John Flake, Semiconductors / Electronic Materials

• Surface Functionalization of Silicon Nanowires, BOR-RCS $103k/3yrs

• Significance: Silicon nanowires are functionalized for biological interfaces, sensors, or for Li-ion battery applications.

• 3D Interconnects, ATMI Inc. $450k/3yr.• Significance: Develop novel

electrochemical approaches to forming deep through silicon vias.

• Other Areas of Research:• TiO2 photocatalysts,

photoelectrochemical reduction of CO3, Dept. of Energy EFERC

• Li-ion battery materials, DoD

Silicon nanowires, SEM

9 Die Stack with Through Silicon Vias

Francisco R. Hung, Molecular Modeling in Materials Design

Ionic Liquids in Nanoporous Carbons: when confined, how are the ionic liquids affected by the properties (pore

size, pore morphology, surface chemistry) of the carbons?

Significance: optimize design of (1) electrodes for electrochemical double layer capacitors (EDLCs) for hybrid vehicles; and (2) nanoporous semiconductors (e.g., TiO2) for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) for using solar energy (with John Flake)

Electric double-layer capacitor

Ion permeable separator

Current collector

Electrolyte ions

Simplified electric circuit

+ –

Cdl,+ Cdl,–

Porous carbon electrode

Dye-sensitized solar cell

Mediator

Electrolyte

Conducting glass

CathodePorous TiO2

+ dye

Organization of Carbon Nanotubes Using Liquid Crystals: investigate the use of liquid crystals (LCs) to manipulate and control the orientation of carbon nanotubes (CNTs)

Significance: high-quality dispersions of oriented CNTs in LCs have applications in displays, nanoscale electronics, optical sensors, and in the development of composites with unique mechanical, thermal and/or electronic properties.

(b)

Wall patterned arrays that might be used to align CNTs dispersed in a LC

Greg Griffin, Materials Processing

Aerosol synthesis methodsSignificance: (1) Aluminum nitride powder - thermal heat sink, ceramic armor; (2) Sol-gel / colloidal chemistry – mesoporous TiO2 - photocatalytic air, water purification.

Chemical vapor deposition / Atomic layer depositionSignificance: copper thin films – microelectronic circuitry (CVD)

palladium nanoparticles - heterogeneous catalysis (ALD)

Future plansNanostructured catalyst preparation

Significance: CO2 conversion; desulfurization; - photocatalytic decontamination

Microelectronic devicesMetallization circuitry; solar photovoltaic cells

Environmental nanotechnology - education proposal

Kerry Dooley, Catalytic Materials

Monolithic Materials for Oscillating Reactors (C. Knopf) Significance: Enhanced observed rates in catalysis of edible oil hydrogenation, oxidative desulfurization.

Mixed Rare Earth Oxides for Nanocombustion and Desulfurization (S. Acharya)Significance: Enhanced thrust for fighter aircraft; desulfurization and tar removal from coal and biogasifier effluents.

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160

Al/Zeo

Mn/Al

Ce/La

Ce/La/Zr

Ce/La/Gd/Al

Ce/La/Tb/Al

Ce/La/Mn/Al

umol S/g

Adsorbed Desorbed, inert gas

Hydrodeoxygenation/ Decarboxylation of Fatty Acids and Rosin AcidsSignificance: Biorefining the acids fraction of pyrolysis liquids and tar extracts to higher value fuels, chemicals

Figure – Synthetic Evolution of Four Generations of High-Temperature (600ºC) Oxide Desulfurization Sorbents