled levels of hardness and wear resistance when processed in thin films, paving the way for the development of solution-processable coatings with many functionalities and resistance to extreme conditions.
I will develop novel metal boride colloidal NCs, study their growth mechanisms and structure-property relationships, use solution processing to create thin films, and determine their mechanical and physical properties as functional materials in extreme conditions.
Main innovations are:(1) as traditional methods have been found wanting in terms of purity, yield, and morphology control, I will introduce innovative high-throughput solid-state synthesis techniques, setting the stage for scalable and reliable production; (2) I will explore the atomic-level surface dynamics and develop suitable ligands to achieve stable suspensions through surface engineering; (3) I will test and validate methodologies to turn individual NCs into solid thin films with similar robustness and stability as bulk materials.
BORNANO aims to introduce a new class of hard coatings and implement innovative processing methods for thin-film fabrication from colloidal suspensions. In parallel, it targets the fundamental understanding of the chemistry of metal boride colloidal NCs and their surface chemistry. These materials have potential applications in extreme condition technologies,from aerospace coatings to sensors.