You are browsing the archives of National Science Foundation.

We are all Bill Murray because DOE and NSF still seem to be suffering from the fierce urgency of tomorrow:

DOE report 4/16/2010. Source: recovery.gov

NSF report 4/16/2010. Source: recovery.gov

Share

An artist's conception of a row of intentional molecular defects in a sheet of graphene. The defects effectively create a metal wire in the sheet. This discovery may lead to smaller yet faster computers in the future. (Credit: Y. Lin, USF)

According to the National Science Foundation, a team of researchers, lead by University of South Florida professors Matthias Batzill and Ivan Oleynik, has developed a new method for adding an extended defect to graphene that may prove to be the solution to a growing challenge in the development of future electronic devices. Their discovery was published yesterday in the journal Nature Nanotechnology.

Small defects must be introduced to graphene to make the material useful in electronic applications. The USF team figured out a way to create a well-defined, extended defect several atoms across, containing octagonal and pentagonal carbon rings embedded in a perfect graphene sheet. This defect acts as a quasi-one-dimensional metallic wire that easily conducts electric current. Such defects could be used as metallic interconnects or elements of device structures of all-carbon, atomic-scale electronics.

The group used the self-organizing properties of a single-crystal nickel substrate, and used a metallic surface as a scaffold to synthesize two graphene half-sheets translated relative to each other with atomic precision. When the two halves merged at the boundary, they naturally formed an extended line defect.

Some skeptics wonder how long Moore’s Law can continue as materials shrink, but this kind of work will probably add several more years, if not leading to additional roads to explore in relation to properties on the atomic level.

Share

The fierce urgency of now tomorrow at the DOE:

FYI, the average for all federal agencies is 30%.

Still glue in the gears at the NSF, too:

Share

It took about 3 months for DOE to get the first $1 billion into circulation in the economy and about 2.5 months for the second $2 billion (still less than 10% of the total). I guess we should all be thankful for this smallest sign of improvement, but I wonder who will still be around when the agency finally finishes spending the Recovery Act monies in 2015?

Again, I suggest that it is instructional to look at what other federal agencies are doing. This yardstick shows that the average federal agency has figured out how to pay out 35% of Recovery Act funds.

They are even slower over at the NSF.

Share

The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh reported that inorganic chemistry professor Charles Gibson received a nearly $150K grant from the National Science Foundation’s Small Business Technology Transfer program. $83,400 went to the university research project, while $66,600 went to Gibson’s startup company, Oshkosh Nanotechnology.

Gibson is developing high-performance electrical energy storage devices with nanophase (i.e., grain sizes under 100 nanometers) mixed ionic/electronic ceramic conductors.

Gibson’s NSF application sheds more light on this project:

MIEC conductors are attractive candidates for use in EES devices because their high electrical conductivity facilitates double-layer formation, and their high ionic conductivity facilitates redox chemistry. Recent studies suggest that surface defect density in MIECs is enhanced significantly at nanoscales owing to space-charge or similar effects which can be effectively utilized for charge storage. The goal of this project is to provide convincing quantitative proof of concept of nanoscale MIEC’s ability to enhance charge storage above existing materials. Main research objectives include: (1) screen MIEC conductors for performance; (2) evaluate electrodes containing MIEC conductors; (3) evaluate prototype EES devices; and (4) optimize performance of electrodes and prototypes. These objectives will be accomplished by: (1) synthesis and characterization of a series of MIECs; (2) fabrication of electrode blends containing MIECs; (3) evaluation of electrode performance and analysis by electrochemical methods; and (4) construction/evaluation of prototypes. Anticipated results include development of pseudocapacitors using MIECs that exhibit enhanced charge storage, novel hybrid battery configurations with higher power and energy density, and their prototypes containing MIECs.

“Dr. Gibson’s work is our best example of how University research and faculty entrepreneurship can be complimentary and synergistic as well as successful in attracting external funds to support both research and product development,” said Linda Freed, UW Oshkosh grants and faculty development director.

Gibson said his research to develop improved batteries and super capacitors from ceramic nanophase materials started in his campus laboratory in August 2008. His work has benefited from the high-quality electron microscopy instrumentation available at UW Oshkosh.

“We bring to this field of study the ability to create entirely new nanomaterials that offer improved energy storage,” he explained.

Gibson says the new nano-MIEC technology offers faster charge/recharge and longer cycle-life and could supplement or replace batteries in these applications. Anticipated markets include transportation (hybrid and all-electric vehicles), cordless power tools, and certain defense applications.

Share