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Indian Journal of Engineering and Materials Sciences (IJEMS) >
IJEMS Vol.12 [2005] >
IJEMS Vol.12(4) [August 2005] >
| Title: | Materials by design—Prospects and challenges |
| Authors: | Ahmad, S |
| Issue Date: | Aug-2005 |
| Publisher: | CSIR |
| IPC Code: | H01L |
| Abstract: | The present form
of material science and technology in practice is an outcome of ‘discovery
based approach’, in which various features of the materials are investigated in
detail and the acquired knowledge is put to use in looking for their possible
applications in different fields. In this endeavor, a variety of processes and
products are developed using available scientific knowledge and technological
methods based on mostly heuristic approach. With the recent development of
nanoparticle size materials and study of their characteristic properties, it is
foreseeable that in coming 10 to 20 years, it will be feasible to use a
systematic approach of ‘problem based search for solution’ in material science
and technology. This implies that it will be quite possible to synthesize a
material with tailored properties required for a given situation under
consideration. A systematic design methodology is under active development in
this context where the physical, chemical and biological behaviour of different
types of nanoparticle size material building blocks will be put to use to have
the right kind of the synthetic material that will fulfill the needs.
Theoretical models, developed in this context, will not only help in deciding
the final composition details in terms of different building blocks but would
also provide help to work out reliable and reproducible routes to manufacture
the designed materials in an economical way. This situation will arise only
after having complete understanding of the relationship between nanoparticle
size and composition to their physical, chemical and biological behaviours.
Next comes the development of reliable models to study the interactions with
each other among such building blocks based on ‘cause and effect’ principles
like thermodynamics and kinetics. Laboratory scale experimental validations
would be established through a variety of model materials to generate library
of unit processes related to material synthesis. These models could also be
used in developing fast screening procedures to find out the most probable
routes of synthesis without going through the time consuming and costly
experimental route alone. While taking the advantages of chemical synthesis,
already in progress at a fast pace, it will be additionally beneficial to
develop self-assembled monolayer (SAM) material growth technology combined with
molecular recognition technique to synthesize newer materials and components.
Bioinspired material synthesis techniques, based on SAM and molecular
recognition, which are very much prevalent in nature, would thus add another
dimension to design materials for specific applications. Highly sophisticated
measurement and characterization tools would be required to probe extremely
small material particles and their collective behaviour while studying the
correlation between nanostructure and their characteristic features. This
approach of ‘materials by design’ is certainly going to revolutionize the
materials technology in a big way. A clear case of paradigm shift is apparent
in relation to the way material science and technology problems are solved by
the scientists and engineers in near future. Global cooperation and
collaborations among the workforces, deployed in different countries in such
development projects, besides the development of matching pattern of
undergraduate and graduate level educational programs will be critically
important for commensurate speed of the overall developments. ‘Materials by
design’ is a global problem solving approach and therefore all must put in
their best and comprehensive efforts. Sooner we prepare ourselves and enter
into the mainstream, better it will be to reap the fruits of such global
efforts. The importance of various R&D initiatives to be taken up in this
context is highlighted in this paper. Very brief description of our own R&D
activities in various National Laboratories and Academic Institutions in the
area of nanotechnology is also included here for the benefit of the readers.
Efforts have been made in this paper to present a simplified picture of the
challenging problems to be sorted out in connection with the preparation for ‘materials
by design’ methodology development. |
| Page(s): | 291-316 |
| ISSN: | 0975-1017 (Online); 0971-4588 (Print) |
| Source: | IJEMS Vol.12(4) [August 2005]
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