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CFDRC is involved in research on both nanoparticle growth, and nanoparticle
transport during growth and application.
We have simulation tools and capabilities to predict and analyze the
transport, distribution, dispersion, and deposition of nano- and micro-particles
in a variety of industrial applications under the influence of various
effects, such as aerodynamic forces, turbulence, electric field, thermophoresis,
Brownian motion, etc.
Application areas include: aerosol instruments and devices, microelectronics,
xerography, drug delivery and pharmaceutical, urban and atmospheric dispersion
Our current and past work in this area includes:
High-thrust-to-weight Ratio Propulsion System using Energetic Nanoparticles
Sponsored by the Office of Naval Research (ONR), this project focuses on
synthesizing energetic aluminum nanoparticles with a catalytic coating for
high-thrust-to-weight ratio propulsion applications.
Trajectories of 10nm Particles showing effect
of Thermophoresis
which drives the particles away from the hotter walls towards the axis
Design of Virtual Impactor for use in the Direct-Write Electronic Circuits
Two three-stage virtual impactors, with particle cut-off size 0.4 and 0.8 microns, respectively,
that can concentrate particle concentration by two to three orders were developed under the funded
projects from DARPA and Optomec.
Configurations and Predicted Particle-Collection efficiencies of the
Two Virtual Impactors for Use in the Direct-Write Electronic Circuits
Predicted Particle Trajectories and Pressure Distributions of the
Two Virtual Impactors for Use in the Direct-Write Electronic Circuits
Design of Flow-Guided Nozzle
CFDRC has vast experience in using particle transport simulation for
design of devices. One example is the development of a flow-guided device
for use in the direct-write patterning of electronic circuits. This flow-guided
device is designed for guiding the powders from the nebulizer onto a substrate
in a focused and narrow line. It was developed with collaboration with
Optomec under a DARPA funded project.
Predicted Particle Trajectories in the Flow-Guided
Device for used in the Direct-Write Electronic Circuits
Hypersonic/Supersonic Impactor
Hypersonic impactor operates at very high pressure ratios (upstream and
downstream of an orifice or nozzle) resulting in a highly supersonic particle-laden-jet
impinging on the impactor surface. This facilitates capture of submicron
particles down to a few nanometers. CFDRC's capabilities have been used
to model the gas-flow field and particle trajectories to predict the impaction
cut-size for hypersonic impactor.
Particle Contaminant Formation and
Transport in Microelectronic Manufacturing Processes
A simulation tool was developed to predict particle generation in microelectronic
fabrication processes. This simulation tool is based on an Eulerian based
"Moment Model" and calculates the first three moments to predict
particle nucleation, growth and transport in a plasma CVD reactor.
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