Aerospace & Defense Workshop sponsored by the Institute of Defense and Goverment Advancement (IDGA)
This session, sponsored by the Institute of Defense and Government Advancement, offers a look at how the commercialization of nanotechnology will impact the Aerospace & Defense industries. Attendees will learn about new forward thinking in the developments of nanotechnology in the Aerospace/Defense sector. Speakers for this workshop will include:

Directed Assembly of Nanoelements for High-rate Nanomanufacturing of Devices and Sensors
Ahmed Busnaina, Center for High-rate Nanomanufacturing
The transfer of nano-science accomplishments into technology is severely hindered by a lack of understanding of barriers to nanoscale manufacturing. The NSF Center for High-rate Nanomanufacturing (CHN) is developing tools and processes to conduct fast massive directed assembly of nanoscale elements by controlling the forces required to assemble, detach, and transfer nanoelements at high rates and over large areas. The center has developed and fabricated templates with nanostructures and used them to direct the assembly of carbon nanotubes and nanoparticles (down to 10 nm) into nanoscale trenches (down to 30 nm) in a short time (30-90 seconds) and over a large area (measured in inches). The center has demonstrated that nanotemplates can be used to pattern conducting polymers and that the patterned polymer can be transferred onto a second polymer substrate. The center has many applications where the technology has been demonstrated. For example, the nonvolatile nanotube memory device switches, the actuating elements (SWNTs) are assembled down to a size that will enable a one SWNT per switch on a wafer level. The center has developed the fundamental science and engineering platform necessary to manufacture a wide array of applications ranging from electronics, energy, and materials to biotechnology.

Nanotechnology in the Canadian Aerospace Industry
Sylvain Cofsky, Canadian Space Agency
The aerospace industry represents one of the most important economical sectors in Quebec and Canada. In 2005, the GDP reached almost 4 billion dollars for Quebec only. It resulted from a long development that Montreal became one of the few places in the world to offer the possibility of building an aircraft from cockpit to tail. Several world leaders such Bombardier, Pratt and Whitney, CAE, Rolls-Royce, Bell Helicopter Textron, CMC Electronics, are operating in the Montreal area. Nevertheless, this high-tech sector is confronted with several important challenges : the international competition, and the need for accelerating and multiplying the innovation opportunities. The will to harmonize, with the assistance of the authorities of this sector, a long term development includes the introduction of applied nanotechnologies in the aerospace industry. This session will review some of the technological aerospace developments and will cover the reduction of composite parts, the specialized coatings to limit the impact of lightnings, and the thin layers of protection against wear and erosion. This session will also discuss potential of applications of nanotechnology in the field of aeronautic and space sectors fand touch on projects on which the Canadian Space Agency is currently working

Enabling Multifunctional Materials Through Nanotechnology for Aerospace Applications
Martin Rogers, Luna Innovations
Future aerospace platforms require materials with better performance in strength and durability as well as additional attributes beyond passive barrier and structural properties. Combining nanostructured particles with advanced coatings, adhesives and composites enables unique materials with enhanced functionality. For example, self assembled particles with micro and nanoscale features yields surfaces with exceptional water and oil resistance leading to self cleaning coatings with superior corrosion resistance. Luna Innovations is developing these nanostructured additives to produce multifunctional coatings and composites including materials to enhance protection against corrosion, fire and electromagnetic interference, as well as sense and respond to stimuli in the environment.

Chemical Sensors and Sensor Systems Based on Metal Oxide Nanostructures
Jennifer Xu, NASA Glenn Research Center
Metal-oxide semiconductors have been used as chemical sensors for a number of years. Aerospace applications include environmental monitoring, fire detection, and vehicle health monitoring. The NASA Glenn Research Center and its collaborators are actively developing chemical sensors composed of nanostructured metal-oxide semiconductors. This presentation will discuss our efforts to address three technical challenges related to the use of nanostructures in sensor systems: 1) Improving contact of the nanostructured materials with electrodes in a microsensor structure; 2) Controling nanostructure crystallinity, which allows control of the detection mechanism; and 3) Widening the range of gases that can be detected by using different nanostructured materials. It is concluded that while this work demonstrates progress in developing very low power microsensors, we are just beginning to realize repeatable, controlled sensor systems using oxide based nanostructures. Results of other chemical sensors based on metal oxide nanomaterials will also be presented.

Lunch Speaker - Commercializing Technology: Legal Aspects
Steven Rutt, Foley & Lardner, L.L.P.
Legal aspects to commerciallizing technology will be reviewed including both introductory materials, recent developments, and case studies focused on advanced material technology, clean tech, nanotechnology, and biotechnology. Intellectual property will be discussed including patents and trade secrets. Particular topics include: impact of government funding, Patent Office developments, licensing and litigation, patents versus trade secrets, and international aspects.

Session # 1 Nanomaterials

The Dynamic Transmission Electron Microscope
Bryan W. Reed, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
The Dynamic Transmission Electron Microscope (DTEM) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is a unique next-generation in-situ microscope that observes fast, irreversible material processes on the nanometer-nanosecond scale. The DTEM achieves its nanosecond time resolution by using laser induced photoemission to produce a short but extremely intense burst of electrons to capture images and diffraction patterns of unique, irreversible material events as they occur. The DTEM can record the same detailed microstructural information as a conventional TEM, but with 6 orders of magnitude better time resolution (nanosecond scale instead of millisecond scale). This allows us to observe the intrinsic nanoscale details of how a dynamic transformation proceeds, rather than trying to infer the complex reaction pathway from a single postmortem analysis of the resultant structure. The DTEM has already provided unique insight into the dynamics of phase transitions in metals, evidence of a cellular microstructure in the reaction front of a reactive multilayer foil, and new observations of the growth of nanowires by pulsed laser ablation. The spatiotemporal resolution of the DTEM is being continually improved, enabling research in corrosion and oxidation, solid state chemistry, melting/solidification in confined nanostructures, materials dynamics under extreme conditions, plasmonics, and correlated electron dynamics.

Nanomaterials: Stealth Success and Broad Impact
Jurron Bradley, LUX Research Inc.
Emerging nanotechnology has already begun to impact $147 billion worth of products in the marketplace in 2007, representing a nearly eight-fold increase over revenues generated from nanotech in 2004. This session will forecast how emerging nanotech will continue to grow through 2015 and will cover what market sectors and types of products will nanotech impact the most over the coming years, how different global regions will adopt emerging nanotech, what the timeline is for emerging nanotechnology’s growth, what the prospects arefor the major categories of nanomaterials and nanointermediates, how the nanotech R&D is funding landscape evolving as emerging nanotech continues to find more applications, the current state of understanding of environmental health and safety issues surrounding nanomaterials, and how this influences nanotech’s adoption and what strategies and attitudes corporations and specialists are bringing to nanotech R&D today.

Ultrasonic Atomization for Nano Particles Dispensing and Coating
Joseph Riemer, Sono-Tek
Nano particles are accurately & cost effectively deposited on target substrates via:
1. Ultrasonic atomization dispersion syringe pump SonicSyringe (Pat. Pend.)
2. Ultrasonic atomization spray nozzle. (Patented).
1. When conventional mixing devices and pumps are used for dispensing nano particles, they tend to agglomerate and separate from the liquid suspension. The SonicSyringe imparts ultrasonic energy which breaks down and eliminates agglomerates that have formed during earlier handling. The Sonic Syringe keeps the nano particles continuously suspended in a uniform and homogenous mixture, thus guaranteeing a steady state dispensing process. 2. When conventional pressure spray coating and web printing technologies are used to coat nano particle on substrates, their uniformity control is limited and the amount of nano material which must be used is excessive and costly. Sono-Tek ultrasonic spray nozzles uniformly and accurately coat very thin layer of nano particles on substrates of different shapes, forms and sizes. The ultrasonic spray nozzle continuously generates micronic droplets which carry within them identical concentration of nano particles. The nozzle imparts ultrasonic vibration into the liquid suspension, providing an agglomerate free system. By the time the liquid reaches the target, it evaporates and gently positions the nano particles with a transfer coefficient higher than 95% and practically no "bounce-back" associated with conventional pressure spraying technologies. Examples of successfully demonstrated applications include:
Fuel cells, Solar panels, Biodegradable food packaging films, Textiles, Glass and Biological and Chemical sensors.

Session #2 Homeland Security

Nanoengineering Improved Radiation Detectors
Nerine Cherepy, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Nanoengineering is being employed for the development of new optical materials with potential for excellent uniformity, superior mechanical properties, improved optical damage resistance, greater radiation hardness and low-cost manufacturability, compared to conventional optical materials. Two types of nanoengineered optical materials are Transparent Ceramics and Optical Nanocomposites. Applications include lenses, laser gain media, transparent armor, gamma ray spectroscopy and x-ray radiography. This presentation will focus on fabrication and performance of Transparent Ceramic and Nanocomposite scintillator materials. We employ flame-spray pyrolysis to synthesize nanoparticles with surface areas in the 20-100 m2/g range for use as feedstock for fabrication of Transparent Ceramics and Optical Nanocomposites. The nanoengineered scintillators we are developing may offer the required performance and cost metrics for use in portal monitors and cargo screening for Homeland Security and Non-Proliferation applications.

Fabricating Complex Nanoscale Systems in 2 and 3 Dimensions
Henry Smith, MIT
In living systems, as well as in electronic, photonic, nanomagnetic and
microelectromechanical systems, it is information content that determines functionality.This connection between deterministic structural complexity and functionality implies that full exploitation of nanotechnology will require the development of innovative techniques for nanoscale patterning, for accessing the third dimension, and for incorporating the information content inherent in macromolecules. Such techniques will have to take into account the issues of cost, flexibility, area coverage, sub-1nm accuracy and manufacturability. Our efforts at MIT to address the challenges of nanoscale fabrication include the development of a low-cost, optics-based nanolithography system, the development of folded-membrane technology for building into the 3rd dimension while retaining the power of planar processing, and guidance of macromolecular self assembly via nanoscale patterning. Our ultimate goal is to bridge the gap between what lithography can achieve and the complexity exemplified by living systems.

Carbon Nanotube Based Gas Ionizer for the Replacement of Radioactive Sources
Erkinjon Nazarov, Applied Nanotech
A CNT ion source was operated at the entrance of a mass spectrometer and a differential mobility spectrometer in order to characterize the ion production capability of the source. Preliminary results show that the prototype of the CNT ion source works effectively at atmospheric pressure conditions in both air and nitrogen. The ion species formed in positive ion production mode are identical to those from the commonly used Ni-63 ionization source. Furthermore the sensitivity in positive mode appears to be similar to that obtained with Ni-63 (10 mCi). In negative ion production mode, the background spectra contain certain amounts of helpful oxygen related ion species, however NOx ions were registered also. The CNT source appears to be mechanically very robust and chemically stable even when operated at ambient conditions with the sample passed directly through the ion source. This program is developing technology that will be used to dramatically reduce the number of Ni-63 sources and, in addition, it will improve detectors that are critical to Homeland Security by making them more sensitive, less expensive and more user friendly.

Session #1 Nanocomposites

Synthesis and Electronic Properties of Carbon Nanotubes
Sheets and Yarns
David Lashmore, Nanocomp
This presentation discusses the development of automated CVD process based on gas phase pyrolysis for the synthesis of high strength carbon nanotubes, sponsored by ONR, the ARMY Natick soldier center and AFRL.  In addition, this session provides an overview of the electronic, mechanical properties and some applications of these carbon nanotube wires and sheets will be presented. Sheet material is now being fabricated 3 foot by 10 foot panels, the largest CNT textiles ever made! Kilometer quantities of SWCNT yarns are being delivered weekly. Further a sheet system capable of 4 feet by 8 feet panels is presently being fabricated.  Prepregged composites of the textiles with strengths of about 2 GPa have been demonstrated. The materials have a very low compression modulus so that they are best used as sandwich structures. Woven and braded textiles will also be shown and some properties given.  A unique process for post nanotube alignment not only dramatically increases strength but also reduces resistivity and increases the Seebeck Coefficient. Experiments on doping will be described that enable the stabilization of the p type yarns at high temperature in vacuum, experiments on n type materials have led to a new type of thermoelectric device based on n/p DWCNT junctions. Electrical conductivity of doped yarns and sheet materials exceed 2 x 106 S/m, the highest reported values for CNT macro-structures that equals or exceeds measurements on individual tubes. This very high conductivity coupled with the superb high frequency response of this type of material has opened up a number of opportunities for NCTI for EMI shield, low observable systems and microwave reflectors which will also be discussed during the presentation.

Scalable Industrial Processing of Nanomaterials Using Microfluidizer® High Shear Fluid Processors
Mimi Panagiotou, CTO, Microfluidics International Corporation
This presentation will cover scalable and robust technologies and processes for production, deagglomeration, purification and modification of nanomaterials. For many nanotechnology applications, paramount performance can only be achieved if the nanomaterials are deagglomerated and uniformly dispersed in media such as organic solvents, polymer resins, water, etc. In addition, for many applications nanoencapsulation, particle exfoliation, mixing in the nanometer scale, and fibril formation and length reduction of fibers are desired. Microfluidics’ technologies and processes provide solutions to these problems that have long been recognized as major hurdles in utilizing nanomaterials for commercial applications.
Applications of the technology include the formation of nanosuspensions and nanoemulsions, synthesis of materials for energy storage and generation devices, drug delivery, optical coatings and nanocomposite production. Optimization of processing parameters may result in exfoliation of clay particles, fibril formation in natural and synthetic fibers and 3-D network formation of carbon nanotubes. Such processes affect strength of the final materials, oxygen permeability, electrical properties, etc. The heart of the technology is a continuous microreactor, the interaction chamber which consists of “fixed geometry” microchannels. Flow through the chamber is characterized by high fluid velocities (over 400 m/s) and subsequent impingement of fluid jets to the chamber walls or to one another. As a result, high intensity shear fields are generated and energy dissipation mechanisms, such as turbulence, are activated in the microliter size volumes of the chamber. Under these conditions, mixing of fluids (miscible or immiscible) takes place at the nanometer scale, and solid agglomerates disperse or break to give submicron particles. Microfluidics high shear fluid processors are used for particle size reduction, deagglomeration and dispersion of nanoparticles in liquid media. The scalability of these processors has been demonstrated in many applications in the past. Microfluidics Reaction Technology (MRT) is used for the “bottom up” production of nanoparticles through chemical reactions and physical processes, such as crystallization. Finally, Microfluidics’ technologies are consistent with Process Intensification (PI) principals, since they allow for the reduction of processing steps and required manufacturing floor space, and increase of production output.

Ultrastrong Nanocomposites and Their Applications from Bioengineering to Energy Technologies
Nicholas Kotov, University of Michigan
Nanoscale building blocks are individually exceptionally strong. The extension of their properties to macroscale composites is a challenging fundamental problem with much practical significance. Assembly of a clay/polymer composite one nanoscale layer after another following the layer-by-layer assembly (LBL) technology with several very common polymers such as poly(vinylalcohol), polyurethanes, and poly(imines) allowed for preparation of a homogeneous, optically transparent material with planar orientation of alumosilicate nanosheets. Similar composites can be made from carbon nanotubes. Control of nanoscale structure in LBL films makes possible combining conductivity and mechanical strength. The stiffness and tensile strength of these multilayer composites are an order of magnitude greater than those for analogous nanocomposites made by traditional techniques. Stiffness and strength of such materials approach that of steel, while being made in a low-temperature process. The individual sheets were demonstrated to be consolidated in laminates. Engineering of polymers in atomic scale, LBL films in nanometer scale, and laminates in micro/mesoscale represents the multiscale hierarchical approach of composite design. The examples of applications in neuronal engineering, tissue replacement, solar energy technology, and fuel cells will be presented. The performance parameters for each device and application exceeding the current records for each of them will be introduced, some for the first time.

Sessions #2 Nanomaterials

Novel Carbon Nanomaterials for Energy and Biological Applications
Carey Tanner, Research Scientist, Luna nanoWorks
Luna nanoWorks is currently developing TrimetaspheresL (TMS), carbon nanosheets, and nanotube- and fullerene-based compounds for applications including organic solar cells, diagnostics, and therapeutics. For example, lutetium-TMS acceptor molecules have demonstrated the potential to increase the efficiency of organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices beyond the 5% state-of-the-art. TMS-based OPV devices have a measured open circuit voltage >30% higher than that of C60-based OPVs, and comparable fill factor and current. Second, carbon nanomaterials offer a prophylactic or therapeutic approach to radiation protection, wound healing and anti-inflammatory applications. For diagnostics, gadolinium-TMS has exhibited superior performance as an MRI contrast agent compared to commercial Gd-based products. Luna's background in nanomedicine and our approach forward in this new area will be summarized. Luna's production facility and capabilities will be also discussed to emphasize the technology transfer and application development of these novel materials.

Strain-Modulated Self-Assembly of Nanostructures
Amit Goyal, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Nanocomposites comprising three-dimensionally (3D) ordered arrays of nanodots of one type of ceramic material embedded in another ceramic material are expected to exhibit novel physical properties, tunable by adjusting the overall composition, concentration, feature size and spatial ordering of the nanodots.  Applications of such nanocomposites in the areas of multiferroics, photovoltaics, solid state lighting, ultra-high density storage and high temperature (high-Tc) superconductivity are of interest.  A joint experimental, theoretical and computational study on achieving ordering via 3D self-assembly of nanodots of one complex ceramic material within another complex ceramic material, such as 3D self-assembly of insulating BaZrO3 (BZO) nanodots within high-Tc superconducting YBCO films, was performed.  Vertically or horizontally ordered arrays (or simultaneous ordering in both directions) of BZO nanodots within superconducting films have been made possible via strain modulation between nanodots. Experimental results obtained for novel nanocomposites for other applications involving perovskite-spinel mixtures such as CoFe2O4-BaTiO3, CoFe2O4-BiFeO3, etc. will also be presented.  Such materials with “controlled self-assembly” of nanostructures should find application in many areas.

Nanoreinforced Metallis Matrix Materials Prepared by Method of Superdeep Penetration
Oleg Figovsky, Polymate
This presentation discusses novel technologies for forming nanoreinforcement into metallic, ceramic and polymer matrixes. The superdeep penetration (SDP) is poorly known physical phenomenon which is realized at a concussion of clots of cosmic dust with protective shells of flight vehicles. Feature SDP is penetration strikers in a solid body without formation of the open holes. Registration of this phenomenon meets difficulties as at SDP loss of air-tightness in a material is absent. In metal and in ceramics there are changes of structure and properties, the composite material is formed. Successful feature SDP at penetration of a clot of particles in metal fibrils that in a plastic matrix are streams of high-energy ions. These "galactic" ions (energy of individual ion up to 100 MeV) act on chemical bonds in plastic materials and improve properties. Process of sintering after SDP is not required. As a result process SDP has high efficiency and can successfully be used by the small, average and large industrial enterprises.

Thursday, November 13, 2007

Session #1 Sensors/Dectectors

Chemical Sensors for Space and Terrestrial Applications:
First Nanochemsensor Unit for a Space Flight Demonstration
Jing Li, NASA Ames Reaserch Center
A nanosensor technology has been developed at NASA Ames using nanostructure, single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), combined with silicon-based microfabrication and micromachining process. The nanosensors have achieved low detection limit of chemicals in the concentration range of ppm to ppb. Due to large surface area, low surface energy barrier and high thermal and mechanical stability, nanostructured chemical sensors offer higher sensitivity, lower power consumption and a more robust solution than most state-of-the-art systems making them attractive for space and defense applications, as well as a variety of commercial applications. Leveraging the micromachining technology, the light weight and compact sensors can be fabricated, in wafer scale for mass production, with high yield and at low cost. Such sensors have drawn attention from space community for global weather monitoring, space exploration, life search in the universe, and launch pad fuel leak detection and in-flight cabin monitoring and engine operation monitoring. Additionally, the wireless capability of such sensors can be leveraged to network mobile and fixed-base detection and warning systems for civilian population centers, military bases and battlefields, as well as other high-value or high-risk assets and areas in industry.

The Application of Metal Oxide Nanomaterials for Carbon Dioxide Microsensor Development
Jennifer Xu, NASA Glenn Research Center
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is one of the most challenging gas species to detect due to its high chemical stability. However, there is a great need for CO2 microsensors for aerospace and commercial applications, including low-false-alarm fire detection, which detect chemical species indicative of a fire (e.g. carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide), as well as environmental and emissions monitoring. Due to the stable chemical properties of CO2 gas, only a limited number of CO2 sensing materials and sensors exist. Most existing CO2 sensors are bulk solid electrolyte sensors which are complicated to fabricate, and consume high power. While actively working on miniaturizing solid electrolyte CO2 sensors, NASA Glenn Research Center has also been aggressively exploring new CO2 sensing materials. Two types of CO2 microsensors, solid electrolyte and resistor-based, were successfully developed through application of tin oxide nanomaterials. Both sensors have low power consumption and cost due to their micro sizes and simple batch fabrication processes. Their different sensing mechanisms provide orthogonal signals to monitor the environment. The CO2 microsensors can be integrated into a postage-stamp-sized smart sensor system with other sensors, power supply, signal processing component, and telemetry to get a full field view of the environment.

High Sensitive and Small-sized Biosensor Fabricated by Nanoimprinting Technology
Takeo Nishikawa, Omron Corp
By combining the nanoimprinting technology with the nanophotonics field, we have achieved a high sensitive and small-sized biosensor. Biosensors detecting the biomolecular interactions are getting importance as devices for the rapid diagnosis of the incipient disease, and to realize the preventive medical care. Among the various detection techniques available (e.g., fluorescence), surface plasmon resonance (SPR) has received a great attention since it does not require any labeling of the analytes and enables real-time sensing. We have proved that the “sensing depth” of SPR can be controlled by preparing the periodic metal nanogrooves on the sensor surface. As a result, the signal to noise ratio could be about 10 times higher than the conventional SPR. Also, we have developed to fabricate these metal nanopatterns with a high process reproducibility and throughput by using the nanoimprinting technology. The constructed proto-model which is based on this detection principle can be about 10 times smaller than other commercialized SPR systems. As a feasibility study, the detection of AFP (alpha-fetoprotein) which is a cancer marker protein could be also demonstrated by this model.

Session #2 Computers/Electronics

Ballistic Electronics:
Breaking the Barrier in Terahertz Speed Processing
Martin Margala, UMASS Lowell
This presentation will report on a newly invented transistor with high gain based on deflective ballistic operation called a Ballistic Deflection Transistor. In addition, a framework for designing complex logic functions out of ballistic deflection transistors (BDTs) is presented. Room temperature measurements of a fabricated BDT were used to create an empirical device model, which includes the voltage and current responses of all six terminals. This model is used to combine multiple BDTs and create a BDT NAND gate. In addition to this simulated design, measurement results from the first successful fabrication of an integrated NAND gate are presented, proving the logic capabilities of the BDT and setting the stage for large-scale circuit design. We have also studied the physics of the ballistic transport in nanostructured T-branch junctions made of a two-dimensional electron gas in an InGaAs/InAlAs heterostructure, by systematically varying of both the device size and operating temperature. We have found that there are actually two distinct mechanisms responsible for the observed nonlinear characteristics, namely, the nonlinear ballistic effect at low applied voltages and the intervalley transfer at high voltages.

Etch-A-Sketch Nanoelectronics
Jeremy Levy, University of Pittsburgh
This session describes a new method1 for creating electronic circuits by locally controlling a metal-insulator transition in a LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterostructure. Using a biased conducting atomic force microscope (AFM) probe, it is possible to create conducting lines with widths < 4 nm and dots with diameters < 2 nm. These structures can be subsequently modified or erased by changing the sign of writing voltage applied to the AFM tip. Electronic components can be written and erased repeatedly, making them exciting candidates for ultra-high-density logic and storage devices.

Use of Thin-Film Thermoelectrics for Cooling, Temperature Control and Power Generation
Karl von Gunten, Nextreme Thermal Solutions
The use of thin-film thermoelectrics in electronics offers a new paradigm in thermal and power management. At the core of this paradigm is the Thermal Copper Pillar Bump, which is also referred to as the “thermal bump.” The thermal bump is a thermoelectric structure made from a thin-film thermally active material that is embedded into flip-chip interconnects (in particular copper pillar solder bumps) for use in electronics packaging. The thermal bump is compatible with the existing flip-chip manufacturing infrastructure, extending the use of conventional solder bumped interconnects to provide active, integrated cooling of a flip-chipped component using the widely accepted copper pillar bumping process. The thermal bump was developed as a method for integrating active thermal management functionality at the chip level in the same manner that transistors, resistors and capacitors are integrated in conventional circuit designs today. Unlike conventional solder bumps that provide an electrical path and a mechanical connection to the package, thermal bumps act as solid-state heat pumps and add thermal management functionality locally on the surface of a semiconductor chip or other electrical component. The thermal bump makes use of the thermoelectric effect, which can be used to generate electricity, to measure temperatures, to cool objects, or to heat them.

10:15 - Break

11:00 - Concurrent Session

Session #1 Nanbiomedicine

Targeted Therapeutics Based on Multi-Functional Nanoparticle
Glen Batchelder, BIND Biosciences
Combinatorial optimization is critical to developing “smart” therapeutic targeted nanoparticles capable of differential delivery and controlled drug release to diseased tissue. The technology enables highly selective targeting at the cellular level and is capable of delivering bioactive agents ranging from approved drugs to emerging drug modalities. The product platform is broadly applicable across the therapeutic areas of oncology, inflammatory disease, cardiovascular disease and infectious disease.

Photostable Single Nanoparticle Biosensors for Molecular Imaging of Single Living Cells
Nancy Xu, Old Dominion University
Old Dominion University has developed photostable single nanoparticle photonics biosensors to detect single protein molecules in solution and on single living cell surfaces with exceptionally high sensitivity and selectivity, and a wide dynamic range. Research found that single nanoparticle biosensors exhibited remarkable photostability (non-photobleaching and non-blinking), and retained their biological activity over months. This study illustrated that smaller nanoparticles showed higher dependence of optical properties on surface functional groups, making it a much more sensitive biosensor. Utilizing localized surface plasmon resonance spectra (LSPRS) of single nanoparticle biosensors, we quantitatively measured binding kinetics and binding affinity of individual protein molecules in real time. The study has demonstrated that single nanoparticle biosensors are well suited for the fundamental study of biological functions of single protein molecules, as probes for protein microarrays, and development of as effective tools for disease diagnosis and therapy. One can now use single nanoparticle biosensors that we developed to explore a wide variety of applications.

How to Make Nanowire Arrays and What They Might Be Good For
Martin Moskovits, API Nanotronics
In the early 1990s making arrays of uniform, parallel nanowires covering many square centimeters was considered a holy grail that many research groups were vying for. A great many strategies, such as the development of templated growth of nanowire arrays in nano-engineered, electrochemically grown porous aluminum oxide, which my research group was involved in for many years, was a highly promising approach. A mere dozen years later, several commercial products are on the market which owe their special properties to their nano-engineered substructure of nanowire arrays. My own company, API Nanotronics, fabricates deep UV polarizers produced on 8 inch wafers in which the central nanowires, composed of oxides such as titanium oxide and tantalum oxide, are 200 cm long, 15 nm wide and 110 nm high, with a pitch of 75 nm. The length-to-width aspect ratio is a whopping 100 million. To gauge what this aspect ratio corresponds to, if the nanowires were scaled up so that their width was 1/8 inch, their lengths would be 256 miles. The talk will trace the recent development of two nanowire arrays technologies.

Session # 2 Nano Energy

Carbon Nanotubes: Ultimate Fibers for Fuel Filtration Applications
Christopher Cooper, Seldon Technologies
Carbon nanotubes have been an ultimate find of the present era. It has attracted tremendous attention of researchers from all around the globe for plethora of applications. Seldon, earlier than others, realized that its nanoscale diameters, high tensile strength, high electrical conductivity and high surface area carbonaceous make-up would be a very useful for fluid filtration applications. Moreover, its fuel resistant property coupled with the ease with which it can be functionalized with moieties for specific adsorption makes carbon nanotube a prime candidate for fuel filtration applications. Seldon has focused its attention towards developing products for various fuel filtration areas which include removal of microbial contaminants from fuel, mitigation of electrostatic discharge in fuel filters, fuel particulate filtration, removal of fuel degradation products and separation of water from ultralow sulfur diesel fuel. The objective of the paper is to demonstrate the versatility of carbon nanotube for various fuel filtration applications.

World’s First Ferritin Molecule Bionanobattery
Sang Choi, NASA Langley
The bionanobattery uses ferritins that encapsulate mineral cores as an energy storage element. The ferritins are the naturally existing protein cage that holds approximately 4500 iron atoms and is physiologically friendly. The team has successfully encapsulated several mineral cores, such as cobalt, platinum, nickel, and zinc, into ferritins after removing iron atoms for bionanobattery applications. Initially, a wet-cell was fabricated and tested successfully. Major achievements were (i) the immobilization of ferritin through surface treatments with molecular linkers and direct thiolation of the ferritin; (ii) the electrochemical/chemical biomineralization of ferritins with different core materials, such as iron, cobalt, manganese, platinum, and nickel, which are size-controlled nanoparticles; (iii) the fabrication of well-organized ferritin multilayers to enhance the overall battery performance and battery power density; and (iv) the fabrication and test of demo cells based on the redox capacity between Fe2+-ferritin and Co3+-ferritin. In the demo cell fabrication, the achieved initial voltage output from a combination of Fe2+-ferritin and Co3+-ferritin solution was 460 mV per unit cell, while a combination of thiolated Fe2+-ferritin and Co3+-ferritin immobilized on gold electrodes showed a voltage output of 250 mV per unit cell. NASA scientists also developed an anode material (Fe2+- ferritin) for the bionanobattery using the carbon monoxide dehydrogenase (100 % conversion yield), a sodium dithionite for chemical reduction method, and the electrochemical electrolysis of Fe3+-feritin. Additionally, a spin self-assembly technique was successfully employed for well-organized uniform multilayered ferritin arrays. These advanced technologies will be applied to scale-up synthesis of Fe2+-ferritin to produce a multi-cell bionanobattery with a large capacity.

What You Should Expect From Your Patent Attorney
Joseph B. Milstein, Hiscock & Barclay, LLP
Intellectual property legal services are critical to the successful operation of many technologically-based businesses, but they becoming very expensive.  In this presentation, I will discuss what you should expect from your patent (or trademark, copyright, and trade secrets) attorney with regard to the provision of those services.  There are minimum requirements relating to competence and ethical duties that are defined by the rules of practice of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, by the bar of each State, and by the courts.  While these minimum requirements must be adhered to, you should in fact expect far more, including, in broad terms, deep subject matter expertise, understanding of your business issues and an objective attention to those issues, the ability to provide wise counsel, and willingness to provide legal services at a fair price.  The discussion will be illustrated with some real-world examples, or “war stories.”

BioTiger™, a Natural Microbial Product for Enhanced Oil Recovery and Remediation
Michael Heitkamp, Savannah National Laboratory
BioTiger™ is a unique natural microbial consortia that resulted from over 8 years of extensive microbiology screening and characterization of bacteria isolates collected from a century-old oil refinery waste lagoon in Poland. BioTiger™ shows rapid and complete degradation of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, produces novel surfactants, is tolerant of both chemical and metal toxicity and shows good activity at temperature and pH extremes. Although originally developed and used by the U.S. Department of Energy for bioremediation of oil-contaminated sediments, including radioactive oily soils, recent efforts have proven that BioTiger™ can also be used to increase hydrocarbon recovery from oilsands. This enhanced ex situ oil recovery process utilizes BioTiger™ to optimize bitumen separation from sands. A floatation test protocol with oilsands from Ft. McMurray, Canada was used for the BioTiger™ evaluation. A comparison of hot water extraction/floatation test of the oilsands performed with BioTigerTM demonstrated a 50% improvement in separation as measured by gravimetric analysis in 4 h and a five-fold increase at 25 hr. Since BioTiger™ performed well at high temperatures, the process can be engineered to sustain metabolic activity and applied to enhance recovery of hydrocarbons from oilsands or other complex recalcitrant matrices on a larger scale.

Session #1 Diagnostics/Biosensors

Nano-gap Debye Capacitive Sensors for Highly Sensitive,
Biomolecular Detection
Manu Sebastian Mannoor, Microelectronics Research Center
Capacitive sensors provide a promising alternative to the conventional Optical methods used for detecting biomolecular interactions, due to their label-free operation, simple instrumentation and the ease of miniaturization. Although, several configurations of capacitive biosensors have been reported in the literature, many physical and electrochemical properties of these structures and the measurement methods used have significantly limited their commercial full-scale development as a biosensor. The existence of electrode polarization effect and noises from solution conductance limited the earlier dielectric spectroscopic measurements to high frequencies only, which in turn limited its sensitivity to biomolecular interactions, as the applied excitation signals were too fast for the charged macromolecules to respond. In an attempt to address the above mentioned challenges, we report a NEMS capacitive sensor with electrode separation in the order of Debye length (< 30nm). This nano-scale sensing area provides better insight into the molecular interactions, which was not previously attainable with macro or even micro scale devices. The interaction between the electrical double layers due to the space confinement decreases the potential drop across the electrode spacing and allows dielectric measurements at low frequency. As the double layers from both the capacitive electrodes merge together and occupy a major fraction of the capacitive volume, the contribution from bulk sample resistance in the measured impedance is eliminated. The dielectric properties during DNA–protein binding reaction were measured using alpha thrombin and its aptamer. A 45-50% change in capacitance was observed due to aptamer–alpha thrombin binding at 10Hz.

Nanotechnology in Bio-Medical Industry: R&D Challenges and Market Opportunities
Vasco Teixeira, University of Minho
Nanosciences and nanotechnologies are highly promising areas for research and industrial innovation, with a potential both to boost the competitiveness of many industries which will lead to new emerging and fast growing markets.  In the field of nanotechnology-based thin films nanostructured materials, new approaches using nanoscale effects can be used to design, create or model nanocoating systems with significantly optimized or enhanced properties of high interest to the food, health and biomedical industry. With the development of nanotechnology in various areas of materials science the potential technological use of novel surfaces and more reliable materials by employing nanocomposite and nanostructured thin films in many industries is already implemented. Special applications for technical textiles, food packaging, security pharmaceutical labels, novel polymeric containers for food contact, medical surface instruments, bio-implants, nano-sensors for bio-medical diagnostic and even coated nanoparticles for bionanotechnology could be considered This presentation will provide an overview of the nanotechnology approaches to produce nanostructured materials in particular for food and health industry. Topics to be discussed include introduction to nanocoatings concepts (from functional nanocomposite and graded coatings to smart nanomaterial surfaces used in packaging and biomedical industry) produced by clean technologies and other nanofabrication techniques. An overview of the current research, existing technological/industrial applications and future industrial materials and components will be highlighted.

Electrical Protein Detection in Cell Lysates
Christoph Wälti, Group Leader, University of Leeds
Proteins play a significant role in almost all biological processes. A comprehensive understanding of cell biology requires devices for the analysis of a staggering number of protein isoforms and protein–protein interactions in a cell. We present a novel protein array, featuring peptide aptamers as protein detectors arrayed on gold electrodes with feature sizes more than an order-of-magnitude smaller than existing formats. We use a robust, label-free electronic sensing system and demonstrate specific protein recognition in whole cell lysates. The sensitivity equals or exceeds that of other devices and is within the clinically relevant range. The use of peptide aptamers selected in vivo to recognise specific protein isoforms, the electronic nature and scalability of the detection, and the scalability of the array fabrication combine to yield the potential for highly multiplexed devices with increasingly small detection areas and higher sensitivities that may ultimately allow simultaneous monitoring of hundreds of thousands of protein isoforms.

Session #2 Semi Conductors/Metrology

High-Performance Nanostructured Materials
Morris Wang, Lawrence Livermore Laboratory
Bulk nanostructured materials, with the controlling microstructural length-scale on the order of tens of nanometers, are known to exhibit high strength and hardness. Super strong or super hard nanomaterials can often be produced. This trait makes them useful for wear-resistance type of applications. However, the gain of strength in these nanostructured materials often comes with the sacrifice of their useful tensile ductility. For other type of engineering applications such as vehicles, airplanes, trucks, trains and ships, strategies are required in order to improve the ductility of these nanostructured materials while maintaining their strength. These strategies will be reviewed and examples will be given for single-phase elemental nanocrystalline materials, nanostructured alloys, and nanolaminates. The promising future of these strategies will be discussed in the context of new deformation mechanisms observed in these newly-developed complex nanostructured materials. The existing challenges and future opportunities in the research of ultratough nanostructured materials will be stressed.

Intrinsic Force Standards Based on Atomic and Molecular Interactions
Jon Pratt, NIST
Experimental platforms, such as atomic force microscopes and optical tweezers, have created tremendous opportunities to explore the behavior and properties of materials at a fundamental molecular and atomic level. In fact, it is becoming possible to make direct comparisons between experiments which measure the rupture force of a single-atomic bond and the predictions of sophisticated, quantum based simulations, or to compare the results of single-molecule biophysics experiments with large scale molecular dynamics simulations. However, in order to successfully compare the results of similar experiments performed using different measurement platforms, and to compare experimental results to the results of theoretical computations, both experiment and theory must be supported by a common set of accurate standards. In this context, I will explore the notion of intrinsic force standards that is emerging in the field of biophysics, where forces associated with various single-molecule conformation changes are often treated as unique, intrinsic properties of the material, having accepted standard values that can be used for calibration purposes. One example I will examine is the well-known overstretch transformation of double-stranded DNA. Single-molecule tensile testing reveals a mechanically-induced structural change occurring at a force of approximately 65 pN. This force is already used as a consensus intrinsic standard to aid in the calibration of both AFM and optical tweezers experiments, and here I will discuss progress we are making at NIST to link this type of molecular derived force to a more conventionally derived electrostatic force of known absolute value. I will further touch on how the convenient manufacture and atomic precision of DNA could be exploited to lead to a new class of standard reference materials for science and technology.

True Nano Positioning
Bill Hennessey, Alio Industries
The continuous development of new research, technologies, and opportunities in nanotechnology is driving a need for precision motion and automation solutions that provide accurate and verifiable motion at the nanometer level. This presentation discusses this new way of thinking about nanometer motion systems including actual products, application examples, and test data. The mass marketing use of the “nano” term has created many misconceptions of how existing products perform at the nanometer level. Many motion products labeled as “nano” fail to meet nanometer motion specifications (such as accuracy, repeatability, flatness, straightness) because they are slightly modified versions of current or past generation products. There is a gap for many in the motion control industry in what is required to produce products that position accurately at the nanometer level. Numerous factors that are minor concerns at the micrometer level can drastically restrict performance at the nanometer level. As an example, ALIO’s patented Hexapod includes 5 nanometer resolution, 6 degrees of freedom around a virtual point in space, speeds of up to 200 mm/sec, and sub-micron repeatability. This product is one of many that form the basis of the next generation of automated nano-positioning systems for the most demanding applications in photonics, packaging, test, micro machining, government, measurement, flat panel, solar, lithography, medical and semiconductor manufacturing. By deviating from past generation products and producing “true nano positioning” designs, projects can be fast tracked, procedures can be streamlined, production(s) can be increased, and quality can improve all resulting in higher yield rates.

Session # 1 Green Nanotech

Diamond Nanoparticles are a Chiller’s Best Friend: Refrigerant/Lubricant Boiling Improved
Mark Kedzierski, Mechanical Engineer, NIST
Is it possible to improve refrigerant/lubricant boiling with nanoparticles? If so, what size of particles should be used? What’s the particle material and in what concentration should they be applied to obtain the best improvement in performance? These are some of the questions that are currently driving the refrigerant boiling with nanolubricant research at NIST. The presentation will share what has been learned, including very recent results at NIST in this ongoing investigation.

HYDRNOL™ Fuel:
A New Breakthrough in Hydrogen Storage and Transportation
Bart Norton, Asemblon
An economy based on hydrogen is the best way to achieve energy independence and lower green house gas emissions. Efforts are under way to produce hydrogen more efficiently, but the Achilles Heel remains – storage and transportation. Hydrogen is a very light and energetic gas. For practical use, it must be compressed or cryogenically-cooled. Both methods are expensive and require specific infrastructure. Alternative storage methods include metal hydrides and physical sorbents such as carbon nanotubes.
Asemblon has patented a method for storing hydrogen as a part of an organic molecule, HYDRNOL™ Fuel. HYDRNOL is handled like gasoline or diesel and is liquid at ambient temperature and pressure. In fact, the current gasoline/diesel infrastructure model could be used for HYDRNOL. Hydrogen is stored covalently and is released on demand by a heated catalyst. The spent fuel is re-charged with hydrogen 100 times or more, creating a recyclable carrier system. Modern cars and trucks can be modified at reasonable cost to use hydrogen to boost, displace and ultimately replace fossil fuels. A market for hydrogen exists today; there is no need to wait for the introduction of fuel cell vehicles.

High Purity Nanomaterials from Renewable Sources
Juzer Jangbarwala, Catalyx Nano
Utilizing renewable source technologies for manufacturing Platelet Graphite
Nanofibers (PGNF), we present how the carbon footprint for manufacturing is
reduced, a renewable fuel byproduct is produced and the resulting lower cost unique PGNF supports multiple traditional and new green applications. A patented process allows low cost manufacture of high purity material from
waste methane sources, such as landfill gas. Enhanced performance has been observed when PGNFs are used as catalyst supports and electrode materials. Test results are discussed for use as Li-ion battery electrodes, fuel cell catalyst supports/electrodes, ethylene oxidation catalyst support.
Additionally, PGNFs have been proven to act as ³green² catalysts themselves, without any heavy metal based conventional catalysts, in dehydrogenation and oxidation reactions. Results for oxidative dehydrogenation of ethyl benzene to styrene with the PGNFs used as catalysts are presented.


Session # 2 Systems & Circuits

Microscopic Integrated Processing Technology
Yuji Kurono, Panasonic
Panasonic Electric Works Corporation developed MIPTEC (Microscopic Integrated Processing Technology) to further advance MID (Molded Interconnect Device) technology in the production of three dimensional (3-D) circuit devices. A technique of MID forms 3-D electric circuits directly on the surface of injection moldings and allows formation of circuits at virtually any angle and geometry. MIPTEC is not a product, but a processing technology which includes (1) “one-shot laser structuring” method (microscopic 3-D laser patterning technology), (2) highly reliable bonding technology (wire bonding and flip chip bonding), (3) substrate material flexibility (plastic and ceramic), and (4) dicing technology. By integrating microscopic and complex circuits with mechanical components, MIPTEC can contribute to (1) smaller, space-saving and lighter products, (2) a fewer number of components, and (3) a fewer number of assembly processes. By implementing “one-shot laser structuring” method, MIPTEC realized fine circuit trace (70um/70um, width/gap) and circuit trace placement (+/-30um accuracy) on the surface of injection molding and enabled easy change to the circuit trace design by only software change. This presentation will cover detail descriptions of MIPTEC process technology.

Superhydrophobicity in Power Applications
Nigel Hampton, Neetrac
The bulk of electrical power delivery in the US from the generating sites to the load centers is done by overhead transmission lines. The energized conductors have to be electrically isolated from the support structures. The insulators that are employed to do this need to operate reliably to deliver the required power. A major practical concern is when the performance of these insulators are degraded by either water (fog, mist), pollutants (dust, pollen, chemicals, salt etc), a combination of both Work at NEETRAC has shown that the performance of these devices can be dramatically improved in these critical areas through the use of an in situ manufactured nano coating. The performance of these nanostructures is further elevated when multi modal and multi species approaches are used. This paper will describe the back ground science and fabrication, coating on devices, laboratory verification testing and the first practical applications on the US electrical transmission system.

Growth of Rhombohedral Single Crystal of SiGe
Dr. Yeonjoon Park, NASA Langely Research Center
The purpose of investigation is to develop the fundamental materials and fabrication technology for field-controlled spectrally active optics with potential industry, NASA, and DOD applications such as: membrane optics, filters for LIDARs, windows for sensors and probes, telescopes, pectroscopes, cameras, light valves, light switches, and flat-panel displays. These are materials tailored with quantum-dots (QD) array, thin-film of field-sensitive Stark and Zeeman materials, or the bound excitonic state of organic crystals that will offer optical adaptability and reconfigurability. To see the benefits of quantum-confined Stark effect, semi-metallic materials doped with rare earth elements were developed and tested with electric field injection. Scandium nitride is a semi-metal base material doped with rare earth elements to show spectral shifts or refractive index shifts according to applied fields. Other dopant materials were also considered to create shifts in spectrum and refractive index.

Nano Science & Technology for National Security
Cherry Murray, Principal Associate Director for Science and Technology, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
The National Ignition Facility (NIF) at Lawrence Livermore National Lab, the world’s most powerful laser, will be commissioned in spring 2009. NIF will in the next few years be able to create ignition in the laboratory – and beget a new field of “experimental astrophysics” by reproducing in the lab the conditions inside a miniature star. NIF will enable us to pursue with controlled experiments the science behind fusion power. This will be realized with tiny laser targets of nano-precision. This dinner presentation will describe some of the nano science and technology advances that will help achieve this goal.