REU/RET Projects

Bradley Kabes
University: University of Minnesota
Mentor in UCF: Helge Heinrich – AMPAC and Physics

Nanostructured Lamellar Aluminum-Silver Alloy

Nanostructured metallic surfaces produced by decomposition heat treatments may provide an easier and less expensive procedure than current sequential lithographic techniques for preparing an ordered, lamellar surface. Lamellar nanostructured surfaces have possibilities including diffraction grating for high-energy ultra-violet optics, deposition of magnetic materials to form parallel nanowires for use in computing technology, and attachment of carbon nanotubes to the surface for use as a hydrogen sensor. Isothermal heat treatments of an Al-22 at.% Ag alloy were performed for time spans up to 91 hours. Good electro-polishing parameters were found to prepare samples for transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Investigation of heat treatment effects were studied in the TEM, and chemical analysis was performed using the scanning TEM (STEM) to verify results. The evolution of a lamellar structure was followed as a function of heat treatment time for isothermal conditions. Pre-homogenization deformation increased the grain size beneficial for a large-scale organization of lamellar nano-structures.