Hybrid Nanomaterials. Nanocomposite materials synthesis allowing independent control of a nanophase matrix and a nanoscale secondary phase remains a significant research challenge. With funding from NSF and NASA we have developed a process that allows this independent control. We have focused on nanocomposites of tetrahedral amorphous carbon (ta-C) with embedded metal nanoparticles. Besides its outstanding mechanical and tribological properties, ta-C is also an excellent bio-inert hermetic encapsulant for implantable biomedical devices. Through controlled incorporation of metal nanoparticles in ta-C, we have demonstrated the modulation of its properties and we are pursuing its surface functionalization.

Other Research Areas

1. R. P. Camata and M. Bulut, “Amorphous Carbon/Metal Nanocomposites with Modulated Properties for Biomedical Applications” ICCE-14: Fourteen Annual International Conference on Composites/Nano Engineering, July 2-8, 2006, Boulder, Colorado.

2. M. Bulut, S. A. Catledge, Y. K. Vohra, R. P. Camata, “Thermal stability of nanocrystalline diamond films grown by microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition,” in Surface Engineering 2002: Synthesis, Characterization and Applications, edited by A. Kumar, W.J. Meng, Y-T. Cheng, J. Zabinski, G.L. Doll, S. Veprek (Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. 750, 177-182 (2003)).

3. M. Bulut, R. P. Camata, “A Novel Approach for Integrating Tetrahedral Amorphous Carbon Films with Nanoengineered Surfaces and Nanoparticles,” 2005 Spring Meeting of the Materials Research Society, March 28-April 1, 2005, San Francisco, California.

4. M. Bulut, R. P. Camata, “Nanomaterials Synthesis by Nanoparticle Beam Pulsed Laser Deposition,” 2005 Spring Meeting of the Materials Research Society, March 28-April 1, 2005, San Francisco, California.