NIST Extends Response Period for Comments on Proposed New Advanced Manufacturing Program

To accommodate additional interested parties, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) today announced a 30-day extension on a request seeking public comment on the proposed new Advanced Manufacturing Technology Consortia program. The comment period now ends 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on Thursday, Oct. 20, 2011. The Request For Information asks interested parties to answer 23 questions about eligibility for consortia membership, selection criteria for research funds, best practices for maximizing small business participation or disseminating results, and a number of other topics. Comments will be accepted by email only to AMtechRFC@nist.gov. All comments will be made publicly available.

DOE and Israel Announce $3.1 Million in Cooperative Clean Energy Projects

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today highlighted a milestone in U.S.-Israel cooperation on clean energy technology. DOE and the Ministry of National Infrastructures of Israel (MNI) have selected four projects in California, Pennsylvania, and Washington to receive $3.1 million under the 2011 Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Energy program. Each of the cooperative projects includes a U.S. and Israeli partner and addresses energy challenges and opportunities of interest to both countries, while focusing on commercializing clean energy technologies that improve our economic competitiveness, create jobs, and support innovative companies. The selected projects will leverage private sector cost-share for a total project value of $8.46 million.

GE, Nissan Sign R&D Agreement to Fast Track Broader Adoption of Electric Cars

GE and Nissan have signed a two-year research collaboration to speed up the development of a reliable, robust smart charging infrastructure to fuel mass market adoption of electric cars like the Nissan LEAF and have identified two key focus areas for the research efforts. The first relates to the integration of electric vehicles with homes and buildings. The second looks at electric vehicle charging dynamics and the future impact on the grid once millions of electric cars are on the road.

Copper nanowire organization method could mean cheaper substitute for ITO films

Duke University chemist Ben Wiley and his graduate student have developed a technique to organise copper atoms to form long, thin, non-clumped nanowires. The nanowires are then transformed into transparent, conductive films and coated onto glass or plastic for applications in displays on mobile phones, e-readers and iPads. They could also be utilized to build foldable electronics and improved solar cells, according to new research.

 The research shows that the copper nanowire films have the same properties as those currently used in electronic devices and solar cells, but are less expensive to manufacture.

Development of Sensor Device Using High-transparency Organic Piezoelectric Film

Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. has developed a sensor device using high-transparency organic piezoelectric film. This film has the following characteristics: (1) high piezoelectric output constant*1; (2) high transparency (light beam transmittance of 98% or higher [according to the internal haze measurement]); and (3) free from pyroelectric effect*2. As smartphones, tablet computers, and portable game devices become more widespread, there is a growing demand for a new human/machine interface. Conventional piezoelectric films are usually subject to a pyroelectric effect, which is a disadvantage because they cannot detect bending and twisting vibrations separately from changes in temperature. Murata has developed a high-transparency piezoelectric film free from pyroelectric effect through joint research with Kansai University and Mitsui Chemicals Inc.

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