Atomic Layer Deposition on Particles for Nanoenergetic, Ferroelectric Capacitor and Thermal Management Applications

High performance energetic materials are based on inorganic thermite mixtures such as MoO3/Al or organic compounds such as RDX. Future developments in explosives are dependent on the fabrication of nanoscale materials and composite mixtures that display higher energy release rates. The ability to tailor composite materials precisely at the nanoscale by fabricating multilayer component particles will be critical in this endeavor and could revolutionize the field of energetic materials. Atomic layer deposition (ALD) provides the ability to deposit conformally with atomic layer control on particles. The Phase I work developed composite SuperThermite particles using ALD techniques. The proposed Phase II work will continue to optimize the SuperThermite particles and develop ALD coatings onto organic energetic materials. Additional work will develop the necessary technology to produce the composite SuperThermite and organic energetic materials in large scale. The Phase II work will also expand to include ALD on particles for ferroelectric capacitor and thermal management applications. Production of ALD-coated boron nitride for thermal management and ALD-coated barium titanate for ferroelectric capacitors will lead to more immediate commercialization. Success in these commercial areas will strengthen continuing research, development and scaleup of ALD on particles for a variety of technological applications.