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RAP opportunity at National Institute of Standards and Technology     NIST

Studying Colloidal Self-Assembly and Porous Solids with Small Angle Neutron Scattering

Location

NIST Center for Neutron Research

opportunity location
50.61.01.B8482 Gaithersburg, MD

NIST only participates in the February and August reviews.

Advisers

name email phone
Paul David Butler paul.butler@nist.gov 301.975.2028
Yun Liu yun.liu@nist.gov 301.975.6235

Description

Understanding the properties of fluids (both liquid and gas) in porous media is crucial for many industrial problems. Due to the confinement, fluids in many porous media can have dramatically different properties such as gas density, phase transitions, and diffusivity. It is thus important to understand the detailed structural and phase behavior of materials with pores ranging from 1 nm-10 µm. In this project, model porous materials will be developed to enable the detailed characterization of flow properties and phase diagrams of gas, liquid, and protein solutions. We are interested in developing porous materials using the self-assembly of colloidal particles to control pore structures. Small angle neutron scattering will be used to investigate the structures of synthesized materials to guide the further optimization. The flow properties of fluids inside these materials will be systematically investigated using neutron scattering tools at NCNR. We will try to understand and solve problems involving, but not limited to, the aging and cracking of porous materials, substrates for combining reaction and separation processes, absorbents for environmental remediation, and improving the wear resistance of paints and coatings.

 

key words
Neutron scattering; Porous media; Colloids; Complex fluids;

Eligibility

Citizenship:  Open to U.S. citizens
Level:  Open to Postdoctoral applicants

Stipend

Base Stipend Travel Allotment Supplementation
$82,764.00 $3,000.00
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