Research -> Nano-Science, Materials, Sensors and Systems
Current Projects/Achievements
The nanoscience group at TCSUH exploits its wide range of material expertise and material characterization and fabrication capabilities acquired over the last two decades in the research and development of superconductivity for the development and processing of nanomaterials with improved performance for biomedicine, composite materials, sensing, energy delivery and storage. The nanoscience group is a partner in the CONTACT Program which carries out projects and collaborative efforts which address four key areas of interest to the Materials Directorate and other directorates of AFRL. The Program includes the efforts of six other Texas Universities -five campuses of the University of Texas (Austin, Arlington, Dallas, Pan American, and Brownsville), and Rice University. The areas of research are oriented towards Air Force applications in adaptive coatings and surface engineering, nanoenergetics, electromagnetic sensors and power generation, and energy storage.
Core Participants
C. W. Chu
- Nano-Construction and Characterization of Thermal Interface Materials
- Size and Shape-Dependent Magnetic Properties of Large Mn-Fe Oxide Nanoparticles
- Polarity-Dependent Reversible Field-Induced Resistance Switching in Electrode/Oxide Interfaces
- The Negative Static Dielectric Constant in Nano-Particle Aggregates
Wei-Kan Chu
- Field Ionization Using Carbon Nanotubes
- Nanorod Quantum Well Structures for Light Emitting Diode, Laser Diode and Solar Cell Applications
S. H. Pan
- Scanning Probe Microscopy/Spectroscopy- Development and Construction of the UHV Variable Low Temperature STM System
Kevin Bassler
- Theoretical and Computational Studies of Self-Organizing and Self-Assembling Material Systems
Audrius Brazdeikis
- Nanoparticles in Biomedical Imaging
John H. Miller
- Electromagnetic Studies of Biological Macromolecules & Other Nanoscale Materials
Allan J. Jacobson/S. C. Moss
- Nano-particles in Nano-Porous Host Matrices, Nano -rods -sheets in Polymers
T. Randall Lee
- Organic Films Nanocomposites: Ultrasmall Nanoshell Dopants for Light-Emitting Polymer Displays
Arnold M. Guloy
- Thermo Electric Materials: Novel Materials from the Oxidation Reactions of Alkali and Alkaline-Earth Metal Germanides and Silicides
C. L. Chen
- Growth and Characterizations of Multifunction Oxide Thin Films
M. N. Iliev
- Carbon Nanotube Multifunctional Sensors in Nanocomposites
Haibing Peng
- Synthesis and Properties of Carbon Nanotubes
J. Wosik
- High Frequency Characterization of SWNT for Bio-Medical Applications
Each year TcSUH requests proposals for New Seed Projects and for One Year Extensions of Existing Projects. The program is designed to promote innovative research to facilitate innovative ideas with potential for external funding. Awards are typically $20,000 and recipients of seed funding are expected to generate a proposal for external funds within 12 months of receiving TcSUH support. For FY07 through FY09, 30 one-year projects were funded and many of these were in nanomaterials.
Seed Programs in Nanomaterials
G. Gunaratne (PHYS)
- The Physics of and Strategies for Engineering Perfect Long Range Order in Self-Assembly of Nanostructures
R. Krishnamoorti (CEE)
- Development of Multi-functional Polymer Nanocomposites for Sensor (Damage) and Actuation Applications
Pradeep Sharma (ME)
- Size-Dependent Elastic and Inelastic Behavior of Metal Nanowires
Li Sun (ME)
- Magnetic nanostructures in sensing and biomedical devices
John C. Wolfe (ECE)
- Fabrication of Step-and-Flash Imprint Lithography templates for patterned magnetic media
Gangbing Song (ME)
- Development of High-Acoustic-Damping Composite Materials Using Carbon Nanopaper Sheets
Wanda Zagozdzon-Wosik (ECE)
- Integrated BioMEMS for biophysical applications in living cells
Dan Luss/ Karen Martirosyan (CEE)
- Nanoenergetic "Gas-Generator"
Chengzhi Cai (CHEM)
- Bionano Materials, Organic Films Nanocomposites
Peter Strasser (CEE)
- Size and Composition Dynamics of Alloy Nanoparticle Ensembles in Electrochemical Environments
Rigoberto C. Advincula (CHEM)
- Hybrid-Inorganic-Organic Conjugated Polymer and Chalcogenide Quantum Dots: Electro-optically active Mesophases and Nanostructures
Stanko R. Brankovic (ECE)
- Electrodeposited of Exchange Spring Magnet Nanomaterials
Chengzhi Cai (CHEM)
- Single Molecule Arrays Presenting Carbohydates and other Biomolecules
Margaret Cheung (PHY)
- Multi-scale Molecular Simulations for Antimicrobial Peptides with Leishmanicidal Activity
Vincent Donnelly/ Demetre Economou (CBE)
- Growth and Crystallization of Amorphous Silicon Using a Novel Dual-Plasma Reactor with Rotating Substrates
Rebecca Forrest (PHY)
- Structure Determination of Aliphatic Dithiocarboxylic Acid Self-Assembled Monolayers on Gold
Gemunu Gunaratne (PHY)
- Strategies for Engineering Perfectly Ordered Self-Assembled Monolayer and Quantum Dot Arrays
Dmitri Litvinov (ECE)/ Karen Martirosyan (CBE)
- Nano-Textured Fe100-xGax Alloys: Fabrication and Properties
Dong Liu/ Li Sun (ME)
- Magnetically-Assisted Fabrication of Thin Film Nanocomposites with Tunable Thermal Conductivity for Thermal Management of Miniaturized Energy Systems
Ognjen Miljanic (CHEM)
- Nanospace Engineering through Guanine Self-Assembly
Li Sun (ME)
- Development of Interconnected Carbon Nanofiber Reinforced Polymer Composites
John C. Wolfe (ECE)
- Applications of Energetic Particle Lithography
Download PDF of Research Projects
- C. W. (Paul) Chu - High-Pressure, Low-Temperature Research (HTS & Related Materials)
- W. K. Chu - Ion Beam Research
- Audrius Brazdeikis- Biomagnetic Imaging & Nanomedicine
- John H. Miller, Jr. - HTS Device Application & Nano-Biophysics
- T. R. Lee - Nanoparticles, Polymeric Materials and Nanoscale Organic Thin Films
- S. C. Moss - Solid State Ionics and Synthesis
- A. M. Guloy - Solid State Inorganic Synthesis Laboratory
- C. L. Chen - Multifunctional Oxide Thin Films and Interface Engineered Structures
- M. N. Iliev - Raman & Infrared Research
- Haibing Peng - Electronic & Mechanical Properties of Novel Nanostructures