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Nanobiomimetic reagent-free sensing and energy storage
The handheld Pioneering I device comprised of ABS’s nanobiomimetic sensor array technology coupled with Groundswell’s platform technology in 4D contour mapping. The mapping output reflects the cancer communication with the sensor membrane causing energy change, heat change, membrane potential change and spatiotemporal sensory-energy image change without using antibody tracer, and no labeling, hence the results are magnitude sensitive for detecting a single cancer in real time and image based on the quantitation of cancer cells measured in human blood and in vivo healthy breast tissue. The energy-sensory image obtained using patient blood can identify when and where the cancer cells, or proteins initiate the pathological change in 3D location. The device provides a first in class diagnostic alternative to biopsy testing that will bring great benefits to patients, the society and market potential. Pioneering II is a handhold 4D cancer healing device used to apply spontaneous electric pulse at the top skin of the breast to heal the cancer. Our in vitro data demonstrated it is capable to heal cancer. Orders of magnitudes lower current and short time compared with market devices. Hence our device brings safety and healing benefits.
Room Temperature Self-Powered Superconductive Quantum Computing with Memory Circuit
Large data centers in the US have extraordinary demand for energy consumption, because the low energy efficiency of computer circuit consuming too much power for computing, storing and moving data. Current computers use many transistors face paramount task to remove produced heat. The quest for room temperature superconductor quantum computing Bit (RTSQCB) devices becomes an urgent need. The RTSQCB viewed as a “Holy Grail” that may revolutionize the electronic industries. Current Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices (SQUID) made faster, however hundreds of MHz electromagnetic field applied onto a tank circuit coupled to the SQUID is needed for the system working under cryogenic condition. The SQUIDs are vulnerable to low frequency noise. SuperQ(R) is an innovative quantum computing chip based on flexible Josephson junction toroidal (FJJT) array which comprises 200k qubits and operating at room temperature and self-powering with no energy dissipation, and no heat release, because there is an embedded memristive circuit with non-volatile memory. Our preoperatory material and nanobiomimetic membrane technology has revolutionarily innovated the quantum computing world. Current ABS’s chip can simultaneously quantum compute at multiple states with energy storage function with only 0.003% error at very low frequency.
3D Optical Machine Vision Platform
Our system can capture and maintain a 3D model on human tissue with <100 micron accuracy, in real time, during surgery. Any other scanner would capture a blur. In addition, our system can simultaneously analyze tissue, differentiating between bone, tumors, brain tissue (grey or white matter), etc. This allows surgeons to take all of the unhealthy tissue, while preserving the most healthy tissue possible. This will prevent the need for costly and risk additive intra-operative MRI's, making brain surgery faster and more accurate, preventing deaths and lifelong disabilities for patients. Hospitals will save billions in costs associated with failed, aborted, or prolonged procedures. This clinically accurate product can be used to guide surgical robots, or could be used on a drone to scan terrain.
Additive Manufacturing of Bonded Permanent Magnets using a Novel Polymer Matrix
This invention disclosure reports a method of direct manufacturing of bonded magnets using a polymer extrusion based additive manufacturing and a new composition of matter. The bonded magnet fabrication process generally involves mixing magnet powders with a polymer resin (typically a thermoplastic) and an antioxidant and produces various shapes and sizes of magnets through injection molding, roll molding, compaction molding and extrusion molding. It is desirable to maximize the magnetic particle loading to achieve optimum magnetic properties for the bonded magnet. During the bonded magnet fabrication process, magnetic fields are used to preferentially orient the magnetic particles. In addition to high magnetic properties, it is preferable to have high mechanical flexibility. We have identified polymers that are suitable to fabricate bonded magnets with high loading of Nd2Fe14B based magnetic powders.
Bottle and Apparatus Module for Displaying Electricity Generation of Electricity Generation Cosmetics
-Problems to be solved: Conventional piezoelectric measurement device can only measure piezoelectric property of solid material by giving pressure on the solid material. However, it is difficult to measure piezoelectric property of liquid/viscous materials since liquid/viscous materials escape out when pressure is given to the materials. Also, customers have a desire to see and check if the so-claimed electricity generating cosmetics actually generate electricity to have advantageous effects. -The Present Invention relates to a pumping device/cosmetic container that can measure piezoelectric properties for liquid/viscous materials inside the pumping device and show the piezoelectric property of the liquid/viscous materials. The pumping device/cosmetic container includes a nozzle head to dispense liquid/viscous materials outside of a container, a first and a second electrodes to measure charge quantity of piezoelectric material included in the liquid/viscous materials when the liquid/viscous materials are moving, a control circuit for converting the measured charge quantity into voltage signal and amplifying the voltage signal, and an indicator for showing status information of the piezoelectric material. With the pumping device/cosmetic container according to the present invention, customers can check if the electric generating cosmetics actually generate electricity.
Method for Manufacturing a Biosensor Strip Using Paper Advantageous for Mass Production and a Structure Thereof
(The Present Invention) Purpose: A method for manufacturing a biosensor strip using paper and a structure thereof are provided to produce the biosensor strip at low costs and to reduce environmental pollution. Simple Manufacturing Method with Paper: A biosensor strip is manufactured using paper with electrode patterns printed on a lower plate of paper material through screen-printing/carbon-ink-printing process using an inkjet printer. Adhesive film is formed in a portion of top of lower plate except for a portion where a channel for inserting a biomaterial sample is formed. When inserting the biomaterial sample through an inlet of the channel, an upper plate of the paper material where an air outlet for discharging air is formed correspondingly on the top of the channel is adhered to the adhesive film. Humidity Sensor for Reducing Errors due to Humidity: The biosensor further includes a humidity sensor to detect the capacitance changes due to humidity in environment and humidity between the electrode patterns. Based on the detected humidity and prediction of the influence of the humidity on the capacitance, the biosensor can reduce the errors caused by humidity changes.
Secondary battery package for use in a harsh environment such as a satellite and a vehicle.
Secondary battery package, comprising: secondary battery cells arranged in matrix to be spaced apart from each other, and have anode at one of upper and lower end, and cathode at the other; upper tags electrically connected to electrode at upper end of battery cells; lower tags electrically connected to electrode at lower end of battery cells; upper holder board made of insulating plastic and having upper end seating groove with upper end of battery cells seated thereon, and upper end tag mounting part with upper tag inserted thereinto; lower holder board made of insulating plastic and having lower end seating groove with lower end of battery cells seated thereon, and lower tag mounting part with lower tag inserted thereinto; upper end fixing layer made of insulating plastic and fixing upper end of secondary battery cells not to vibrate below upper end seating groove; lower end fixing layer made of insulating plastic and fixing lower end of secondary battery cells not to vibrate above the lower end seating groove; cover overlapped on upper holder board; base which is overlapped under lower holder board; and fastener which fastens cover and base.
3D Metal Printer System for Adjusting Mechanical Property of a Structure During Manufacture and Easily Separating the Printed Structure from a Platform without Damage.
Conventional 3d-printer system performs heat-treatment after completion of printing of structure and this prevents heat-treatment for inner part of the printed-structure. Also, it is difficult to separate printed-structure from platform without damage since the bottom part of structure is strongly attached to the upper surface of platform. The novel 3d-printer system comprises: 3D-metal-printer which stacks and processes a structure by melting metal powder by laser, heat-treatment unit performing heat-treatment per layer during stacking and processing of the structure, main controller to control operation of 3D-metal-printer and heat-treatment unit, and a platform installed in the 3D-metal-printer, comprising a pair of a left and a right platform, and an elevation cylinder installed at a lower end of the right and the left platform and elevating the right and the left platform so as to detach the printed structure from the platform. The heat-treatment unit further includes: a heat-treatment-atmosphere-controller to control heat-treatment atmosphere of a space where heat-treatment is performed, the heat-treatment-atmosphere-controller comprising atmosphere-gas-supply means and atmosphere-gas-dispensing means; a heat-treatment-path-output for quenching outer surface of the structure to harden the surface and for annealing/tempering inner part and core of the structure so that selective heat-treatment can be performed depending on plane position.
Nanostructured Squeezable Gels as a Separations Platform
Despite the rapid development of microorganisms producing “drop-in” biofuels and hydrocarbon chemicals via biochemical conversion, bioproduct purification remains costly and complex. Traditional separation techniques (centrifugation, multi-phase extractions, distillation) are capital-intensive and/or low-yielding. Argonne has developed high surface-area, flexible, nanostructured xerogels with excellent capabilities in biofuel recovery from biofermenters. Xerogels adsorb 8x their mass and with 100% selectivity for hydrocarbons without impacting cell viability and output. Adsorbed products are released by simple compression. We generated a separation platform by tuning the composition to capture and recover a target molecule. Xerogels are also high-affinity adsorbents with near-molecular recognition for removal from feedstock and fermentation streams of inhibitors limiting bioconversion processes. Compared to existing technologies, this approach is at least 250% cheaper and allows adsorbent reuse tens of times. In-situ adsorbents for product recovery offers other advantages: (1) reduced bulk viscosity as bioproduct is continuously captured, improving liquid mixing and oxygen transfer throughout the medium, (2) continuous product removal enabling true continuous fermentation (vs. fed-batch), and (3) improved bioproduct purity by eliminating the need for additional raw material inputs (solvents, acid, bases, flocculants) required for de-emulsification. These translate into commercial relevance such as reduced costs, higher productivity and improved product quality.
Autonomous power supply for sensors
The researchers developed a thermoelectric harvester (TEH) prototype, an autonomous energy generator for low power supplies. This thermoelectric harvester is a constant, compact, cheap, capable of providing the energy consumption of the wireless sensors for a long time as a replacement for battery use. The energy source is the gradient that always exists between the pipe and the ambient air temperature. This gradient is converted into electrical energy using a thermoelectric converter. Generators, based on THE, are environmentally friendly, use renewable energy, and do not include gases and / or moving parts. Thermal and electrical optimization was performed. Physical and mathematical models were developed. Simulations and measurements were conducted on various sites for a year.
On-demand Ammonia Generator
We have developed a compact and an efficient Ammonia Electrochemical Generator (AEG) that utilizes power, water and nitrogen for ammonia production. The catalyst, electrodes and fuel cell membranes have all been specially developed to maiximize ammonia production per volume. The optimal temeperature for reaction is 50C. We have achieved a rate of 10-7 mol cm-2*s-1, higher than any reported in the literature, by improving utilization of the catalyst and by using the hydrogen byproduct to reduce the anode resistance.
The Internet of Medical Things
The UsWB technology will be transitioned into an implantable Internet of Medical Things device that will be employed in a multitude of therapies in the human and veterinary markets. The device will consist of a recon gurable, miniaturized embedded system with a software-de ned ultrasonic transceiver that implements in low-power hardware the UsWB ultrasonic networking capabilities. The societal impacts of the proposed technology are as broad and deep as the applications of networked medical implants. Patients will bene fit from implants that provide real-time wireless telemetry and reprogrammability while minimally affecting the implant battery life. According to recent studies, 9% of patients experienced complications following a cardiac battery replacement. Longer battery life would reduce these risks, as well as replacement costs ($37k per replacement, with up to 4-5 replacements in a lifetime). BioNet Sonar's technology will also enable the development of advanced devices and therapies that require multiple sensing and stimulating devices deployed inside the body, a task which is today largely unfeasible. Existing, as well as futuristic applications of wireless technology to medical implantable (including wearable) devices, will grow into a new market segment that several analysts are already starting to refer to as "The Internet of Medical Things".
Athens, OH
www.ohio.edu/engineering/ceer/
Booth: 331
Electrochemical Microbial Sensor - Rapid, Precise and Portable Pathogenic Detection
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, about 48 million people per year get sick from foodborne illnesses. Field deployable sensors that enable real-time detection of pathogens are needed to prevent this problem. Although many sensors have been used on an ad-hoc basis for specific issues, not many have the potential for commercialization or being used for on-field measurements, which is an area of concern. Ohio University has demonstrated a novel electrochemical method to detect Escherichia coli (E. coli) in water: the electrochemical microbial sensor (EMS). The method consists of applying an electrical field to a sample and measuring the current. E. coli interacts with a locally formed nano-electrocatalyst leading to a change in the current as a function of the E. coli concentration. A portable EMS has demonstrated short response time (less than 5 minutes) and promising experimental uncertainty (2-10%) when compare with the standard plate count for enumeration of microbes. In summary, an electrochemical biosensor that combines the advantages of the label-independent with the detection limit of the label-dependent, utilizing relatively cheap materials, and simplified electrode configuration, advances the practicality and feasibility of electrochemical biosensors for E. coli and other pathogens detection in food.
Athens, OH
www.ohio.edu/engineering/ceer/
Booth: 331
Selective Reductant Electrolysis - Rare Earth Element Extraction via Coal Electrolysis
Challenges to current industrial wastewater containing organic materials and metals include low metal concentration in waste, high energy consumption and high carbon footprint. Our proposed solution – Selective Reductant Electrowinning (SRE) – allows for advanced water treatment by simultaneous removal of organics/inorganics (oxidation) and metal ions (reduction) for water remediation and lower energy consumption. This process is energy efficient by coupling systems with overlapping chemical potentials for reduced energy consumption. This characteristic also makes the technology selective to a variety of metals and provides flexibility waste stream remediation, while capitalizing on a holistic analysis of waste streams in a process. In a demonstrated example, rare earth metals are removed from coal and coal by-products during electrolysis using this technology and serves a method for high value materials recovery and improved coal combustion through the reduction of ash and metal content. In addition, this technology can be expanded to focus on a variety of electronic waste (e-waste), thus including the semi-conductor and solar industry among others. The proposed concept presents a foundation for solving industry needs in water and advanced electrowinning.
Chemical-Sensing Colorimetric Materials
Chemeleon is developing a new platform technology for a novel chemical sensor with high sensitivity and specificity that would find a wide range of applications. The sensor is based on a unique design of the integration of highly selective molecular probes and colorimetric optical reporters to realize simple and rapid colorimetric sensing. This sensor technology is fundamentally different from other colorimetric sensing by using all solid phase sensor chips and can be extended to detection of both liquid and gas phase analyte. It enables accurate detection of analytes in complex environment and eliminates the need to run tedious lab analysis with cumbersome instrument such as GC/LC. The very initial application includes a smart colorimetric sensor that can be embedded in drinkware to help general consumers become aware of food and drink safety to protect them from date rape drug facilitated crime. This platform technology has much broader applications beyond date rape drug detection. It enables instantaneous on-the-spot detection of many other analytes such as volatile organic compound (VOC), explosives, nerve agents, and it can also be extended to detect specific biomarkers and enable clinical diagnosis and prognosis.
Low Cost Electrochromic Window Technology
Click Materials is commercializing electrochromic window technology based on 10+ years of research at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. The windows are expected to be >50% lower cost than incumbent technologies that rely on capital intensive deposition equipment. Electrochromic windows (aka "smart windows") provide variable tinting capabilities that significantly reduce energy requirements, improve employee productivity, and enable the connected Smart Home. The current market is $2B and growing rapidly across the transportation, commercial buildings, residential, and electronics sector. The technology has been proven at the pilot scale for a related application.
Flexible polymer membranes with high open area
The membranes are produced by synthesizing an emulsion of a non-miscible liquid in a curable viscous polymer. The emulsion is spread out on a substrate and consequently introduced to an external electric field. The field coalesces the emulsion to droplets and aligns the liquid droplets, creating liquid pockets that stretches from top to bottom in the matrix. The polymer matrix is then cured and subsequent evaporation, washing or drying of the material creates the finished membrane. The achievable diameter of the pores is proportional to the film thickness, the minimum diameter we have proved so far is about 10 microns, but presumably this can be reduced further. The pores of the membrane can also be functionalized by adding specific molecules or particles to the emulsion. These will be positioned by the electric field at the interfaces of the two liquids in the emulsion and become exposed on the surface of the pores of the finished membrane.
Al-Ce Alloys for Additive Manufacturing
This innovation comprises a range of Al-Ce alloys for use in laser additive manufacturing. Additive manufacturing processes produce fine alloy microstructures due to the characteristic high cooling rates. These fine structures improve mechanical properties relative to cast structure. Al-Ce alloys on the other hand show good thermal stability and an ability to retain these fine structures during long periods of time at elevated temperatures, such as though experienced during additive manufacturing due to the layer-by-layer nature of the process. These novel cerium-containing aluminum alloys that offerweight, strength and temperature performance characteristics close to those of titanium-based alloys at a fraction of the cost. The high strength / high temperature characteristics of the alloys are due to the formation of ultra-fine nanostructures in the material when the alloy melt is rapidly cooled. Because additively manufactured (i.e. 3D printed) components are created by locally melting and rapidly cooling layers of material, the performance of these alloys is optimized in additive manufacturing processes. Furthermore, because the cooling rate of the alloy can be controlled during the additive manufacturing process, the strength / temperature characteristics of the material can be optimized locally within components as they are fabricated.
Acid-free Dissolution Recycling of Rare Earth Elements and Cobalt
The technology is based on hydrometallurgy. Unlike acid-based processes, this novel technology employs oxidative dissolution to leach REEs from wastes using water-based neutral solution of copper(II) salts. A unique feature of the water-based acid-free dissolution is the potential for selective dissolution of magnets in e-wastes, enabled by adjustment of process parameters like temperature, residence time of waste in solution and copper salt concentration. Hence, the need to pre-concentrate magnet contents is eliminated. The unique features of our novel technology will enable us to mature an easily-deployable process for recycling REEs from waste materials and devices. The process will enable circular economy by reinserting REEs from wastes into the supply chain. As a result, it will help to reduce the loss of useful REEs in landfills and limit reliance on mining.
World’s most intelligent wireless charging surface
Currently, there is no effective solution that provides high-capacity wireless charging, and existing solutions have limitations such as the need for perfect alignment, non-scalable for multiple devices and different types of devices. Our technology fills this gap by transforming individual chargers into a cost-effective, adaptive, and cognitive network of coils which collaborate through surface charging pad. It introduces a shift from today existing spot charging solutions to on-demand any-location charging over small and large surfaces. Additionally, it provides high-capacity power delivery to charge multiple and different types of devices from large laptops and UAVs to asymmetrical game controllers and medical devices. This technology ensures safety through patented energy cancellation technique. Our technology can impact different markets from education and healthcare to IoT and industrial devices. It will improve productivity and increase the concentration, supports charging various types of asymmetric shape such as medical devices and game controllers, and enables human-free autonomous UAV charging.
bonita, CA
www.dtanalysts.com and http//www.astralaunch.com
Booth: 10T
AstraLaunch
AstraLaunch provides assessment, commercialization potential, market intelligence, and helps to prioritize research and technology portfolios. This is accomplished by merging an existing technology assessment program developed at the Muenster University of Applied Sciences in Germany with the Bintel Intelligence Platform. The prototype will first assess the technology based on 43 researched criteria, then use Bintel for collection, processing, analyzing and storing the source abstracts, news and information in an enriched SQL database stored on AWS. This system allows researchers, technology transfer, portfolio managers to quickly develop a comprehensive understanding on any given topic. This is done by collecting, processing, and aggregating market information related to that topic, and presenting it in intuitive visualizations. The system’s benefit keeping the researcher up-to-date in a fast changing and increasingly complex world. The system delivers user-curated updates continuously through the online platform, allowing the end-user to quickly spot changes in trends, new developments, or changes in strategy from competitors or incumbents. This provides a significant informational advantage to the end-user: they will have a superior top-down view of specific topics or groups of topics that interest them, allowing them to build more informed bottom-up analysis or integrated products.
Erosion-resistant ultra-thin anti-fouling coating for finned heat exchangers
The technology behind this innovation is a thin erosion-resistant oleophobic coating for improving cleanability of finned heat exchangers without sacrificing thermal performance. The coating is significantly more oleophobic than existing erosion-resistant coatings and is able to cleanly shed drops of hydrocarbon liquid that would leave streaks even on PTFE. This technology is also significantly more erosion-resistant than existing oleophobic coatings and is able to maintain oleophobicity even after prolonged periods of aggressive abrasive sandblasting. The coating is also thinner than existing erosion-resistant coatings at less than 10 µm and presents negligible additional thermal resistance. The application process for the coating allows uniform coating thicknesses even when applied to finned heat exchangers with high aspect-ratio air channels. The coating enables substantially improved cleanability of hydrocarbon and mixed organic/inorganic sand-based fouling. Even thick paste substances lodged within high aspect ratio channels can be flushed with a low-pressure water stream without the use of solvents.
In-place polymer vapor coating process for heat exchangers
The technology behind this innovation is a breakthrough solvent-free vapor deposition process that enables in-place application of thin high-performance anti-fouling fluoropolymer coatings. Existing fluoropolymer technologies require very high cure temperatures (as high as 700°F) to melt pre-formed polymers, or high-energy plasma to provide activation energy for polymerizing monomers, both of which eliminate the possibility of applying the coating in-place to heat exchanger surfaces in the field. Other in-place coating technologies are either epoxy- or phenolic-based chemistries that lack the non-stick anti-fouling performance and chemical resistance of fluoropolymers, or are solvent-applied hybrid organic/inorganic coatings that lack the chemical resistance of fluoropolymers. By utilizing low-temperature thermal activation of fluorinated monomers, this technology overcomes shortcomings of existing technologies to provide a complete solution for applying high-performance fluoropolymers in-place to heat exchanger surfaces. Existing industrial fluoropolymer processes are incapable of fine thickness control, resulting in thick insulating coatings that impair the heat transfer performance and offset potential savings for the end user. This technology allows nanometer precision of thickness, allowing sub-micron coatings that have negligible impact on thermal resistance.
Artificial Pancreas
Despite the burden on patients and the healthcare system, a cure for diabetes has not yet been elucidated. ECMedical’s curative solution in the form of pancreatic organoids is a first of its kind approach to functional organ replacement pushing the boundaries of biotechnological innovation on four separate fronts: 1) Biomaterial science, 2) Vascular network engineering, 3) Immunocompatible cell transplantation, and 4) Pioneering the FDA approval pathway for organ replacement technologies. 1. Biomaterial Science: Originally thought to solely provide structural support to the different organs and tissues of the body, the ECM is now recognized to constitute a reservoir of information in the form of molecular and mechanical cues that contribute to the maintenance of cellular homeostasis and the promotion of optimal tissue/organ function. 2. Vascular Tissue Engineering: ECMedical’s approach to vascular tissue engineering will permit the development of adequately-sized constructs capable of producing euglycemia in humans for the first time. 3. Immunocompatible cell transplantation: ECMedical’s solution to the problem of immunorejection is manufacturing universal donor cells via genetic engineering. 4. Regulatory approval: This project is innovative from a regulatory perspective because it would pave the way and set FDA precedent for organoids.
Cardiac Patch
Currently available treatment options for heart failure following acute myocardial infarction have a number of disadvantages, which prevent the success of these treatments in improving patient outcomes. Cell-based approaches were studied for several years, without successful regeneration of cardiac tissue. Tissue engineered cardiac patches have limited efficacy and manufacturability, and synthetic materials often result in an inflammatory response and thrombosis. To overcome these issues, ECMedical is developing a next-generation cardiac patch that would maintain high mechanical strength, while also promoting cardiac tissue regeneration. This proposed product combines aspects of tissue engineering, biomaterial science, and medical product development to implement this approach.
Ulcer Patch
Wound healing has traditionally taken place either through primary or secondary intention, and in more complex cases through the assistance of complex and costly devices such as a Wound Vac, or via surgical intervention through various flaps or grafts. ECMedical’s innovative solution in the form of a bioactive wound dressing capable of promoting tissue regeneration is a first-of-its kind approach to functional tissue replacement for the treatment of pressure ulcers. This product is specifically designed to enhance healing in complicated clinical situations where factors such as age, smoking status, and comorbidities may be detrimental to the wound healing process.
A Renewable Hydrogen Production Technology Using Waste as Feedstock
A modular system capable of waste conversion and hydrogen production has been developed to reduce cost and increase sustainability. For microbial electrolysis cell technology to be commercial, a current density and hydrogen productivity of >20 A/m2 and >15 L-hydrogen/L-reactor/day, respectively are needed. The main technical risks and challenges to reach high productivity at large-scale are: (1) Achieving and maintaining high conversion of waste, (2) Charge transfer, (3) Reactor material costs. We have achieved promising results in the first two areas, developing a robust electro-active microbial community capable of efficiently directing a wide range of compounds present in waste into electrons. Additionally, we have optimized operating conditions and improved reactor design to develop a bioelectrochemical cell capable of reaching the target current densities and hydrogen production. Integration of these advances in preliminary testing with food waste has shown a current density even higher than the targets mentioned above, indicating potential for success in application development.
Living, renewable filters for cleaning water
Mainstream filters for water remediation discriminate between toxic and safe constituents by relying on physical and chemical features of contaminants. Unfortunately, this discrimination causes filters to be rendered inactive by large amounts of benign water species and unable to remove minute amounts of toxic species to concentrations considered safe, leading to unpredictable filter performance as changing water quality conditions affect the filter capacity used. There is a need for materials that interact solely with harmful contaminants so filters can operate more efficiently and predictably. This work uses biology to discriminate between safe and unsafe water components. Bacteria have evolved to withstand contaminated waters by creating proteins that bind with high specificity and selectivity to toxic substances. We exploited this to create a technology that binds toxic species independent of safer and higher concentration constituents. Once our microbes, termed ‘living filters’, reach their capacity, we can remove them from water using meshes or higher throughput magnetic methods. We conjugate bacteria with magnetic nanoparticles through covalent bonds and demonstrate their removal with handheld magnets. Our nanobiotechnology offers a low cost and high remediation efficiency method for cleaning water, conditions necessary in underprivileged areas around the world.
Iron-TAML/peroxide Cyanotoxin Degradation
NewTAMLs catalysts are the highest performance peroxidase enzyme mimics known. Cyanotoxin-producing cyanobacteria contaminate recreational waters and drinking water sources worldwide with adverse global environmental and human health effects. In the United States, cyanobacterial infections include a widely encountered form of gastroenteritis that is accompanied by significant damage to the liver and kidneys—the waters of Pennsylvania, Nevada and Ohio at least are contaminated. NewTAML catalysts were invented (2015, patent pending) in CMU’s Institute for Green Science (IGS). The resting catalysts are stable, safe to produce and ship, crystalline, red iron salts. When combined in water with low millimolar oxidant (usually environmentally friendly H2O2), sub-micromolar NewTAMLs create ‘fire in water’ to oxidatively degrade numerous targets. NewTAML/H2O2 catalysis effectively removes the persistent pharmaceutical propranolol from filtered (pH 7) Allegheny River Water, which contains many other anthropogenic and naturally occurring compounds that do not block the process. We expect NewTAML/H2O2 to kill cyanobacteria and degrade cyanotoxins, including hepatotoxins, neurotoxins, dermatotoxins, and endotoxins from recreational and drinking waters.
AguaClara Vertical Ram Pump (ACVRP)
In an AguaClara drinking water treatment plant, flow through a plant is driven solely by gravity, so treated water exits the plant at the lowest point of the plant. Thus, in order to mix chemical stock tanks with treated water at earlier stages, operators must carry buckets of water from the outlet at the lowest point of the plant to manually fill tanks. The AguaClara Vertical Ram Pump (ACVRP) solves this issue by pumping treated water from the outlet of the plant to where it is needed at higher elevations in the plant, all without using electricity. In addition, this allows the treated water to be pumped for utilization in the plant's plumbing system, which includes the plant's sinks and toilets. The ACVRP relieves some of the burden of the plant operators, which further increases their pride in their role of providing safe water to their communities.
AguaClara Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket
About 80% of all wastewater globally is directly discharged into the environment without treatment, leading to the spread of water-borne diseases and eutrophication. AguaClara Cornell’s Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Reactor (UASB) can provide rural communities in developing parts of the world access to reliable wastewater treatment. Most importantly, the UASB reactor uses smart hydraulic engineering to eliminate the need of any electrical inputs, making this technology affordable for villages and neighborhoods to invest in. Due to the anaerobic treatment provided by the UASB reactor, methane is produced as a by-product, which can be captured and used as biogas to fuel kitchen stoves or provide heating. The UASB reactor thus can ensure proper handling of domestic wastewater in distant and/or rural communities while also providing a net energy positive treatment process.
Recycled Glass: Cement/Fly Ash Substitute in Flowable Fill
Glass is often a byproduct of many municipal recycling programs. However, glass collected through the local single-stream recycling system represents a significant financial burden on the program due to lack of a market for mixed glass. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of utilizing recycled glass as a substitute for cement and fly ash in flowable fill. An attempt was made to clean and crush single-stream waste glass which indicated that desired gradation can be achieved. Further, ten mixtures of flowable fill were prepared by using different proportions of finer and coarser portion of glass powder as a fly ash substitute in flowable fill. Each mixture was tested for flowability and cylindrical specimens were prepared by using split molds fabricated in the laboratory. Flow consistency results indicated that waste glass powder can be used as a suitable replacement of fly ash in flowable fill. Compressive strength results showed improvement with increase in finer portion of the glass powder. More research is required for determining optimum percentage and size of waste glass powder which can be used to achieve required minimum strength of flowable fill.
Development of Reactive Nanobubble Systems for Efficient and Scalable Harmful Algae and Cyanotoxin Removal
Nanobubbles (NBs) are bubbles with a diameter of < 1 μm (also known as ultrafine bubbles), which exhibit many intriguing properties such as long residence time, high mass transfer efficiency, and large specific surface area. The high specific surface also facilitates physical adsorption and chemical reactions in the gas liquid interface. The collapse of NBs creates shock waves, which in turn, promotes the formation of hydroxyl radicals (•OH), a highly reactive oxidant that nonspecifically reacts with and decomposes organic matters. Therefore, NBs have proven useful in many industrial and engineering applications, ranging from emulsion technology for chemical processing, pharmaceutical manufacturing, detergent-free cleaning, water aeration, ultra-sound imaging and intracellular drug delivery, and mineral processing, micro-boiling behaviors, mineral flotation, water purification, to wastewater treatment. Our prior research explored the use of diverse reactive NBs, such as oxygen and air NBs, to remove harmful algal biomass in natural waters, degrade organic water pollutants (e.g., cyanotoxins), and abate aquatic hypoxia problems. We also designed a unique method (Patent filed) to generate NBs in water with various gases by using tubular ceramic nanofiltration membrane.
PFASs removal by photocatalysis for water reuse
Zero-valent iron nanoparticles (Fe0 NPs) are utilized for per- and poly fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) removal through both degradation and adsorption pathways. The technology is superior than other technologies in its cost-effective and environment-friendly nature. PFASs are not only absorbed but also degraded and mineralized. Besides, the added material, Fe0 NPs, will be separated from the finished water by magnetic property, and the NPs will not bring extra toxicity to the water. The research will bring broad benefits. First, best practices in removing PFASs will be informed to enable the reuse of wastewater effluents (WEs) for agriculture; thus, the research will potentially provide direct benefits to U.S. communities and regions (and beyond) where freshwater supply is limited. Next, the efforts will bring broad environmental impacts, e.g. by reducing contamination of soil, groundwater and surface water, and protecting soil and aqueous ecosystems, from exposing to reduced PFASs contaminants through reclaimed water irrigation, agricultural runoff, and infiltration, and by restoring groundwater and surface water resources for access by future generations or for other uses. Last, the research should better enable the safe use of WEs, thereby lowering the costs for agriculture without sacrificing nutrients or the health of neighboring populations.
Sustainable Pollinator Garden
Gardens need lots of water besides soil, compost, fertilizers and pesticides. We decided to build sustainable native pollinator gardens that use much less water and fertilizers and no pesticides. To reduce water usage, we incorporate expanded shale-compost mix in the soil, which retains water and release it slowly to plant roots when needed. We propose that landscaping around businesses and in private gardens use expanded shale to reduce cost of water usage and runoff (waste), and provide sustainable apealing habitat for pollinators.
Two-Phase Ammonia Scrubber
The Two-Phase Ammonia Scrubber removes harmful atmospheric ammonia emissions, while also converting unwanted biomass into a high-value biochar product. In phase 1, concentrated ammonia gas is collected from point sources and an absorption column converts gaseous ammonia to aqueous ammonium. Because ammonia has high solubility in water, no acids are used to improve absorption. This reduces the use of chemicals and prevents corrosive salt formation. In phase 2, the aqueous ammonium is pumped through a biochar filter where ammonium adsorbs to the biochar. Since ammonium is removed from the aqueous effluent, water can be recycled and reused. When the biochar becomes saturated, it can be removed and used as a soil amendment. The Two-Phase Biochar Ammonia Scrubber revolutionizes the agricultural technology industry by removing air pollution emissions with lower water use, and providing a novel method of re-purposing biomass waste that has the potential to improve crop yields. This technology can be used for a number of agricultural point sources to improve human health and mitigate environmental consequences. Our technology differs from existing technologies by maximizing economic and environmental gains, specifically reducing the extensive use of water and need for waste disposal; this demonstrates the Full Circle Engineering design principles.
Inexpensive automated wood burning stove
This project uses multiple sensors to monitor and control an automated wood-stove in order to make it more efficient, non-polluting and inexpensive. The wood stove has two chambers - one for the main combustion and another for drying the wood prior to combustion. The combustion chamber employs primary air for the main combustion and pre-heated secondary air to assist in secondary combustion of the particulate matter. The drying chamber uses waste heat from the flue gases to drive out moisture in the wood in order to reduce the energy loss from evaporating the moisture. This will allow the wood stove to operate at higher flame temperatures and will lead more complete combustion of the fuel with attendant reduction in carbon monoxide and particulate matter. The amount of excess air and the path of air is controlled to increase residence time to complete combustion and to extract as much energy as possible from the flue gases. The drying chamber coupled with the sensors sets this stove apart from what is on the market. This should allow for a reduction in PM levels, and an increased burning efficiency ultimately leading to better health for the community and the environment.
OSMOsis-Driven ReclAmation of Water (OSMODRAW)
Polyelectrolyte multilayer films (PMFs) will be deposited on forward osmosis (FO) membranes through a layer-by-layer deposition of polyacrylic acid (PAA)/polyallyamine hydrochloride (PAH) followed by functionalization with nano zero valent iron (nZVI) within the PMF layers. It is hypothesized that the rich functional groups on membrane surface and polymeric matrix will render the membrane more hydrophilic and reduce membrane fouling because of enhanced electrostatic repulsion by the modified membrane surface. The integration of nZVI within the PMFs will contribute to nutrient removal by promoting denitrification as well as heavy metal remediation via sorption and reduction. Synthetic stormwater and membrane concentrate will serve as the feed solution (FS) and draw solution (DS), respectively. While the diluted DS can be processed for potable or nonpotable reuse, a portion of the DS can be recovered and augment the supply of DS; however, these investigations are not within the scope of the proposed study. A portion of the concentrated urban runoff will be recycled back to the FO to further reduce its volume and help approach zero liquid discharge (ZLD). The remaining small volume can be cost-effectively treated via simple methods such as lime precipitation and finally landfilled.
A Biopolymer-based Simple Lead Check in Tap Water
The technology here will advance the technology currently used to determine trace levels of Lead (Pb) in tap water samples, in situ. Currently, methods used to determine lead concentrations require transportation of desired sample to a laboratory, trained personnel, and the use of mercury: a highly toxic, non-biodegradable heavy metal. This technology aims to overcome such limitations by utilizing chitosan: a natural, low-cost, biopolymer, and alternate to mercury. The carbon screen-printed aspect allows for a sensor that can be used under time and locational constraints. The ability to modify a screen- printed sensor allows for target object specifications to be met at a low-cost, highly- reproducible rate.
Green nanosolder paste for next generation electronics assembly and manufacturing
In electronic device manufacture, soldering is a widely utilized joining strategy involving the melting of a metallic paste into conductive interconnection between components. For decades, the primary solder alloy for manufacturing was eutectic tin/lead, chosen for its superior electrical and mechanical properties. However, recent investigations into the detrimental health impacts of lead-based pollution have curtailed this usage, impelling the use of alternative interconnect materials with elevated processing temperatures and reduced reliability. Our proposed technology employs metallic nanoparticles in the formulation of solder paste, establishing a new lead-free alternative with improved material properties and thermal processing parameters. Melting temperature depression of nanomaterials has been demonstrated with decreasing diameter, in addition to improved hardness and elastic modulus of the melted interconnect. Fundamentally, the use of nanoparticles also enables the miniaturization of solder pitches to levels impossible with conventional microsolder powders.
Sanitary Green Space
Our solution uses an elegant combination of passive technologies that are fully gravity-powered and require no moving parts or energy. Household urine is first collected with urine-diverting toilets and combined with household greywater. The liquid waste stream flows through a compact grease trap that removes oils and solid waste and then passes through a biosand filter that eliminates pathogens (such as E. coli) and removes fine-grain sediments. Once cleaned, the water is used to irrigate gardens and public green space. When urine is omitted from the system, greywater can be recycled back into the home for non-potable uses through a separate filter. Inspired by natural hydrological and nutrient cycles, our integrated system uses principles of biomimicry to create a “circular economy” whereby water and nutrient resources are endlessly recycled in a closed-loop system. Our product requires minimal maintenance. It does not use specialized parts that would break or need to be replaced and only needs to be cleaned approximately once every three months. By transforming human waste to create public green space, this product has the potential to revolutionize global development, green space creation, and sanitation.
A Low-Cost and Cloud-Based Device for Real-Time Monitoring of Lead Levels in Drinking Water
Lead contamination in drinking water is often a close-to-home contamination caused by corroded lead service pipes connecting households to main lines or lead-based pluming within households. As water suppliers’ compliance with the current Lead and Copper Rule offers no guarantee that lead-in-water levels at individual homes are not high or even extremely high, it is needed to monitor lead levels at individual consumers’ water taps. This project is aimed to develop a low-cost device that can be deployed to individual households and easily installed at consumers’ water taps to monitor lead concentration in drinking water. As lead contamination usually occurs at extremely low concentration levels (parts per billion), measurement of lead levels in drinking water are currently done through laboratory testing of water samples using expensive and sophisticated instruments. In this project, a highly sensitive electrochemical sensing membrane is developed to detect lead at trace levels. The sensing membrane constitutes of ionophores distributed in polymer matrix and is selective to lead ions. The sensing membrane is integrated with a custom-built miniature potentiostat connected to a microcontroller to enable taking readings of lead levels. The device has the potential to disrupt the traditional way of testing lead levels in drinking water.
CompPair Technologies (www.comppair.ch)
Fibre-Reinforced Composite structures are widely used in aerospace, automotive, windmills and sports industries. However, these are marked by a design limitation: the brittleness of the thermoset matrix results in sensitivity to small damage events. A trade off exists with common systems between the increase in toughness (and mechanical properties) and ease of manufacturing, restricting the potential of composite materials. We however developed and patented a material that is able to heal cracks caused by these damage events, therefore tackling this design limitation, a paradigm change for the industry. The novel concept results in a structural composite that (i) is tougher (i.e. higher resistance to crack propagation) than benchmark epoxy composites, (ii) can heal repeatedly matrix microcracks and (iii) has a manufacturing route compatible with conventional processes. Current repair solutions in composites involve monitoring failure, removal of the damaged zones and costly repair. With our technology, these damage events can be repaired during service of the part at minor cost. The opportunities for the industry are two-folds: (i) reduce the maintenance cost of composite structures; (ii) increase life-time of composite parts. Our product is a technical textile with the healing agent integrated, to be directly used on a production line.
Room Temperature Metal 3D Printing at the Micron-Scale
Georgia Tech inventors present a solid-state technology to electrodeposit layers of a metal compound at room temperature for building three-dimensional (3D) geometries. The demonstrated additive fabrication technology exhibits a dispenser-free nozzle as it operates in solid-state phase. Layers of copper are electrodeposited through a solid media on a conductive substrate and the printed pillar is imaged and its material composition characterized by energy dispersive spectroscopy. Since no dispensing mechanism is required, the system complexity is reduced to a level that the use of micro-engineered nozzle in many multiples is possible for parallel 3D printing. Unlike the current metal, the new pump-less, solid-state nozzle exhibits a simple structure that can be employed in multiples to enable parallel printing for batch fabrication. This addresses the inherent challenges with additive fabrication for mass manufacturing and potentially expanding the capacity of 3D printing for rapid prototyping and high volume production. This development not only addresses metal 3D printing constrains but also enables scaling additive fabrication technology for mass manufacturing.
Real-Time Identification of Erroneous 3D Print Designs
Georgia Tech inventors have designed a system for the identification of erroneous 3D prints through a multi-layer scheme that leverages acoustics, spatial sensing, and imaging techniques to identify internal print errors. This is completed during and after the printing process. The identification scheme bypasses both the controller computer and the printer firmware, and does not require any changes. The acoustic monitoring, done with an inexpensive microphone and filtering software, can detect changes in the printer’s sound that may indicate installation of malicious software. To create the desired object, the printer’s extruder and other components should follow a consistent mechanical path that are observed by inexpensive sensors. Variations from the expected path could indicate an attack, sending a signal to the manufacturer. By using the Raman Spectroscopy and computed tomography, researchers were able to detect the location of gold nano-rods that are mixed in with the filament material used in the 3D-printer. Variations from the expected location of thos
Artificial Meniscus Implant
Background: Meniscal tears are one of the most common injuries of the knee; around 850,000 meniscal injury related surgeries occur annually in the US. Traumatic tears in the meniscus (the thin fibrous cartilage between the surfaces of some joints) occur from sharp movements and usually occur in younger people. A torn meniscus can cause pain, swelling in the joint, impaired movement, and can eventually lead to osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease. A meniscal tear can be treated by partial or total removal of the meniscus, which is replaced with an implant. Unfortunately, these implants can lead to decreased space between the joints, osteoarthritis, and may need to be replaced. Georgia Tech inventors have created an artificial meniscus implant that can be fixed in the joint to hold the implant in place. The implant is made of a composite material. Extensions from the meniscus to allow for fixation in the joint. The implant withstands compressive loads in similar ways as the natural meniscus fibers and the fixation help to keep the implant aligned correctly. This implant is able to mimic the mechanical properties of the natural meniscus and is resistant to wear.
IV Infiltration Detection using Non-Invasive Sensors
Background: IV infiltration is a common problem, where fluid enters surrounding tissue rather than the vein as intended. Infiltration occurs from issues such as solution tissue toxicity, vasoconstrictors, infusion pressure, and mechanically puncturing the lining of the vein. IV infiltration can result in medical emergencies, with the most critical aspect is timely detection. Currently infiltration is primarily detected by witnessing symptoms or by patients alerting medical staff. A detection system is needed when patients cannot notify medical staff of the symptoms, for example when under anesthesia or undergoing surgery. Early infiltration detection would also benefit neonatal and pediatric units, where complications are most severe and timely responses are of great necessity. Technology:Georgia Tech inventors have developed a system and method for detecting IV infiltration. The non-invasive sensing modalities monitor for two responses that occur during infiltration: stretching of skin around the infiltration site, and the reduction in bioimpedance. In addition, the technology includes an algorithm for detecting the change of the patient’s physiology and an alert to medical staff. The incorporation of multiple modalities ensures both early detection and accurate identification for quick response time and treatment.
Antenna-less RFID Tag
Technology: Georgia Tech inventors have developed an antenna-less RFID tag which requires neither a tag antenna nor RF front-end circuits, thus leading to a system that does not have limitations on frequency at which tag can operate, can be reprogrammed to perform different functions such as emitting static bits or having dynamic communication, and overall leads to much simpler, smaller, and more reliable system. This technology is based on toggling electronic inverters that switch between two impedance states that can be read using any RF interrogator and a backscatter channel, which allows the information obtained by the RFID tag to be collected without the use of an antenna. This tag has the capability to operate at any frequency and can store a large number of static bits needed for asset identification and tracking or can be used for high data rate communication. Additionally, the technology enables easy programming of the tag such that existing hardware such as FPGAs can be programmed to behave as RFID tags.
Enhanced Performance of Lithium-Ion Batteries
Background: Lithium(Li)-ion batteries are one of the most commonly used type of battery used in home and portable electronics. Current high capacity Li-ion batteries are limited in their stability and reusability due to the breakage of electronic pathways that occur with massive volume changes.Nanomaterials have increasingly been incorporated into electronics, optics, and other areas of materials science due to their extraordinary properties. In particular, single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) can possess either metallic or semiconducting behaviors and are great conductors. SWNT’s have also become inexpensive and very easy to handle. Utilizing SWNTs provides a way to prevent degradation of high capacity active materials within batteries. Technology: Georgia Tech Inventors have anchored SWNTs to the surface of high-capacity anode materials using conjugated polymers with polar functionalities. This has enabled the formation of SWNT electrical networks, enabling Li-ion batteries to withstand repeated high capacity active material volume changes that occur during charging and discharging. This configuration of SWNTs also allows for a reduction in electrode resistance, higher stability, and enhanced electrode kinetics within the batteries. By anchoring the SWNTs, electrochemical performance and longevity is increased within batteries and can contribute to their implementation in industry.
Gwangju, Gwangju
bsbp.gist.ac.kr, http//www.gist.ac.kr
Booth: 34
High-Sensitivity Immunosensor
Point-of-care testing (POCT) is highly required for enhanced patient outcomes with early/rapid diagnosis in an emergency situation or patient monitoring. Conventional lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) sensors are not sometimes suitable for early diagnosis because of its low detection sensitivity. This technology enables highly sensitive detection (pg/mL level) of target biomarkers in 20 min. Based on the LFIA combined with a swellable polymer, the developed immunosensor shows an automated signal amplification after immunoassay and easy-to-use with a minimum user operation. It is suitable for rapid diagnosis in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) which requires POCT-based high-sensitivity detection of troponin I lower than 1 pg/mL.
Gwangju, Gwangju
bsbp.gist.ac.kr, http//www.gist.ac.kr
Booth: 34
Lab-on-paper technology for point-of-care and all-in-one molecular diagnosis
User friendly molecular diagnosis with point-of-care (POCT) testing is important for improving survival rate of patients with infectious diseases or suppressing epidemic spreading. However, it is strictly limited to perform POCT with current real-time PCR-based molecular diagnostics methods. We developed a hand-held nucleic acid separation device (Biomedical Physics & Engineering Express, in press) and isothermal molecular diagnosis devices (Analytical chemistry 90, 10211; Theranostics 7, 2220) based on a lab-on-paper technology. Now we are connecting the nucleic acid separation and the isothermal amplification devices without any instrumental assistance. The all-in-one molecular diagnostic kit in which filtration, rupturing, nucleic acid collection, isothermal amplification, and measurement can be performed automatically within 60 min with a miniaturized fluorescent detector.
Rapid Point-of-Need DNA Detection
While there are many laboratory tests for gastrointestinal GI pathogens that cause diarrheal diseases such as the Biofire instruments, currently, there is no test like our test which is portable, rapid (15 minutes compared to Biofire 1 hour), low cost (made of paper) and does not require electric power. Our test can be used by healthcare providers to to diagnose and treat their patients in real time. The prescription of antibiotics after a real time confirmation with a diagnostic can increase antibiotic stewardship and reduce the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance in society. Our technology would be disruptive in the healthcare industry because it will save money being used for expensive laboratory tests (eg Biofire FilmArray costs $1200 per test) that require shipping of samples, laboratory overhead costs and personnel training costs. It can replace the many GI pathogen lab tests in the market especially in case where labs are far from the market.
Self-assembly of Neural Stem Cells by Biocompatible Sculptured Extracellular Nanomatrices
The current leading and traditional products in the market of stem cell cultivation requires the addition of large amount of growth factors (i.e. divers kinds of polypeptides) and various organic compounds to increase cell division. Despite its capability in promoting cell development, the addition of growth facts also causes a high risk of stimulating growth of cancerous cells and tumors in vivo after transplantation. This is where our innovative product comes in. Our product, iSECnMs, can increase cell division and avoid the usage of additional growth factor for cultivating cells. As for the simply description of philosophy or mechanism, owing to the appropriate design and choice of materials & structure of the matrix, the physiological contact between NSCs and matrices resembles ‘physical massage’ in the Chinese medicine acupuncture technique that causes the cells to specific differentiate into functional cells that are in urgent demand in cell replacement therapy.
Autologous Neural Stem Cell Harvest (ANSc) Technology
Nowadays, there are over 100M people diagnosed with neurodegenerative diseases around the world, however, the neurodegenerative diseases remain incurable as the existing treatments. Our tailor-made magnetic nanoparticles used for extracting active adult neural stem cells in the ANSc Harvest technology. They attach to neural stem cells specifically by recognizing the markers expressed on the neural stem cells. They can also be tracked and real-time monitored by currently available bio-imaging devices, for example MRI. Once the micro-injection of the nanoparticles into the brain and applying magnetic field, the neural stem cells bound with the nanoparticles can be spinned off from the cell lining and extracted from the brain by a micro-syringe. The magnetically extracted neural stem cells are able to proliferate and differentiate in vitro and also give rise to viable cell population. After the extracted neural stem cells have been differentiated, they would be re-injected back to the disease region of the brain to replace the degenerated neural cells in the same patients for potential full recovery. ANSc Harvest Technology could be developed into personalized therapy for curing neurodegenerative diseases as patients utilize their own neural stem cells.
High throughput, benchtop instrument for analysis of protein structures in drug development.
The biological function of protein-based therapeutics are determined by the three dimensional structure of the molecule. Therefore, it is imperative to analyze the structure of protein therapeutics at several stages of the drug development process to ensure both safety and efficacy of the drug. Biopharmaceutical manufacturers are required to demonstrate the consistency of the protein structure to the FDA. Current techniques for protein structural characterization are slow, expensive and difficult to perform. We have developed a technology called Plasma Induced Modification to Biomolecules (PLIMB) that addresses the need of the industry for routine structural analysis of proteins. A way to quickly and efficiently analyze higher order structures of proteins on a benchtop scale, PLIMB will enable faster development of protein therapeutics, throughout the drug discovery process. Ultimately, PLIMB will enable fast, high resolution structural analysis of proteins, a capability which is highly sought after in the pharmaceutical industry.
Ultra-high Performance Thermal Interface Materials (TIMs) for Electronic Cooling
Overheating is one of the biggest problems of electronic devices causing loss of performance and reduced lifetime. Introduction of smaller and more powerful electronic devices have made the electronic industry seek better thermal management strategies. The dissipation of heat during the operation is often facilitated by thermal interface materials (TIMs), which are placed between devices to heat sinks. Currently used TIMs include thermal greases, polymer-composites and solders. Limitations of these TIMs - such as low thermal conductivity in thermal greases and polymer composites, and thermally-induced stress failures due to high thermal expansion in solder TIMs – have led to failures in electronics. We are dedicated to developing novel TIMs to overcome these limitations For this purpose, we aim to develop and fabricate metal nanocomposite TIMs, involving integration of boron nitride nanosheets (BNNS), soft organic linkers, and copper matrix. The developed hybrid nanocomposites demonstrate an exceptional combination of thermal and mechanical properties (elastic modulus); over 210 W/(m K) and 20 GPa, respectively. The developed TIMs show a compatible thermal expansion, forming a mediation zone with low thermally-induced axial stress on the mating surfaces. Exceptional properties of the developed TIMs will enable enhanced efficiency in electronics cooling.
Electrically conductive construction materials for resistive heating applications
Many methods and techniques have been explored for pavement anti-icing and deicing because snow and ice removal is expensive and failure for expedient and complete removal is dangerous and potentially destructive to existing infrastructure. Many of the current ice removal methods are chemical, which can be harmful to concrete, steel structures, viaducts, tunnels, airport runways, as well as the environment. Iowa State University researchers have developed electrically conductive concrete that uses high volumes of electrically conductive additives without compromising the structural strength of the material. The design has been tested on a limited basis at the Des Moines International airport and has shown to be highly effective at removing snow and ice. Additional construction materials are also being developed in order cover a variety of application areas.
A paper-based assay for quantitation and identification of glycan and oligosaccharide sugars
Viable synthetic human milk relies on the development of new methods of making the human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) that are necessary for supplementing formula. New synthesis methods will require monitoring and analysis of the glycan (oligosaccharide) products. Current analysis of glycans is limited in throughput and scope by the need for LC/MS technology, which can take roughly an hour for one sample, and requires expensive equipment, specialized columns and derivatizing agents, and expertise on the operation of the equipment. Higher throughput detection would make synthesis of glycans more viable via combinatorial chemical synthesis or metabolic engineering, both of which require the testing of many samples. Paper is a common material for low-cost point-of-use diagnostic where rapid throughput is desirable. A paper based glycan detection kit would therefore have utility for rapid detection for aiding glycan synthesis. Iowa State University researchers have developed a paper based assay that allows for colorimetric detection of glycans for rapid detection and quantification. The assay has enzymes imprinted onto the paper strips that selectively produce a color change when exposed to specific oligosaccharides linkages. The assay is quantifiable and can be completed in 5 minutes. The assay can be applied to high-throughput HMO detection.
Smart Contact lens for intraocular pressure monitoring and drug release
Glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness worldwide, is expected to affect about 80 million people by 2023. Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is a primary contributing factor to this disease and its measurements are used for glaucoma diagnosis and patient monitoring. It is well known that IOP is highly fluctuating, and occasional IOP measurements in the clinician’s office are not always sufficient for glaucoma management. Hence, continuous or home monitoring of IOP in selected cases of patients with glaucoma is greatly needed. Iowa State University researchers have developed a new type of contact lens device for a noninvasive optical monitoring of IOP in real-time, and for the in situ extended drug delivery by the same contact lens. The contact lens provides a technical platform for achieving simple monitoring of IOP and its fluctuation in real-time during the course of the disease and treatment; thus facilitating a better monitoring and treatment of glaucoma. In addition, the real-time monitoring of IOP will provide new insights into the therapeutic effect of anti-glaucoma drugs, which cannot be achieved by traditional, periodic IOP monitoring at the ophthalmologist's office.
Eco-Friendly Manufacturing Technology of Iron-Ore-Based Catalysts for Production of Liquid Fuels and Chemicals from Syngas
Conventional manufacturing technology of iron-based catalysts for FTS (Fischer-Tropsch synthesis) requires a large amount of chemicals and water, labor-intensive procedures, and inevitable discharge of environmentally harmful waste. This innovation offers a new manufacturing method of iron-based FTS catalysts, which is much more eco-friendly and economical than a conventional technique in terms of the amounts of water and chemicals used and discharged. In this innovation, the iron-based catalysts are prepared from natural iron ore samples through a combination of a wet-milling process and a wet impregnation method. The iron-ore-based catalysts show catalytic performance favorable for low-temperature FTS using hydrogen-deficient syngas (H2/CO = 1) in all aspects of CO conversion, CO2 selectivity, and C5+ selectivity in hydrocarbons. The overall catalytic performance of iron-ore-based catalysts is much greater than that of unmodified iron ore samples and comparable to that of conventional precipitated iron-based catalysts.
FCDI(Flow-electrode Capacitive Deionization), Flow Electrodes (a.k.a)
The FCDI is a kind of CDI technology with a new cell architectures. The CDI uses an electric field to remove cations and anions from water flowing past two oppositely placed electrodes with high energy efficiency and low cost. It could turn the sea water into a drinkable fresh water. In the FCDI concept, flow electrodes is a key technology, and may enable large-scale sea water desalination. Not only is this approach more energy efficient – it does not require a discharge step like conventional capacitive deionization – but it can also be easily scaled-up simply by increasing the number of flow electrodes in the system. Recently, a novel three-dimensional desalination system utilizing honeycomb-shaped lattice structures for flow-electrode capacitive deionization has been also developed. A highly compact and scalable three-dimensional desalination cell was realized by utilizing honeycomb-shaped porous lattice scaffolds. It did not require a free-standing ion exchange membrane and a thick current collector. Furthermore, the porous structure can act as a structural scaffold. Therefore, it can be readily scaled-up in three dimensions allowing enhanced salt removal capacity. This provides great potential for scale-up and commercialization of desalination using the capacitive deionization technology.
Manufacturing Method of Repeatedly Attachable Flexible Energy Storage Devices for Wearable Electronics
A conventional battery has standardized shape, such as cylinder, square, and pouch, and has a limitation in integration of energy storage capacity, which makes it difficult to apply to wearable devices or micro-devices. Research into the development of future batteries, such as curved, flexible batteries, and micro-supercapacitors is actively underway. However, the curved, flexible, and cable-type batteries have some problems such as high costs, safety problems, low capacity, low efficiency, and complicated manufacturing processes. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a new future energy storage device that surpasses ideas commonly known and is characterized by high capacity, high efficiency, high safety, a long life, design flexibility, and low cost. KIER’s novel energy storage devices are repeatedly attachable and flexible energy storage devices that use unique 3D conductive microelectrodes enabling high capacity, high efficiency, and long life characteristics. KIER’s 3D conductive microelectrodes are fabricated in a desired pattern using a specially designed 3D printer, offering design flexibility and low cost. The prepared 3D conductive microelectrodes are transferred to the surface of a main substrate constituted by the material having the surface adhesion property. This makes it possible to manufacture repeatedly attachable flexible energy storage devices and wearable sensors.
Berkeley, CA
www.lbl.gov/ https://ipo.lbl.gov/for-industry/tech-index/
Booth: 303
Miniature Ion Accelerator
The miniature ion accelerator is a new type of ion accelerator in which 1) the accelerator is now made from stacks of low cost wafers and 2) the number of ion beams in one accelerator can be massively scaled. Acceleration to desired energies are achieved in increments, avoiding hazardous high voltages. The result is an advanced manufacturing tool that reduces cost dramatically compared to present standards. Using MEMS techniques, components are made from scalable, low cost fabrication processes to permit generation of greater ion beam power. The technology suits ultra-compact accelerator structures and large-scale installations as well. The mini-accelerator can operate with multiple beams and combines an ion source with electro-static quadrupole (ESQ) focusing elements and high voltage gaps for acceleration. An acceleration gradient of about 2 kV in a 3x3 array of beamlets formed from electrostatic quadrupoles has been demonstrated.
Berkeley, CA
www.lbl.gov/ https://ipo.lbl.gov/for-industry/tech-index/
Booth: 303
Convolutional Filtering to Locate Potential Transformer Failures in the Power Grid
To ensure reliability, the power grid is monitored for partial discharge events – a symptom of insulation weakness and the most common cause of transformer failure. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have developed a technology to locate the position of partial discharge events based on the information from a set of ultra-high frequency (UHF) sensors from the transformer. The two-step technology determines the signal arrival time using a convolutional filtering method to reduce the impact of background noise. Time difference of arrival reveals the partial discharge source. In tests using two sets of UHF measurements with different signal to noise ratios, the LBNL technology provided more accurate locations than existing methods, particularly when signals were weak. With weak signals, the best existing method predicted the location within 300 mm in 13% of the test cases compared to 48% of the test cases for the LBNL approach.
Berkeley, CA
www.lbl.gov/ https://ipo.lbl.gov/for-industry/tech-index/
Booth: 303
Bijels with Sub-Micrometer Domains
LBNL and University of Massachusetts, Amherst researchers have developed bicontinuous jammed emulsions (bijels) with sub-micrometer domains by homogenization rather than spinodal decomposition. This advance is achieved by using nanoparticle surfactants – polymers and nanoparticles of complementary functionality that bind to one another at the oil-water interface. As a result, the bijel is stabilized far from the demixing point of the liquids, with interfacial tensions on the order of 10 mN/m. The solvent, nanoparticle, and ligand can vary, adding versatility to the approach. Bijels are tortuous, interconnected structures of two immiscible liquids, kinetically trapped by colloidal particles that are irreversibly bound to the oil-water interface. Large domain sizes (5 micrometers or larger) and difficulty in fabrication have posed barriers to using bijels for catalysis, energy storage, and molecular encapsulation. Achieving nanoscale bijels in this simplified, versatile way is an essential step in formulating bijels for industrial applications such as multiphase microreactors, microfluidic devices, membrane contactors, and multiscale porous materials. The improved stability of this technology could improve shelf life of personal care products, fragrances, and flavors, by substituting bijels for emulsions currently in use. Details about this platform technology were published in Nature Nanotechnology, 12, 1060-1064, 2017.
Berkeley, CA
www.lbl.gov/ https://ipo.lbl.gov/for-industry/tech-index/
Booth: 303
Diversity Oriented Libraries of Intrinsically Microporous Polymers
LBNL has identified a new class of monomers from which diversity-oriented libraries of intrinsically microporous polymers prepared with highly desirable characteristics for manufacturing and service life as a membrane, or other component, for applications such as gas separations, fuel cells, batteries, water purification, and others. The new technology enables membranes with higher conductivity, transport selectivity, and chemical stability than current options. The polymers can be manufactured using solution-phase processing. Polymer pore dimensions range from 0.5 nm to 2 nm, and porosity falls ranges from 5% to 40%. The research team also identified a new class of electrochemical devices that make use of the microporous polymer membranes to extend cycle life and enhance energy efficiency, relative to both non-selective porous polymer membranes and partially selective polymer membranes currently available. Until now, generating functional monomers suitable for polymerization and identifying chemical reactions to effectively interconvert functionality on the polymer after it has been synthesized have been difficult. The limited synthetic strategies to diversify the way functionality is displayed along the polymer backbone have not enabled the manufacture of functionalized microporous polymers due to poor solubility and processability of the modified polymers. LBNL’s diversity-oriented polymers technology overcomes these limitations.
Berkeley, CA
www.lbl.gov/ https://ipo.lbl.gov/for-industry/tech-index/
Booth: 303
Optimized Energy Efficient Prefetcher Hardware Architecture
With rapidly increasing parallelism, DRAM performance and power have surfaced as primary constraints from consumer electronics to high performance computing (HPC) for bulk-synchronous data-parallel applications that are key drivers for multi-core, e.g., image processing, climate modeling, physics simulation, gaming, face recognition, and many others. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s optimized energy efficient prefetcher hardware architecture, a purely hardware last-level cache prefetcher, exploits the highly correlated prefetch patterns of data-parallel algorithms not recognized by prefetchers oblivious to data parallelism. The technology generates prefetches on behalf of multiple cores in memory address order to maximize DRAM efficiency and bandwidth. It can prefetch from multiple memory pages without expensive translations. Compared to other prefetchers, the LLNL technology improves execution time by 5.5% on average (10% maximum), increases DRAM bandwidth by 9% to 18%, decreases DRAM rank energy by 6%, produces 27% more timely prefetches, and increases coverage by 25% at minimum.
Makai Thin-Foil Heat Exchanger (TFHX) Technology
This technology delivers a step-change in heat exchanger performance and requires a much smaller space claim than current state-of-the-art heat exchangers. Heat transfer surface area densities in excess of 2000 m2/m3 have been achieved with high air convection and low pressure drops compared to traditional plate frame and microchannel heat exchangers. These compact heat exchangers consists of two thin, titanium foil layers, orders of magnitude thinner than conventional titanium plates, bonded together at varying locations and configurations across the sheets and expanded and form a flow channel between the two sheets of thin foil. Makai’s novel manufacturing methods and optimized fluid flow designs enable the economical production of these new class of heat exchangers. These plates are highly effective for heat transfer because the working fluid is separated from the cooling air or liquid by very thin foil, with ultra-high heat transfer area and no thermal resistance from intermediary fins. Low material consumption enables use of titanium foil which is strong, lightweight and highly corrosion resistant.
Recyclable fabrics for passive personal thermoregulation
Humans worked on improving wearable technologies since the dawn of the civilization. Yet, warm clothes are still typically bulky and reduce mobility, while cooling is hard to achieve without the use of active devices with embedded wiring and batteries. Sweat-wicking fabrics enhance cooling via convection, but are mostly suitable for athletic apparel as this cooling mechanism only gets activated after perspiration occurs. In contrast to other commercial technologies, wearable fabrics with engineered broadband photonic response developed at MIT provide local thermoregulation with zero carbon footprint via passive control of thermal radiation from the skin (ASC Photonics, 2(6) 769, 2015; US patent No. 9951446). This control makes possible both cooling without breaking a sweat and heating without adding uncomfortable metal layers to the wearables. Human body is an almost perfect emitter of thermal radiation, but conventional fabrics strongly absorb body heat. Polyethylene, however, exhibits a unique property of low infrared absorptance. By controlling the thickness of individual fibers, passively-cooling polyethylene fabrics can be optically engineered to either allow the body heat to escape via radiation or to be reflected back to the skin. In both cases, the fabrics remain visibly opaque, and can reflect solar radiation.
Rationally Designed, Nanoarchitectured Catalyst
Metalmark Innovations offers a new type of 3D catalyst which can be formed with nanoscale precision over structural and compositional features using scalable wet chemistry fabrication. Such levels of control are not currently provided by any other manufacturing method. Our approach is based on the co-assembly of preformed hybrid colloidal particles that simultaneously structure the matrix and arrange catalytic nanoparticles (NPs) at the pores’ interfaces. Consequently, the NPs are optimally exposed to the interior of the pore and are also partially embedded in the walls of the matrix, rendering them substantially more stable against sintering and mechanical disruption than is possible with current manufacturing methods. The initial powder-based prototypes demonstrated high activity for complete and selective oxidations, unprecedented mechanical and thermal robustness, and versatility in terms of catalyst composition and structural features. Moreover, the resulting architectures facilitate diffusion of reactants and products toward and from the catalytic centers as well as enable efficient heat dissipation within the system. The unique aspects of the catalyst design and performance have been described in recent academic publications and patent applications.
Corrosion inhibition technology for mild steel
The problem: While the most effective (and possibly industrially viable) graphene coatings are achieved by the chemical vapour deposition (CVD) of graphene. Fe and its alloy such as mild steels have very high solubilities of carbon at the temperatures at which CVD process for graphene deposition is accomplished (650-1000 Degree Celsius) and also cooled. Dissolved carbon is rejected rapidly during cooling, resulting in formation of carbon soot at the surface (instead of forming thin graphene layer). Our solution: We have developed a coating process which overcomes this problem and allows graphene to be deposited by CVD. Our graphene coating provided x100 fold superior corrosion resistance in comparison to the bare mild steel, as demonstrated by the potentiodynamic polarization plots.
Delivery of speciality agricultural products through encapsulation technology
This new technology focuses on functionalised encapsulation of speciality agricultural chemicals with a targeted release. Our encapsulation technology can be functionalised to adhere to plant cuticle wax. This adherence triggers the targeted delivery of the payload into the leaf rather than roots or soil, through a broadly applicable, yet strong and stable interaction. The encapsulation technology increases the accuracy of desired chemical deployment, release can occur slowly to provide sustained action or triggered to provide a burst in response to external stimuli (light, water, salt, et cetera). The technology is based on materials commonly used in agricultural contexts, that are known to biodegrade. The technology can be used for delivery of a broad range of agricultural products including: 1. Fungicides 2. Insecticides 3. Pesticides 4. Nutrients
Chipless RFID tag and reader
RFID systems are composed of a sender that sends out radio waves, a tag that contains information and a reader that receives information stored on the tag. Tags can either be active, e.g. battery powered, which enables the tag to send signals over a long distance. Alternatively, tags may be passive without a power source. Passive tags may contain an IC (integrated circuit) that is able to perform computations or tags may be chipless, e.g. no computations on the tag are possible. Chipless passive RFID tags are cheap and resilient however restricted in communication bandwidth and data stored on the tag. Chipless tags are particularly well positioned for item tagging in supply chain management or for supermarkets. Our family of inventions are improvements of chipless RFID tag and reader technology. Part of our invention increases the information density that can be stored on the tag and communication bandwith, other parts address error correction an ability that is required to correct corrupted signals. One drawback of some chipless RFID tags is that they are orientation sensitive; our portfolio addresses orientations sensitivity too. Lastly, we built complete chipless RFID systems relevant for supermarkets and supply chain management.
Chemical and Biological Sensor Tape
This adhesive tape sensor technology with colorimetric, fluorescent, or biological indicators enable the tape to detect and report the presence of target chemicals (e.g. heavy metal ions, salts, etc.) and biomolecules (e.g. proteins, biofilms, blood antigen-antibody identifications and other contaminants). A weakness of current paper sensors is that analytes deposited in a paper sensor could be washed (or leached) away when an indicator solution is added to paper which this technology overcomes. It can be applied to solid surfaces, particulate materials and liquid samples. It can obtain a rapid analytical appraisal of the presence of target chemicals and biological substances and simultaneously protect them behind the tape substrate. This minimises contamination as well as preserves the sample for further analysis if required. These sensors are not restricted by the wettability of the surface and they can be applied to hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces for chemical analysis; Chemical responsive adhesive tape are also able to display the distribution of analyte on a surface, since indicator can be immobilized on the tape by formulating into the glue component. This system is able to perform analysis on highly variable surface topologies.
Gold recovery from e-waste and mine tailings using novel chemical encapsulation
This new technology focuses on encapsulation for gold extraction 1. Functionalised capsules seek gold regions in e-waste or mine tailings 2. Chemicals for gold dissolution are released in a highly localised fashion promoting rapid dissolution. 3. The highly specific encapsulation process occurs to capture gold. 4. >90% Capsules with gold can be separated in a pure concentrated stream in 2 to 5 hrs from the low value-e-waste or tailings 5. Capsules can be re-loaded and recycled for use. Other e-waste metals can be targeted for encapsulation technology
Device for assessing the state of healing of long bones
The state of healing of internally fixated long bones is traditionally assessed using X-ray technology. However, using X-ray technology exposes patients to radiation and surgeons have to make an assessment based on imagery, which is subjective. This invention is a wearable device, which assesses the state of healing of long bones using vibrational analysis. The stiffness of a fractured bone is lower compared to healthy bones and its vibrational response is therefore different. However, due to soft tissue and the fixation device itself, vibrational healing analysis is challenging. This invention is a wearable device that is strapped around the fractured limb; the device contains two sensors and a strike point. The two sensors allow to separate the torsional from the bending mode; the latter can then be mapped onto a healing index, which allows to track the healing progress over time.
Global Bi-Directional IoT Coverage
The technology involves deploying a constellation of nanosatellites that are designed for IoT applications. Nanosatellites are small satellites the size of shoe boxes which cost 100 times cheaper than large conventional satellites to build and launch. By deploying hundreds of nanosatellites to form a constellation, global 24/7 coverage, 2 way communication can be provided for IoT devices to relay data anytime. Put it simply, at any one time at any location on earth, there will always be one of our nanosatellite in the sky ready to relay data. Existing IoT connectivity rely on terrestrial networks to provide communication backhaul, of which many places on Earth lack. These can be in rural farms and plantations or in the middle of the open ocean. Existing satellite connectivity solutions are not optimized for IoT applications which makes them costly to use and hence the lack of IoT solutions deployed in these areas. By providing affordable global IoT connectivity, more IoT solutions can be readily adopted in areas previously not practical; optimizing plantations to achieve better yield, large-scale monitoring of fishing vessels to prevent illegal fishing, early tsunami warning systems to give coastal villages a better survival chance and many other possible applications.
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Aerogels
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fiber aerogel were successfully invented from recycled PET fibers obtained from plastic bottles and using various cross linkers such as tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and/or polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and/or glutaraldehyde (GA). Recycled PET aerogels were obtained through the ambient pressure drying or freeze drying processes. In order to dissolve and functionalize the fibers, recycled PET fibers were treated with dichloromethane or any alkaline/acid solution and neutral condition with the use of water or steam (pH=7). Then the final PET aerogels can be fabricated. The developed PET aerogels showed low density (0.018-0.345 g/cm3), super-hydrophobicity (140.4-149.9o), low thermal conductivity (0.033-0.047 W/mK), high oil absorption (12.5-49.5 g/g) and very elastic (compressive Young’s moduli, 0.87-4.98 kPa). This technology provides an approach to fabricate cost-effective and promising PET aerogels used for several applications such as thermal insulation and absorption applications.
Cotton Aerogel
Cotton aerogels were successfully invented from recycled cotton fibres from textile waste and using various binders such as wet-strength resin (Kymene 557H) and/or polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) following the freeze drying. The cotton aerogels may further comprise paper cellulose fibres and/or one additive such as chitosan or water repellent chemical (MTMS) for the purposes of the applications. The developed aerogels showed ultra-low density (5-23 Kg/m3), hydrophobicity (up to 143o), low thermal conductivity (35-40 mW/m.K), high oil absorption capacity (38-100 g/g). The cotton aerogel pellets comprising cellulose fibres demonstrated fast expansion time (less than 5 seconds) with the expansion ratio up to 16 and the hydrostatic pressure up to 11.5 mmHg.
Purple Bread: A New Superfood
According to current nutritional thinking, white bread is digested too fast, spikes blood sugar levels and is linked to obesity. In short, it's the enemy of healthy eaters. A Purple bread is invented by adding anthocyanin extract from black rice. Anthocyanin is a natural pigment that occurs in fruits and vegetables such as grapes, blueberries, and sweet potatoes, and is responsible for their vibrant hue. Studies have shown that anthocyanins can help prevent cardiovascular and neurological diseases and cancer, and play a role in controlling obesity and diabetes, as they can inhibit digestive enzymes and reduce glucose levels.
Prototyping to Integration Kit for Microwave Circuits (PIKMCs)
A hardware set that takes commercial microwave circuits from a bench top prototype to a rapidly deployable payload by providing control, communications, and power through a standardized electrical and mechanical interface.
Conductive Oxide Thin Films from Aqueous Solution
The technology provides solution processing methods to make high quality conductive oxide thin films. The precursor solutions are aqueous, utilizing dissolved salts of various compounds to make high purity films of indium oxide or tin oxide and variations containing other metals. The films are high quality, with low resistivity, high transparency, high purity, and they are very smooth. With solution deposition methods, the films can easily be deposited with a range of thicknesses over a large surface area on a variety of substrate.
3D print system for soft silicone elastomers
The technology is a novel 3D printer and printhead that allows for the printing of large and complex objects made with flexible silicone elastomers. The system can mix, extrude, and rapidly cure the elastomer in real time, in a way that both enables the printing of free standing shapes while also extending print time by avoiding clogging of the printhead.
Efficient resource recovery and treatment of landfill leachate
This is a modular system designed to be compact and mobile, with multiple integrated treatment units that can remove and recover metals, organics, and ammonia. The metals are recovered as high grade powder, the organics are combustible, and the ammonia can be used as fertilizer. The system can be adjusted in real time to accommodate variations in the leachate content, achieving primary treatment standards to the point where the water can be discharged to tertiary treatment.
Aqueous zinc metal battery
This technology is a battery architecture designed to take advantage of zinc's low cost, relative abundance, high storage capacity, and inherent compatibility and stability in the presence of water. The design enables highly reversible electrochemical plating of the zinc metal, overcoming some challenges of low Coulombic efficiency observed in other zinc batteries.
Hybrid Powertrain for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
The prototype system is a 1kW hybrid powertrain designed to provide improved efficiency and mission flexibility for fixed wing vertical takeoff and landing UAVs as well as multi-rotor UAVs. The powertrain combines an internal combustion engine and electric motor/generator with optimized controllers, tested and optimized on a custom built test bed. The result was a UAV with significantly longer flight time.
State College, PA
invent.psu.edu/program/intellectual-property-navigator/
Booth: 326
Multi-spectral Method for Defect Detection in Powder Bed Fusion Additive Manufacturing
A multi-spectral sensor system has been developed that allows for real-time, in-situ (as opposed to post-build) defect detection in parts formed from powder bed fusion additive manufacturing (PBFAM). Build quality is assessed by measuring the line-to-continuum ratio of Chromium (Cr I) emission lines around 520 nm and continuum emission around 530 nm from a melt pool and plume during the build process. The emissions are indicative of defects (e.g. lack of fusion and porosity) within a part. For example, build quality can be measured as percentage of voids within the part. Test results indicate that a higher magnitude spectral response is correlated to a higher percent void.
State College, PA
invent.psu.edu/program/intellectual-property-navigator/
Booth: 326
Graphene Hybrids for Biological and Chemical Sensing
The technology is based on creating atomically-thin metals by sandwiching the metal atoms between a substrate and graphene. The unique structure of the metal atoms creates a strong plasmon resonance in the visible/ Near IR wavelengths and extreme non-linear optical properties that are >2000x better than gold nanoparticles. These materials will enable unprecedented sensitivity and precision in spectroscopic detection of chem/bio molecules. Beyond the optical properties, this technology will enable new forms plasmonic metasurfaces, plasmon-enhanced catalysis, and even next generation quantum technologies.
University Park, PA
invent.psu.edu/program/intellectual-property-navigator/
Booth: 326
Engineering Nano/Micro Structure in C-C Composites by Templating for Self Reinforcement
An improvement in the synthesis of carbon-carbon (C-C) composites has been made. Instead of using carbon fiber for reinforcing and control of macroscale properties, this technology uses the matrix for self-reinforcement. Penn State researchers have improved the properties of C-C composites by using carbon allotropes as additives to control and direct the microstructural evolution of the C-C composite during its fabrication. As a result, extensive pre-fabrication of filaments, yarns, and weaves are bypassed. The technology allows for the properties of graphene and nanotubes to be magnified in non-graphitizing matrices based on polymeric resins which will increase strength and conductivity of C-C composites.
Non destructive technology having a resolution at the size of the atom
POSITHÔT la Manufacture d’Antimatière provides industrial applications of positrons spectrometry for nondestructive testing or materials and surface analysis using positrons as the mean for analysis. We develop transportable, non-radioactive positron generator, the core element for this innovative technique, and dedicated analysis systems. Instruments manufacturer, POSITHÔT designs and realizes transportable and nonradioactive positron generators, which replace the radioactive sources. POSITHÔT generators deliver a flow from 50 to 200 times higher than the conventional radioactive sources, for a specific cost of positrons divided by 3. In term of positron production, we cover the space between radioactive based isotope sources and nuclear research plant. POSITHÔT is the only company in the world managing positron production without consumption or generation of radioactivity.
Ultrasonic Pulsed Doppler Technology for Nanoparticle Characterization
The Ultrasonic Pulsed Doppler technique uses a single transducer to launch a tone burst at a specific ultrasonic frequency into a suspension of moving nanoparticles and to receive the energy backscattered from the particles. As the particles are in motion, the backscattered energy is Doppler shifted and appears at frequencies differing from that of the original wave depending on the particle velocities. In the simplest USPD system, particles are set in motion by the interrogated signal itself, and as we have discovered, the velocities to which particles are so accelerated are a monotonic function of their size. Thus, the spectrum of backscattered waves contains all the information required to produce a particle size distribution, typically with higher resolution than commonly achieved with existing instruments. As only a single small transducer is required, these measurements do not require dedicated instrumentation; they can be applied in a wide variety geometries (e.g. in sample vials, in processing equipment in which real time measurements can monitor particle processing.) Moreover, opaque suspensions can be measured without need for dilution required for optical methods. The method also holds the promise of measurement of particle physical properties not measurable by optical or other methods.
A wearable, disposable, light emitting photomedical treatment device
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) have been demonstrated as minimally invasive or noninvasive strategies to treat cancers and infections, stimulate wound repair, reduce pain, promote hair growth, etc. Widespread clinical adoption has been hindered by current equipment based on lasers or light emitting diode (LED) arrays which are expensive, heavy, and rigid; in addition, expensive in-office visits are usually required for treatments. QLEDCures’ patent-pending technology is based on record breaking ultrabright quantum dot light emitting diodes (QLEDs) that can work as thin, light weight and large area wearable light emitting bandage-type products for use in PDT or PBMT, such that patients can receive treatment while doing daily tasks with minimal interruption. In addition, the inherent tunability of the quantum dots means our QLEDs can be customized for specific medical conditions. The technology has been proven effective in preliminary in-vitro PBMT and PDT studies carried out by leading photomedicine experts and holds promise to enable widespread clinical adoption of PDT and PBMT to transform healthcare industry in managing cancer, acute and chronic wounds, inflammation, combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria, aesthetic medicine, etc. The total addressable market is on the order of tens of billions of dollars.
Point-of-care sensors for diagnosing bacterial infections
By providing immediate identification of all of the most common bacterial pathogens, QSM technology will change the management paradigm for treatment of infectious diseases with antibiotics. Our sensing approach utilizes proprietary aptamers developed against unique quorum sensing molecules (QSM) and virulence factors secreted by bacterial pathogens that identify the particular species that is present in infected bodily fluids. These target molecules are present in significantly greater quantities in specimens than the pathogenic cells, allowing immediate detection by our sensors. We have uniquely combined the selectivity and specificity provided by aptamers with an electrochemical sensing approach that allows quantitative measurement of the target molecule concentrations in any bodily fluid without sample preparation or external controls. Since aptamers can be generated for any biomarker, our electrochemical aptamer-based detection platform can be extended to other infections and diseases. The platform can also be integrated with medical devices to monitor chronically ill, at-risk patients for the presence of bacteria, prior to the start of symptoms associated with infection. Our timely diagnosis will allow directed treatment, reducing medical complications arising from infections and decreasing healthcare costs.
Green Base Oils for Environmentally Acceptable Lubricants
RiKarbon Inc. is developing next generation enabling technology to produce Bio-Lubricant base-oils from inexpensive, abundantly supplied, and sustainably sourced feedstock (biomass, natural oils and/or waste cooking oils). Our technology innovation, based on energy-efficient and atom-economic coupling and deoxygenation reactions, offers the flexibility to produce BioLubes with tailored molecular architecture and tunable specifications from commercially available bio-based raw materials (derived from biomass and fatty acids) for safer personal-care products and high-performing lubricants.
Wearable Fabric Sensor for Hydration Monitoring
In spite of advances made towards the detection of biomarkers in sweat, there is no sensor capable of long-term detection in constricted or load-bearing applications where other flexible plastic sensors might cause discomfort. RooSense developed a flexible fabric sensor made of carbon nanotube-functionalized nylon. The material is further functionalized with a molecule that reacts with sodium ions. As the sensor reacts with sodium ions in sweat, a complex-molecule forms which impedes the flow of an electrical current, allowing the sensor to quantify the amount of sodium present. As sodium ion levels in the sweat increase, athletes must replace these electrolytes to remain hydrated. These dehydration patterns are unique and vary based on diet, weather conditions, and human physiological cycles. Therefore, there is not a “one size fits all” hydration program. The ability to monitor an individual’s hydration parameters is unique to the RooSense sensor and gives it a competitive advantage over “sweat monitors” that monitor water lost or “water timers” that remind the athlete to drink water every 20 minutes. This is the first lightweight fabric sensor to provide real-time information regarding hydration levels during exercise or training through selective determination of sodium ion levels.
Continuous Dual Track Fabrication of Polymer Micro/nanofibers Based on Direct Drawing
There is a growing interest in efficient and economical methods and devices for manufacturing nanofibers composed of a wide range of materials. However, the accessibility of nanofiber materials is limited because the production of polymer nanofibers is generally challenging using conventional extrusion methods. While recent advancements have led to new manufacturing techniques such as electrospinning, it requires high electrical voltage and a polar solvent system. To improve on the current nanofabrication methods, an automated track spinning system was developed to be more energy efficient and solvent versatile. The system is based on a simple manual fiber drawing process that is automated by using two oppositely rotating tracks. Fibers are continuously spun by direct contact of polymer solution coated tracks followed by mechanical drawing as the distance between the tracks increases. The track spinning method is able to form fibers from high viscosity solutions and melts that are not compatible with some other nanofiber fabrication methods. Further, the setup is simple and inexpensive to implement, nozzle-less, does not require an electric field or high-velocity jets, and the tracks can be patterned/textured for aligned fiber arrays to scale up fiber yield.
Bringing AI into Neuro-Oncology - Tumor Surviellance
In current clinical practice, radiation oncologists manually perform pixel-by-pixel delineation of tumor boundaries to define the target for radiation treatment. Subsequently, dosimetrists mark boundaries of healthy organs to ensure that critical brain structures are not irradiated. There are no current automatic tumor boundary delineation solutions available in oncology clinics. What is our solution? We will develop an AI-based adaptive, end-to-end solution to delineate (or segment) tumor boundaries in MRI/CT scans. The segmentation results will be used for radiation therapy through integration with treatment planning systems. The same boundary markings will also be used to calculate tumor volume and assist physicians in tumor surveillance, estimation of tumor progression over time, and prediction of tumor growth in the future. Why our solution? Automatic, accurate, and timely segmentation of tumor boundaries would transform radiation therapy by reducing treatment planning time from hours to a few minutes. Our tumor surveillance solution can detect tumor growth more than three years earlier than detection by board-certified radiologists. Our preliminary results for both tumor boundary delineation and surveillance strongly support our claims. Our solution will integrate seamlessly with existing clinical systems including picture archiving and communication system (PACS) and radiation treatment planning systems.
Highly sticky adhesive for cornea repair
We at the Department of Chemical Engineering at Rowan University have developed a modified hydrogel to make antimicrobial, highly adhesive for surgical applications. This is a material platform to make cost-effective, sutureless, and user-friendly adhesives to heal injury to biological tissue and save operative and post-operative time and cost. The current primary needs for ocular trauma surgery entail operative and postoperative time and cost reduction. Currently, there are no such FDA approved material platforms to effectively replace the presently used techniques of suturing. The merit of this novel material platform is that it is an antibacterial and hemostatic bioadhesive based on a bio ionic liquid functionalized biopolymer. We expect biocompatibility, biodegradability, no toxicity, and excellent adhesion to tissues even in the presence of body fluids. We also expect this material platform to aid in blood coagulation, facilitate healing and inhibit bacterial growth. This innovation will circumvent the limitations of current surgical approaches as well as post-operative care and cost in corneal repair and in the future can be extended to repair of other human tissues.
Retractable 3D Zipper For Extended Length
A 3D zipper style mechanism that is used to obtain 3D extension pole from flat pieces chained together. When it is unzipped, the chains can be stacked or rolled individually to save spaces. When zipped, the pieces are interlocked and can be used as a regular hollow extension pole. The extension pole is electrically stretched or retracted. It will be self-locked to supply support at any desired position. The design can be easily integrated into outside broadcasting van, boom lift, fire fighting trucks. It can also be used as a more stable alternative to the ladders used by homeowners or contractors. The device can be used to provide temporary or fast deployment of antenna/cell tower in disaster areas or emergency situations. It can also be used to provide retractable/stretchable reach for robots, painters or other applications. It can also be used to form larger structures such as space stations.
Automated-Track Electrospinning
The ability to engineer strong nanofiber materials is of great interest in numerous fields including aerospace, automotive, biomedical and construction. Electrospinning is a simple method capable of producing polymer nanofibers. It is observed in conventionally manufactured and electrospun fibers that mechanical strength increases when diameter is reduced. However, electrospun nanofibers are weaker than conventionally manufactured fibers, despite greatly reduced diameters. This lack of mechanical strength in electrospun fibers is attributed to the absence of post-processing stages, such as drawing and tensioning, which are commonly used in fiber production to increase strength by 5-15x. The Automated-Track design is able to overcome the limitations of electrospinning by implementing a processing stage capable of simultaneous collection and drawing fibers. This design is able to draw individual fibers immediately as they are collected, tightly control processing parameters, and process thousands of nanofibers at once. This approach successfully combines electrospinning and a critical post-processing stage and has shown to increase the ultimate tensile strength of polycaprolactone fibers by 7.4x and polyacrylonitrile fibers by 4.5x. The method is compatible with most polymers which can be collected across parallel plates and is anticipated to be compatible with high-throughput methods for scalability.
HADES - High-Fidelity Adaptive Deception & Emulation System
The HADES platform is a deception environment that utilizes Software Defined Networks (SDN), cloud computing, dynamic deception, and agentless Virtual Machine Introspection (VMI). These elements fuse to not only create complex, high-fidelity deception networks, but also provide mechanisms to directly interact with the adversary—something current deception products do not facilitate. At the onset of an attack, adversaries are migrated into an emulated deception environment, where they are able to carry out their attacks without any indication that they have been detected or are being observed. HADES then allows the defender to react to adversarial attacks in a methodical and proactive manner by modifying the environment, host attributes, files, and the network itself in real-time. Through a rich set of data and analytics, cybersecurity practitioners gain valuable information about the tools and techniques used by their adversaries, which can then be fed back to the network defender as threat intelligence.
Cost efficient solar tracking for PV and CSP by means of a ganged heliostat - "G-Helio"
Skysun, LLC an Ohio registered for-profit business, is pioneering disruptive cost-saving technology for solar power installations. Specifically, Skysun is developing a low cost ganged heliostat with applications in CSP, CPV and PV. Skysun’s mission is to commercialize heliostat technology which bests the Department of Energy’s SunShot program goal of ~$70/m2, or less, cost of collecting field installed. Unlike typical heliostats, wherein each heliostat requires dual axis tracking actuators, post and a base or foundation, Skysun’s patented and patent-pending technology gangs together many heliostats which share actuation and support structure. This sharing greatly reduces system infrastructure and installation costs. Prior funding from an Innovation Fund grant has enabled Skysun to develop our technology and progress to functioning prototypes. Additionally, collaboration with NASA GRC has helped prove design durability. More recently, Skysun was awarded with a Small Business Voucher (SBV) to collaborate with the National Solar Thermal Testing Facility (NSTTF) at Sandia National Laboratories. The SBV raised us to TRL4 and report findings demonstrate our method has the durability and accuracy industry demands. Full Sandia report (Sandia 2017-7101) available at Skysun website https://www.skysunsolar.com/
Tensile-based Ganged Heliostats/G-Helio
Skysun, LLC’s ganged heliostat concept utilizes a tensile based support and actuation structure. Earlier research, circa 2009-2010, promised that a cost-effective concave concentrator could be tensile-based, but substantial optical aberrations, namely astigmatism, would need to be addressed. Tensile methods to eliminate astigmatism are embodied in Skysun’s issued parent patents 8,609,979 (Feb. 22, 2011) and 9,279,600 (March 8, 2016). Research with the prototype demonstrated that 24 reflectors, controlled by six actuators, could be focused to a fixed receiver while eliminating astigmatism. A method to eliminate the need for expensive vertical actuation was developed resulting in the filing of three provisional patent applications and a subsequent utility Patent Cooperation Treaty (International) application filed on January 27, 2016. Collaboration with NASA GRC demonstrated survivability given extreme exterior conditions (2015). Collaboration with Sandia National Laboratories and the National Solar Thermal Testing Facility has shown that accuracy, performance and survivability should scale to commercial and utility levels (2016 to present). This hybrid style of ganged heliostat implies substantial cost reduction when compared to the current art of heliostats and will exceed the SunShot goal of $75/m2 of collecting field installed cost.
New Nasal Delivery System improves Olfactory Targeting with Electrostatic Control
This device is designed specifically for olfactory delivery for the treatment of neurological disorders, such as Holoprosencephaly in infants, Cerebral Palsy in children, and Alzheimer’s diseases in senior populations. Merits of the new device include: 1. Electric guided drug particles can be contact-free from the airway walls, which significantly reduces the drug loss and increases the olfactory dosage. 2. The proposed delivery device has the potential of alleviating or overcoming the nose-to-brain bottleneck posed by extremely low olfactory deposition. 3. Delivery does not rely on inhalation maneuvers, making it suitable for seniors or patients with respiratory distresses. 4. Electric guided drug particles can be free of ferric magnetic materials, therefore minimizing side effects from metallic accumulations. 5. The proposed platform can be easily adapted for target drug delivery at respiratory sites other than the olfactory region by modifying electrode layouts and voltage input frequencies. The delivery system has two components. The first is a head-mounted nasal mask that houses the electrodes and helps to fix the position of the electrodes relative to the patient head. The second part is a particle-generation-charging device that comprises a jet nebulizer, a charging ring, a reserve, and a point-release nozzle.
Early Detection of Lung Cancer using Breath Test and VOC-Sensitive Aerosols
This proposed breath test device is small in size, noninvasivein nature, easy to use, and less expensive. These allow frequent testing and earlier detection 1. Generation of colorimetric chemical-sensitive aerosols. 2. Inhalation: Depending on the locations of suspected lung cancer, specified inhalation maneuver will be excised so that the inhaled aerosols reach the cancer site. This will be followed by a breath-holding so that the inhaled aerosols (cancer detectives) could have sufficient time to react with the VOCs. 3. Exhalation: The exhaled aerosol distributions will be captured by a filter, giving rise to an aerosol fingerprint. This fingerprint will be compared to the one with normal airways. A large difference between these two indicates carcinogens at the region of interest (ROI). 4. Aerosol samples can be further analyzed by gas chromatography and compared to the lung cancer database. Using the Numerical Inverse Method (NIM) developed in our lab, the site and stage of the lung cancer can retrieved. 5. The breath test can be performed periodically. A time series of aerosol fingerprints tells the development of the lung cancer, or the outcome of cancer treatments.
Four-dimensional hyperspectral/hypertemporal imager for AI-controlled robotic manipulation of objects in manufacturing process
SSI’s 4D hyperspectral/hypertemporal (HSI/HTI) sensor produces spatial, spectral and temporal data for each pixel in the acquired image and serves as “eyes and ears” of an enhanced machine-vision system that reveals object’s spectral (“color” variation in the infrared) and temporal (vibration frequency) characteristics, together with shape and motion. Data acquired by the sensor are delivered to a master processor, the system’s “brain,” to enable real-time control of object manipulation based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other algorithms. Infrared HSI facilitates object identification by characterizing the object’s shape, orientation and surface material chemical composition, while HTI optical vibrometry characterizes object activation and simultaneously monitors the functionality of machinery on the factory floor through their characteristic acoustic vibration signatures. The advanced, diamond-machined, single-block imaging spectrometer sensor core makes the instrument compact (6”x6”x12”) and lightweight (<10lb) - suitable for integration with robotic systems on the manufacturing floor.
ARISTOTLE (A Rarefied gas, Industrial Simulation Tool On The cLoud Environment)
Our innovative approach wraps a user-friendly, web-based interface around the best available low-pressure gas flow simulation library. ARISTOTLE leverages the SPARTA direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) library, developed with DOE funding by Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) for high fidelity gas flow simulations. It is exclusively licensed to SSI to be integrated in a commercial product. Since its release ~2.5 years ago, the library has been successfully applied to low-pressure gas flows by experts. Over thirty peer reviewed journal and conference papers have demonstrated that it is valid across the entire flow regime experienced in vacuum chambers, with favorable comparison with available measured data. Wider adoption of the library is constrained by current simulation requirements of access to super-computing clusters and user interactions solely through a text-based, command line interface. ARISTOTLE removes this barrier with a cloud computing model coupled to a user-friendly web interface, allowing industry to effectively use the library without requiring detailed understanding of the entirety of the SPARTA paradigm and without the large hardware investment for high performance computing capabilities. We expect that it will revolutionize the design processes for a wide variety of applications in multiple markets.
Unique technology that enables MEMS to autonomously self-calibrate.
What is transformational?: This unique technology expresses mechanical quantities in terms of electrical measurands. The EMM circuits can be packaged along with MEMS. The method is uniquely comprehensive, repeatable, reliable, and accurate. How is it different?: Existing methods can only accurately measure resonance, where all other mechanical quantities remain unknown or poorly measured due to large uncertainties. Existing in-factory methods can be 25 to 75% of manufacturing costs. Existing methods are time-consuming, impractical, cannot be packed with the device, have unknown accuracy, require highly specialized equipment, and bottleneck throughput. EMM remedies such issues. Potential impact?: Without accuracy, no form of reliable science is possible. EMM brings accuracy to the micro/nanoscale. IoT industries will be able to base analyses on accurate distributions of sensor data. Inertial navigation sensors will be more accurate. Implantable sensors will be able to re-calibrate before each measurement. Biomedical industries will be able to develop more accurate predictive models based on more accurate measurements of molecular bonds and other phenomena. The cost in-factory calibration will be eliminated, making MEMS less expensive.
Novel Polymer, Hydrogel Including the Polymer
The present disclosure is to provide a novel polymer having a reversible CO2 reactivity, a pH sensitivity, and/or a metal ion absorption. Further, the present disclosure is to provide a novel hydrogel including the polymer. Furthermore, the present disclosure is to provide a method for producing the hydrogel.
Multi Carbon Layer Coating & Manufacturing Method Using Multi Carbon Layer Coated
The present invention is directed to providing a method of manufacturing a metal composite powder by wire explosion in a liquid in a simple manner. The present invention is also directed to providing a metal composite powder that is coated with multi carbon layers and exhibits excellent dispersibility. According to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the method of manufacturing a metal composite powder by wire explosion in a liquid includes a process of forming a first carbon layer on a surface of a metal wire consisting of a first metal, a process of forming a metal layer consisting of a second metal, which is different from the first metal, on a surface of the first carbon layer, and a process of forming a metal composite powder coated with a multi carbon layer by wire exploding the metal wire containing the first carbon layer and the metal layer formed on a surface thereof in a solution.
Delayed Fluorescence Material and Organic Light Emitting Device Having the Delayed Fluorescence Material
a delayed fluorescence material with a molecular structure containing, as an electron acceptor unit, an indolocarbazole group having at least one acceptor functional group bound thereto such that the delayed fluorescence material is structurally and thermally stable and has highly luminous efficiency. The present disclosure is further to provide an organic light emitting device comprising the delayed fluorescence material. In a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a delayed fluorescence material having a molecular structure, wherein the molecular structure includes an electron donor unit and an electron acceptor unit coupled to the electron donor unit, wherein the electron acceptor unit includes an indolocarbazole group having at least one acceptor functional-group bound to the indolocarbazole group.
Delayed Fluorescence Material and Organic Light Emitting Device Having the Delayed Fluorescence Material
a delayed fluorescence material with a molecular structure containing, as an electron acceptor unit, an indolocarbazole group having at least one acceptor functional group bound thereto such that the delayed fluorescence material is structurally and thermally stable and has highly luminous efficiency. The present disclosure is further to provide an organic light emitting device comprising the delayed fluorescence material. In a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a delayed fluorescence material having a molecular structure, wherein the molecular structure includes an electron donor unit and an electron acceptor unit coupled to the electron donor unit, wherein the electron acceptor unit includes an indolocarbazole group having at least one acceptor functional-group bound to the indolocarbazole group.
Platform Technology for creating Functional Additives for Corrosion Protection, Corrosion Detection, Antimicrobial, Superhydrophobic and Personal Care Products.
SynMatter’s founders have invented a method to create functional additives that augment the performance of numerous materials. These intelligent additives, Smart Particles, contain active chemical compounds, however, they are inert, and easy to handle and incorporate into a broad range of matrices, including coatings, films, plastics, powders, liquids and gels. When exposed to an environmental trigger, such as a change in pH, temperature or light, the Smart Particles release the active chemical compounds. This trigger release capability enables these additives to impart a wide variety of functionalities to the matrices, such as corrosion protection, corrosion and pH detection, antimicrobial and antifouling activity, enhanced UV and temperature resistance, superhydrophobicity, color changes, and improved material processing and curing, as well as the delivery of skin and hair actives in personal care products. Smart Particles are a transformational technology. They are produced using an environmentally friendly, scalable, cost-effective method and can be designed to deliver a very wide range of active agents to customer specifications. Simple incorporation is a straight-forward way to add intelligent functionality into existing products without requiring significant changes to current production methods. They are a leading contender for accelerating the adoption of smart materials in the marketplace.
High Performance Biodegradable Lubricants for Non-Crankcase Applications
This lubricant technology is a molecular analog and fractional component of an FDA GRAS approved food ingredient. It is a food safe and food grade lubricant that is bio-based/renewable, biodegradable, and non-bioaccumulating. The lubricant possesses greater oxidative stability, hydrolytic stability, and a significantly lower pour point than vegetable oil lubricants. Compared to Group III mineral oils the lubricant is less volatile, has a higher flash/fire point, higher viscosity index, and provides better lubricity and detergency. When comparing to other synthetic lubricants, esters and PAO, this technology is on par in performance but is significantly cheaper than those currently available products. The biggest impact for this technology is that it poses negligible environmental risk in the event of a spill while maintaining the high performance expected of synthetic lubricants. It is a high-performance lubricant that happens to be "green". It is sourced from renewable stocks and is a sustainable technology and can be manufactured to even meet Kosher food standards, unlike mineral/fossil derived materials, Group I-IV oils.
Surface coating for reduction of aerodynamic noise and vibrations
The coating is composed of specially designed and manufactured micro-fibrillar structures.The inventors discovered that the micro-scale fibrillar coating significantly reduced flow separation by reducing the size of the separation bubble and pushing the separation point further downstream. The inventors accomplished this without increasing the turbulent kinetic energy (by-product of texturizing a surface). These results starkly oppose the notion that rough surfaces facilitate flow separation.
Stabilization of Soil
Within many construction projects, the very ground a structure is built on has to be considered. Not all soils are created equal and one of the most problematic ones is clay. Clay soils can be very susceptible to swelling and shrinking when different amounts of moisture are present. This phenomenon can obviously be a big problem when buildings or roads are built on top of an unstable foundation. Unsurprisingly, efforts have been made to reduce these effects and make structures safer. This technology is a treatment for expansive clay soils that is comprised of a geopolymer mixed with gypsum. Results of the experiment have shown that this treatment reduces swelling by over 90%. For comparison, this approach is more than three times as effective as lime treatment and also works on soils containing sulfate.
Method for fabricating low-cost solid-state thermal neutron detectors with extremely high detection efficiency and sensitivity
Neutron detectors are used in monitoring activities of fissile materials, such as detection of illicit special nuclear material or a nuclear device, and for the monitoring of radioactivity in industrial facilities. Neutron detection relies on indirect measurements that can be recorded when neutrons react with nuclei in materials that proceed to release one or more charged particles capable of producing electric signals. The technology are detectors made from single crystal boron-10 enriched boron nitride (10BN) semiconductors in thin film. Additionally, these films are able to achieve high detection sensitivity by lateral conduction and array configurations.
Tunable nanocomplexes for delivery of plasmid DNA into human and vertebrate primary cells
Historically, poly(D,L-lactide-co-plycolide) (PLGA) complexes with polyethylenimine (PEI) coated surfaces have been used as a DNA delivery mechanism in gene therapy. This allows for a complex that has relatively low cytotoxicity, binds DNA, and has a cationic surface to allow for easy entry into the target cell. However, these complexes still maintain an amount of cytotoxicity due to the nature of PEI. Smaller PEI molecules have low cytotoxic effects, but then have almost no transfection ability. The present invention uses lower molecular weight PEI along with an attached glycidyl hexadecyl ether to ultimately lower cytotoxic effects of the PEI-PLGA complex while increasing transfection ability. These PEI-PLGA complexes are successfully able to transfect genes into target cells, specifically macrophages, with decreased cytotoxicity and increased transfection ability.
Lubbock, TX
www.depts.ttu.edu/research/commercialization/
Booth: 311
Resveratrol nanoparticles for the prevention and treatment of obesity and its related metabolic disorders
This technology consists of a nanoparticle delivery system that specifically targets adipose stromal cells with resveratrol. Resveratrol delivery into adipose stromal cells causes them to differentiate into fat-burning beige adipose tissue (BAT) over the fat-storing WAT (white adipose tissue), aiding in weight loss and control of blood glucose and lipids. Obesity is a major public health problem affecting over 600 million adults and 100 million children worldwide. Obesity affects more than one third of adults and one sixth of children in the United States. Health risks associated with obesity include the development of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and some types of cancer.
New antibiotic drug candidates
New antibiotic drug candidates were discovered based on our biological research of bacterial transcription system. These first-in-class antimicrobial small molecules with new mechanism of action displayed excellent bactericidal effects against bacteria including antibiotic-resistant pathogens, unlike any current antibiotics on the market. These molecules target the important bacterial protein-protein interactions not existing in mammals, therefore demonstrated no toxicity to human cells, while the pre-clinical studies are ongoing. These new antibiotic drug candidates are expected to be developed to complement the current antibiotic drugs for treating bacteria caused infectious diseases, and contributing to the society and healthcare system threatened by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Seeded sonochemical coatings
Fast method, room temperature method (no external heating; only that from the synthesis process), occurs in ambient air and at atmospheric pressure. Cheaper and more efficient process; allows high-quality, pure products to be obtained. All other known, feasible techniques utilise combinations of high temperature, low pressure &/or specialised gaseous environements etc. Markets: functional/smart clothing (>US$2BN). Functional/smart glazing (>US$2BN).
Self-formed Haze Film for Optoelectronic Devices
This technology provides a very simple approach to enhancing the performance of optoelectronic devices. Unlike existing anti-reflection coating or light scattering structures, the fabrication process requires no template or photolithography. Thus, the manufacturing cost is low, and the scalability is very high. In addition, the fabricated haze film serves as a detachable accessory for the optoelectronic devices, so no change has to be made on existing fabrication process of the optoelectronic devices. This technology is promising for replacing the existing lithography process for anti-reflection coating, and thus lowering the overall manufacturing cost for optoelectronic devices. In the long term, it may reduce the price of electricity generated by photovoltaic, and may lower the price of photodetectors, LED displays and etc.
Fabric organic electrochemical transistors for glucose biosensor
The organic electrochemical transistor (OECT) used for biosensing is a new type of biosensor. It can provide in situ amplification of target analyte signal in solution (electrolyte). Its high sensitivity and low detection limit can guarantee the noninvasive detection of glucose in body fluids at sub-micro molar concentration which cannot be detected by current commercial glucose meter. By assembling the OECT biosensor on the fabric substrate, the wearability of OECT can be achieved and body fluids can be easily absorbed to the detection area due to capillary effect of fiber. Due to the huge market of diabetics, the wearable and noninvasive glucose sensor could promote the revolution of traditional blood glucose meter and development of healthcare monitoring system.
An Innovative Lignin-Porphyrin Green Nano-polymer for Fast Screening of Heavy Metals
Porphyrin and its families are widely applied in various commercial products, such as chemical sensors, bio-imaging agents and cancer drugs. These products are usually applied the synthetic & petroleum-based polymers as the building block or supporting materials. During incorporating these building block and supporting materials with porphyrin, the complex procedures are usually involved to achieve the its application functions. Moreover, the environmental unfriendly and hazardous chemical reagents are also involved in the traditional manufacturing process. While for our prototype, a natural plant-based polymer (Alkali lignin) is applied for incorporating with porphyrin to achieve the rapid heavy metal sensor function and photoluminescence enhancement in high water fraction environment by a simple one step synthesis process. Lignin-porphyrin polymer demonstrated remarkable performance and represent a significant outlet of biorefinery and effective utilization of lignin to fabricate a new generation of functional advance material. It could offer significant benefits to support waste valorization and water industry.
Pt-free heterostructured catalyst for efficient water splitting for hydrogen and oxygen production at a lower cost
We developed nanostructure catalysts for water splitting for hydrogen and oxygen generation. Instead of using expensive Pt-based catalyst, we synthesized heterostructured CoP@a-CoOx plate, consisting of the embedded crystalline cobalt phosphide (CoP) nanoclusters and amorphous cobalt oxides (CoOx) nanoplates matrix, through a combined solvothermal and low temperature phosphidation route. The CoP nanoclusters and the CoOx nanoplates showed synergistic effect due to the strong nanointerfaces electronic interactions between CoP and CoOx phases. This composite material exhibits very high oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity and good hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity, which are comparable to IrO2 OER catalyst and Pt/C HER catalyst. In an alkaline condition, water splitting for H2 and O2 production is achieved at a relatively low voltage of 1.66V at 10mA/cm2 for continuous 30hours’ operation. The developed water splitting catalyst showed comparable performance with the expensive Pt and IrO2 catalyst but the cost is much lower and the performance is more stable than the expensive catalyst. The technology can potentially decrease the cost of hydrogen production and facilitate hydrogen fuel cell vehicle development, which in turn contribute to a smart and sustainable transport and smart city development.
A novel multi-jet polishing technology for ultra-precision freeform surfaces
Ultra-precision freeform surfaces have been widely applied in many fields such as aerospace, photonics, optics, biomedical, etc. However, the low polishing efficiency of fluid jet polishing (FJP) adversely affects its application in polishing large-sized components or components made of difficult-to-machine materials. Hence, a multi-jet polishing (MJP) technology was developed which attempts to largely boost the polishing efficiency, while maintaining good surface quality. The MJP makes use of an array of orifices which are designed to be integrated into one multi-jet polishing nozzle which can work under either integrated polishing mode or discrete polishing mode. In integrated polishing mode, all jets have the same fluid pressure, and the jet array is considered to be a large polishing pad to boost the polishing efficiency. In discrete polishing mode, the pressure of each jet is controlled independently, which can implement curvature adaptive polishing of multi-regions simultaneously. The MJP further extends the application of abrasive water jet machining to medium- to large-sized surfaces. On the other hand, the poor surface quality of 3D printed surfaces is one of the critical factors limiting the development of 3D printing technology. The MJP has great potential to be applied for the post-process finishing of 3D-printed components.
Geopolymer foam concrete
The technology details a new method to fabricate lightweight, high strength, acid- and fire-resistant geopolymer foam concrete by using a mixture of surfactants (foam stabilisers) through wet processing. The method has been developed based on the fundamental understanding of how surfactant polarity and stabilisers affect foam-ability, foam-stability, its interaction with cement slurry as it is mixed, and how these factors affect porosity, pore size, mechanical strength, and durability of the formed concrete. Specifically, the process involves preparing an aqueous foam by entraining air into a surfactant mixture and polysaccharide thickener composition. The foam is then mixed with a geopolymer slurry to form a geopolymer foam that can be cured to form the geopolymer foam concrete. By controlling the ratio of surfactants with the polysaccharide gum, foam-stability can be maximised resulting in uniform porosity and optimal pore size which allows the formed geopolymer concreate to observe a good balance of insulation and mechanical strength.
Resonance Imaging Microscopy
RIM technology uses scattered light to provide rapid online imaging and measurement of particle with varied size and shape ranging from hundreds of microns to tens of nanometres. By collating single-particle measurements, statistically representative shape descriptions and particle size distributions are obtained with a speed comparable to conventional image analysis (viz. on the time scale of seconds/minutes via real-time analysis). Minimal sample preparation is required, and particles may be freely diffusing in solution, or deposited onto a surface. RIM technology also operates over an unparalleled range of length scales spanning from the nanometre to the millimeter regime; this means that for large objects traditionally measured using video microscopy RIM technology can offer superior precision, while no other combination of techniques currently exists to deliver equivalent functionality on the sub-micron length scale.
Micro-spectrometer fishnet array
The design is based on nanostructured, high-refractive index doped-semiconductor substrate. Standard nano-lithographic techniques are used to create arrays of vertical dielectric slab waveguides. The nanostructure with a mesh or fishnet-like pattern enables the responsivity spectra of the silicon photodiodes to be engineered. This has been demonstrated by the reconstruction of light illuminating the array and measuring the photocurrents across the fishnet pixels and its responsivity spectra. By tailoring the width and period of each waveguide array it is possible to control the guided-mode dispersion to maximize the absorption of light at a particular wavelength. As such, the array can be engineered to the desired responsivity spectrum.
Geopolymer foam concrete
The technology details a new method to fabricate lightweight, high strength, acid- and fire-resistant geopolymer foam concrete by using a mixture of surfactants (foam stabilisers) through wet processing. The method has been developed based on the fundamental understanding of how surfactant polarity and stabilisers affect foam-ability, foam-stability, its interaction with cement slurry as it is mixed, and how these factors affect porosity, pore size, mechanical strength, and durability of the formed concrete. Specifically, the process involves preparing an aqueous foam by entraining air into a surfactant mixture and polysaccharide thickener composition. The foam is then mixed with a geopolymer slurry to form a geopolymer foam that can be cured to form the geopolymer foam concrete. By controlling the ratio of surfactants with the polysaccharide gum, foam-stability can be maximised resulting in uniform porosity and optimal pore size which allows the formed geopolymer concreate to observe a good balance of insulation and mechanical strength.
Rapid method to improve cardiovascular disease diagnosis
The technology describes a diagnostic tool for cardiovascular disease (CVD) which combines imaging and computational modelling to derive coronary physiological indices for improved clinical decision making without the need for invasive wires. The tool is a rapid evaluation system which enhances CVD diagnosis and enable individualized clinical decision making. The system combines proprietary computational process with data obtained from angiography and intravascular optical coherence tomography to provide physiological information – including the location and size of heart damage, the coronary artery’s fractional flow reserve (FFR) and endothelial shear stress – in more detail than existing methods. Processing can be executed on a personal computer within minutes. In addition, the physiological information can be overlaid on 3D graphical representations of the coronary vessel in question, which can then be incorporated into existing diagnostic tools, allowing for more holistic interpretation by clinicians. Proof-of-concept using patient data has demonstrated the method’s validity. A comparison of the method to standard tools for measuring FFR, which require the use of invasive physical wires, found no difference in sensitivity.
Super-elastic graphene foams with extraordinary physical properties
Graphene is extremely tough, flexible, light-weight, and conductive. These unique characteristics make graphene a useful substitute for existing materials in applications including conductors, composites and sensors. Currently, commercial adoption of graphene is limited by manufacturing processes that are unable to mass-produce defect-free graphene cost-effectively. The method described circumvents the need to produce defect-free graphene and does not compromise the superior properties graphene endows. The method controls the 3D structure of bulk graphene materials, thereby extending the range of properties and applications of existing bulk solids, including flexiblility and broad sensing capability. The method is a simple, world-first scalable freeze-casting method, which efficiently assembles graphene sheets at a structural level. Proof-of-concept studies reveal the foams have ultra-low density and retains structural integrity under loads < 50,000 times its own weight over 1000 loading cycles. Unlike commercial soft polymeric materials which can only measure frequencies up to 5 Hz, the graphene foams exhibit near frequency independent piezoresistive behaviours, and can conduct instantaneous and high-fidelity electrical responses to dynamic pressures with a broad frequency range (quasistatic to 2000 Hz). The foams have proven manufacturability for use as flexible sensors with promising application for ultra-high sensitivity broad frequency forces.
CZTS solar cell
The technology is a method for synthesizing CTZS nanoparticles. This first involves preparation of tin metal chalcogenide, by which two routes can be undertaken to form identical solutions. The redox route relies on pure tin and sulphur powders, and the dissociative route relies on tin sulphide. The aqueous chalcogenide solution cannot be stored for long periods due to a slow degradation reaction. The dissociative route had a significant slower rate degradation as compared to the redox route, and no other differences in the synthesis of the solution or resulting nanocrystals were observed. CZTS nanocrystals is then synthesized by mixing the chalcogenide solution with a combination of thiourea solution, Milli-Q water, zinc nitrate and cupric nitrate. The yield by mass was >95%. CZTS nanocrystals of different elemental ratios and concentrations can be synthesized stoichiometrically by the addition of different amounts of copper, zinc, and tin precursor solutions while maintaining 1.2-fold excess of thiourea to copper ions in solution. As-synthesized CZTS ink powders can be obtained by vacuum drying. Purified CZTS nanocrystal powders were obtained by adding ethanol or isopropanol as an antisolvent, centrifuging, disposing of the supernatant, and redispersing the precipitate in Milli-Q water and vacuum drying the precipitate.
A simple, energy and cost-efficient process to isolate oils and high value commodities from oil-bearing microbes including algal biomass
The ability to recover lipids and proteins from microorganisms (e.g. microalgae) is of increasing commercial interest due to the ability to produce these commodities without the need for arable land and fresh water. Commercial processes (wet and dry oil extraction and hydrothermal processing) for producing products from biomass are energy intensive, utilise toxic solvents and are costly. This limits exploitation to mainly nutraceuticals. To expand the value of algae to new markets, new cost-effective processes are required. The technology details a simple, energy efficient and cost-effective process which rapidly destabilises complex stable emulsions that result during algal biomass processing. This enables simple isolation of oils and proteins, which reduces costs, energy consumption and chemical contamination, while avoiding damage to high value proteins and lipids. Proof-of-concept studies validate the process. Key advantages of the process include, avoidance of toxic organic solvents for extraction, reduction in energy consumption due to the avoidance of thermal drying and solvent evaporation, and a demulsifier-free process which avoids high temperatures and added chemicals which can degrade proteins and lipids. Due to the simple, cost-effective, and scalable nature of the process, it is envisaged this technology can open new markets for algae, including biofuels and food.
Micro^3Plasma Source
A microwave induced plasma based on a microstrip split-ring resonator (MSRR) operating at atmospheric pressure. Devices are fabricated on commercially available 2.5 mm thick dielectric substrates with 9 µm thick copper coating on both faces. One face is machined or etched to generate a ring-shaped pattern and the other face is used as a ground plane. When microwave power is coupled into the split-ring resonator, the plasma is ignited in the gap region of the split ring. The plasma can be sustained with as little as 0.2W power input and 20-30V making it safe, long-lived and efficient. The design is resistant to electrode erosion, sputtering or chemical damage. To avoid contamination of the signal or electrodes, a layer of glass or other insulator can be placed between the electrodes and the plasma. The technology is simple, easily scalable and miniaturizable at low cost. Four potential application for such MSRR plasma devices are as follows: (1) use as an excitation device for a portable Optical Emission Spectrometer, (2) use an ionization source for portable Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometers, (3) as a source for plasma medicine and (4) as a source for sterilization of contaminated surfaces.
Skin friction sensor for real-world aerodynamics
A micromachined floating element array sensor that integrates floating shear sensors to detect shear stress (and thus skin friction) and a controller to provide error correction to shear stress from the effect of pressure gradients in the flow. This correction is determined numerically from the capacitance change measured using two or more laminar flow cells with different slot heights at different flow rates. This pressure gradient calibration method is protected by US Patent 9,964,476. It is the first shear sensor that can be calibrated for pressure gradients in high-shear (sonic/supersonic) flows. The system is small, factory calibrated, directional, rejects pressure gradient effects, and has direct electronic readout. It is easy to use, avoids errors from potential misalignment and not susceptible to particle or water impingement while offering higher resolution and range. It could significantly reduce cost, reduce cycle-time and improve accuracy of predicting the potential for major reductions in drag with new aircraft designs to achieve to produce substantial improvements in fuel efficiency (e.g. NASA Environmentally Responsible Aviation goals).
Making urine-odor-free absorbent products for people with adult/urinary incontinence
Current absorbent products for incontinence incorporate additives for odor control. Unfortunately, however, such compositions have proven ineffective in obtaining the full level of odor control desired in many applications. Unicus Pharmaceuticals, LLC has developed a patent-pending SENSEUO™ (Safe, Effective, Non-Toxic, and Spontaneous Elimination of Urine Odor) technology using urine odor eliminating material (UOEM) that would dramatically change the lifestyle of people who are suffering from adult/urinary incontinence. Disposable absorbents have been introduced back in the 1980s but until today no technology could address the related malodor of urine-exposed absorbents. Our novel technology addresses the root cause of the urine malodors which is a unique strategy and one of a kind invention. The potential new products based on our SENSEUO™ or incorporation of SENSEUO™ technology into the existing marketed products will address, for the first time, the malodor coming from urine-soaked absorbent products. This invention will have positive impacts in patients’ quality of life, in various healthcare and care facility settings, and for commercial industries that require large scale urine odor control.
Flexible wire-shaped lithium ion batteries
Prof. Skorobogatiy's laboratory has conceived a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that comes in the form of a flexible wire. The battery is composed of a steel-filled polyester conductive thread (SPCT) anode coated with Li4Ti5O12 and a SPCT cathode coated with LiFePO4 twisted together. A polyethylene oxide electrolyte surrounds the anode and the cathode. The fabrication of this battery is simple and inexpensive since: i) the materials used are standard and widely available and ii) the “dip&dry” manufacturing process is simple and scalable. All components are solid, including electrolytes. As a result, there is no risk of fluid leakage and a much lower risk of explosion and exposure to harmful chemicals. The proposed battery is therefore a very safe technology, thus opening the door to body-worn applications. Indeed, with a diameter of less than a millimeter, the battery can be integrated easily into the textile with a standard weaving machine. Furthermore, testing has shown that the proposed battery can sustain repetitive bending and recharging while maintaining its excellent electrical performances.
Non-Contact Heart Rate and Respiration Monitoring
The developed millimeter-wave (mmW) micro-Radar is able to continuously monitor heart rate and respiration rate simultaneously in a non-contact manner. The solution consists of two core inventions: the mmW self-isolated harmonic active radiator and the fundamental-and-harmonic dual-frequency Doppler radar system. The technology consists of both hardware and software. In its final form, the product will be a desktop or handheld device that can be used for non-contact/through-wall heart rate and respiration monitoring from static human objects from a distance in the range of a few centimeters to a few meters. The non-contact remote monitoring provides comfort and convenience for users, while also minimizing interferences with the user’s natural status. This technology has also robust signal accuracy even in the presence of device movement. The system components are contained in a small 1.5 mm 1.5 mm chip, which facilitates the integration of this technology into other devices. At present, many technologies have been developed for non-invasive and continuous monitoring of heart rate and respiration, but most of them (ECG, impedance, piezo-electric, and PPG) still require close contact to the human skin, while some of them (PPG and camera) are susceptible to the ambient lighting conditions
Graphene chalcogenides : a green synthesis method of functionalizing graphene
The proposed innovation consists of a method for functionalizing graphene in one step. This procedure does not generate chemical waste and allows better performance compared to other protocols reported in the literature. Graphene is functionalized with chalcogenides, negative ions formed from an element of the chalcogen family (O, S, Se, Te, Po, Lv). The link formed between graphene and chalcogenides in the protocol proposed here is a covalent bond, which gives homogeneous nanostructures. The reaction is carried out in an ampoule filled with an inert gaseous component. Graphen and sulfur, separated at first, are then heated and then mixed together for several hours. The resulting product is an interesting graphen-sulfur coupound with superior properties.
Gold-Silver Alloy Nanoprobes for Clinical Immunolabeling
ANPs strongly scatter light, such that quantification is then a simple matter of particle counting and can be automated through image analysis software. Furthermore, it is possible to control the color of the ANPs by controlling their composition. Thus, ANPs with different colors can target different markers simultaneously for multiplexed detection. ANPs offer a stable signal because they do not suffer from photobleaching. Moreover, the strong optical allows direct immunolabeling without the need for secondary antibodies such that the preparation time is significantly reduced and multiplexing should be free from cross-reactivity. The target application is immunolabeling of biopsy tissues for cancer diagnosis and personalized treatment selection. Different markers (proliferation markers, hormone markers...) have already been identified in correlation with specific treatments for number of high incidence cancers such as breast cancer and lung cancer.
Self-Driving Laboratories for Accelerating Materials Discovery
We have built “Ada”, the world’s first integrated self-driving laboratory for thin film materials discovery. Ada is automated, autonomous, and adaptable for a variety of materials systems. Advanced robotics and AI equip our self-driving platforms like Ada with the capacity to make, test, and learn from new materials on the fly. Leveraging automation in materials science enables higher research throughput, and AI-driven autonomy crucially facilitates more efficient exploration. Together, these strategies have the potential to revolutionize the R&D process: our self-driving laboratories will accelerate materials development over 10x relative to conventional approaches. Automation has already resulted in unparalleled advances in many fields; however, its implementation in materials science is in its infancy due to complexity of laboratory workflows and challenges associated with the integration of material synthesis with analysis. The limited equipment options that are commercially available for automating materials development have long lead times, and these units are customized for a very specific and fixed experimental workflow. Our approach embraces versatility, and allows for rapid and ongoing design and implementation of flexible hardware and software. A video of Ada in action after only 6 months of development can be viewed here: https://bit.ly/2CUjhwg.
Symmetric Redox Flow Batteries for Economically-Viable Grid-Scale Energy Storage
This technology is a novel manganese nitride phthalocyanine motif, which is based on an inexpensive phthalocyanine ligand and behaves as a multi-electron symmetric charge carrier and can access a wide range of charged states which remain chemically inert. The key advantage of the charge carrier is that it removes the issue of membrane crossover, which solves a common problem with existing RFBs, and allows for a simple porous separator to be used in lieu of a costly ion-exchange membrane. The complex has excellent physical and chemical properties for flow battery applications and a tunable aromatic periphery providing a handle to modulate solubility and impart additional chemical/physical properties without affecting the core electronic properties. The complex is applicable to renewable energy and grid-level energy storage systems. Its unique advantages have great potential in developing energy storage systems and Redox Flow Batteries (RFBs) at a lower cost, which makes it well suited for widespread commercialization.
High Pressure, Laser Floating Zone Crystal Growth Furnace
Using the floating zone technique, this technology allows wider range of materials to be produced compared to any commercially available furnace. The technology would increase the pressure range up to 1000 atm, while the existing highest pressure available is 300 atm, which opens up new compounds to materials research since it allows for the growth of crystals of highly-volatile components and components that only form under high-pressure conditions. Examples of materials include volatile precious metal oxides, alkali metal containing materials such as high performance cathode compounds, and nitride systems which sublimate or decompose at low growth pressures. Moreover, the use of lasers with optical focusing allows for extremely small hot zones, the sharp heating gradients of the sample is advantageous for the growth of volatile compounds and small-diameter (2-3mm) samples. Optical floating zone furnaces are widely used in the materials research community. This transformational technology would be extremely helpful in conducting materials research, which would potentially lead to more groundbreaking findings and research in the industry.
Colloidal Lithography-Enables Creation of Metasurface-Integrated MicroLEDs and Devices
This technology enhances and controls directional light emission in Light Emitting Diodes. Existing incumbent cavity reflector technology in light-emitting devices is the Distributed Bragg Reflector (DBR). However, a DBR introduces significant thermal transport problems and has a bulky structure when integrated into micron-scale LEDs. Metasurfaces, which are compact optical structures, are able to manipulate the wavefront of incident light through precise phase control, enabling deflection, focusing, reflection, and/or absorption of light. This technology is more compact and versatile than its competitors. With its unique scalability, reliability and range of pattern dimensions, it solves current limitations in existing lithography.
Controlled Photoelectrochemical (PEC) Etching for Small III-Nitride LEDs and Other Light Emitting Devices
What is transformational about this technology? How is it different from existing technologies? What is the potential impact on industry, markets and society? For future high density, near-eye, flexible, and transparent displays, there is a need for much smaller light emitting devices, or pixels, with lateral dimensions in the micron to sub-micron length scale regime. However, the PEC etch technique for removing the device from the native substrate, in its current, industrially-used form, is not suitable for such small devices because it generates roughness and removes large portions of the device material, which severely degrades performance and often renders small LED devices inactive. This technology uses selective PEC etching parameters, namely low etchant concentration and/or etching temperatures, to slow down etching in certain directions. This reduces roughness length scales and renders smooth the surfaces of c-plane-based nanoLEDs or other optoelectronic devices while releasing these devices from their growth substrates.
Hydraulically Actuated Textiles
This technology enables the potential for wearable muscles. For those lacking mobility or function could be life-changing. Previous actuator robotic technologies were too rigid and unable to apply and modulate high levels of strain. However, this technology offers a soft, planar, actuator controlled by the flow of hydraulic fluid in elastic fibers that can withstand and modulate high levels of strain. Unlike other technologies using potentially explosive gases, this one employs the use of hydraulic fluid to ensure that the devices remain safe for contact with humans, even when high forces or pressures are applied. Experiments also reveal that these soft actuators can effect strains approaching 100%, with forces that can be readily scaled according to application requirements. As it can be both flexible and responsive, unlike many other compression technologies, it has potential applications in healthcare applications to produce active compression. This technology is easily fabricated using a large variety of materials, is flexible and can apply a wide range of strains which allows it to address needs in numerous fields including wearable robotics, wearable computing, healthcare, and technical apparel.
Unidirectional Photoluminescence with GaN/InGaN Quantum Well Metasurfaces
This nano-patterned GaN/InGaN quantum well metasurface exhibits high unidirectional photoluminescence and can be used for the development of compact light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with highly directional emission. This invention redirects light in a unidirectional manner by using independently excited incoherent spontaneous emission from InGaN quantum wells from within each GaN resonator. It ensures highly polarized and unidirectional emission, which breaks the inherent symmetry of the nanostructure. This invention may be a breakthrough in the development of LEDs with its unique advantage that allows for efficient implementation in display and lighting devices. Currently, there exists technology to efficiently collect and collimate the light coming out of the LEDs; however, it is diffused and requires external bulk optical components. This technology solves the current limitations through its enhanced efficiency and compactness.
Tunable Graphene-Based Method for Detecting Mid-Infrared (IR) Radiation
UCF researchers have invented a low-cost method that can enable ultrafast, tunable mid-IR detection and imaging without the need for expensive and complex cryogenic cooling. The novel graphene-based method paves the way for multi-spectral imaging in the mid-IR domain, which is not available in current technologies. Companies can use the invention for IR detection and imaging in the 3-5 µm range band and the 8-12 µm band for areas such as space exploration, spectroscopy, chemical/biological identification, short-range communication and remote sensing. Current mid-IR detection and imaging systems (both cooled and uncooled) have drawbacks. For example, cooled IR detectors can achieve the high sensitivity needed to detect mid-IR photons, but they require expensive cryogenic cooling to do so. Uncooled detectors are more cost-effective, but they suffer from low sensitivity, slow response time, and require tedious, multi-step complex lithographic processes. More importantly, both types of mid-IR detectors today lack frequency tunability, since they are all single pixel (bucket) detectors that generate an integrated signal. This results in a loss of multi-spectral IR detection and imaging information. The UCF invention overcomes all of these drawbacks and limitations.
Low-Cost Manufacturing Process For High-Performing Intermediate Band Solar Cells
UCF researchers have invented a novel additive manufacturing system and methods for thin film fabrication specifically useful in fabricating higher performance solar photovoltaic (PV) cells at a fraction of the cost of traditional PV cell manufacturing methods. A manufacturer can use the invention to produce a thin film based IBSC and structural arrays or to realize quantum dots, narrow lines and thin films. The technology was developed to manufacture flexible electronics using nanoparticles. The deposition of semiconductor material nanodots in a rapid manner will allow the fabrication of new architecture optoelectronic devices such as conformal solar cells. For the thin films, the laser electrospray printhead operates in a steady cone-jet mode to deposit micro-droplets of nanoparticles onto glass or flexible substrates, such as polyimide plastics. For the structural arrays, the electrospray uses microdripping as well as the cone-jet spray mode to fabricate micro‐ and nano-dot superlattices. Rapid heating and cooling, inherent in laser processing, enables the system to heat a thin layer of materials without melting the substrate. Thus, the technology offers an advantage over other deposition techniques, especially for making solar cells on plastic substrates.
Biomimetic Light Harvesting Design for Heterojunction Solar Cells
This invention is a biomimetic light trapping scheme for ultrathin flexible graphene silicon Schottky junction solar cells. An all-dielectric approach consisting of lossless silica and titania nanoparticles is used for mimicking the two essential light trapping mechanisms of a leaf- (a) focusing and waveguiding and (b) scattering. The light trapping scheme uses two optically tuned layers and does not employ any nanostructuring of the active silicon substrate, thereby ensuring that the optical gain is not offset due to recombination losses. Complete decoupling of the optical and electrical systems is achieved enabling independent optimization of the light trapping scheme. The ratio of the nanoparticle diameters of the two optical layers plays a crucial role in achieving advanced light management, which is omnidirectional, polarization independent, and more pronounced in the high wavelength regime. The optimized light trapping scheme also requires a silicon absorber thickness to maximize the absorption of the incident solar spectrum and a power conversion efficiency of ~9% is achieved in 20 µm ultrathin absorber. The solar cell characteristics remain unaltered for 103 bending cycles for a bend radius as low as 3 mm demonstrating the durability and reliability of the fabricated device.
Eggshell particle reinforced biomaterials for biomedical applications
Eggshell particles are typically evaluated as animal waste and discarded. However, inventor has found unique applications of chicken eggshells when combined with hydrogel-based materials and used them in fabrication of new biomaterials. Inventor has developed a new class of hydrogels using chicken eggshell particles: - Made from micron-sized crushed eggshell particles combined with hydrogels. - Designed for use in many applications of tissue regenerative use, including where current methods fall short. - Synthesized using photo-crosslinking with UV light to create a homogeneous solution. These hydrogels have outstanding tunability in physical, chemical, and biological properties, and have significantly improved properties for biomedical applications. These biomaterials support tissue formation and regeneration and are suitable for biomedical applications related to mineralized tissues such as bone, cartilage, tooth, and tendon. Re-using animal waste, inventors have created unique and valuable biomaterials for tissue regeneration and are able to address some of the major limitations of the existing biomaterials.
Fiber-Optic Based Pressure Sensor
The UML invention enables an optical fiber pressure sensor to meet medical requirements. The invention has developed the process to directly bond a thin silica diaphragm to the end of an optical fiber under high temperature with no epoxy involved. A silica diaphragm can be thermally oxidized with strict control from 0.1 μm to 10 μm. The cavity can be fabricated by chemical etching. Bonding can be achieved by laser bonding, electrical discharge fusion bonding, flame fusion bonding, etc. The fabrication can be optimized on the MEMS fabricated chip for a cost-effective batch process. Applications Medical Device Industrial: Cardiac/angioplasty Liquid/well pressure measurement Catheters Automotive/machinery diagnostic
Printed Electrical Connector Using Additive Manufacturing Technology
Dr. Craig Armiento and Dr. Alkim Akyurtlu from UMass Lowell have designed an electrical connector that is capable of being manufactured using current additive manufacturing technologies. The printed electrical connector design is comprised of a top plate and bottom plate, both including a plurality of conductive traces. Both plates are printed using thermoplastic insulator material to form mechanical alignment features. The new printed connector allows for printed electrical and electronic devices and circuits to be manufactured and interfaced with other electrical and electronic devices and circuits. The design of such electrical connector will allow the connector to be consistent with the desired form factor (flexible, wearable, or conformable) of the circuits and make the printing circuit technology more feasible. Applications • Printed electrical/electronic circuits & devices • Healthcare industry • Media industry • Transportation industry • Aerospace industry
Early Stage Cancer Detection Using Laser-Induced Breakdown and Machine Learning
LIBS is the optical emission spectroscopy of a highly ionized gas (plasma) that can be produced by focusing an intense laser pulse on a target. UML researchers have shown that the LIBS method of cancer detection can be used to screen fluid cells in the same way it is used for tissue samples. They have shown that LIBS alone is not sufficient enough to accurately detect cancer, but when combined with machine learning it can be a viable procedure. They have also optimized the choice of substrate for LIBS for various diseases. Using machine learning methods, the team measured accuracy of up to 96% when discriminating between cancerous and healthy cells in mice with little preparation was needed for the tested samples. Applications • Detection of cancerous blood cells such as: - Epithelial Ovarian Cancer - Melanoma - Other asymptomatic cancers • Urinalysis to detect UTI’s and other infections • Spinal fluid tests for the detection of Alzheimer’s disease • Saliva analysis for lung and oral cancers • Blood sample testing for cardiovascular diseases
Nano BST - A Novel Ferroelectric Ink for Flexible Electronics
Nano BST is a new 3D printable ink composed of a composite of Barium Strontium Titanate (BST) particles and a polymer. The dielectric properties of the ink can be tuned based on the alloy composition (Ba-Sr-Ti) and size of the BST particles. These factors allow tuning without requiring high temperature sintering or annealing step. These inks can be used to process at extremely low temperature on flexible (or rigid) substrates using additive (printing) technologies. The tunable dielectric composite is made by suspending nano-sized particles of BST in a thermoplastic polymer, namely Cyclic Olefin Copolymer (COC). After printing with the ink, only a light curing process is required at temperatures below 200°C, thus allowing fabrication on flexible, plastic substrates. This allows for realizing an all-printed high-frequency voltage variable capacitor on a flexible substrate to be used in tunable RF and microwave applications such as phased array antennas, conformal antennas, and tunable frequency selective surfaces. Applications: - Fully printed, high frequency, electrostatically variable capacitors (varactors) - parallel plate (MIM) or In-plane - Fully Printed RF and Microwave devices like Tunable phase shifters; Frequency-agile Frequency Selective Surfaces (FSS); Phase Array Antennas; Adaptive and reconfigurable antennas; Voltage controlled Oscillators (VCO)
Alternate Precursor for Carbon Fiber (CF) Formation
The invention proposes an alternate precursor for CF formation using Polyparaphenylene (PPP). PPP is a rigid-rod linear polyaromatic polymer containing only C and H atoms. Using PPP as a precursor for CF production will: (i) eliminate the need for an oxidative stabilization stage, due to the high thermal stability and rigid-rod, polyaromatic structure of PPP, (ii) simplify the carbonization and graphitization steps, resulting in a faster and less-energy intensive manufacturing process, and (iii) potentially result in a higher grade CF. Currently, PPP is synthesized in small quantities and not produced in fiber form. However, PPP is known to have high strength and excellent thermal stability. In this novel process, obtained PPP fibers were carbonized by pyrolysis under inert atmosphere to form CFs. - Fibers pulled out from pre-PPP polymer melt using glass micropipette and placed on quartz glass slides - Aromatization of pre-PPP fibers to from PPP fibers occurred in inert atmosphere - Carbonization of PPP fibers to form CFs
Toughened Isotactic Polypropylene
Isotactic polypropylene (iPP) is intrinsically brittle under fast load or at low temperatures, limiting its use as a high-performance engineering plastic. Past attempts to improve toughness through compounding or blending with rubber have been most effective at high rubber content (>20 wt%) which significantly reduces other mechanical properties and optical clarity of the final material. This new technology imparts toughness while maintaining desired mechanical properties and optical clarity. Low concentrations of hydrogenated styrene/butadiene diblock copolymer are added to the isotactic polypropylene to improve toughness. By simply melt-blending these copolymer agents with iPP, impact strength and toughness of the blend dramatically improves. Because the diblock copolymers are rubbery in nature and designed to disperse into 200-500 nm droplets during melt blending, increased toughness can be achieved with low loadings (5-10% wt%), preserving high clarity and strength. Dispersion of copolymer droplets in the iPP matrix does not substantially increase melt viscosity so the modified iPP retains molding and melt blowing ability. At the same time, clarity of the modified iPP is retained because the copolymer is not melt blended into the iPP matrix. This technology could offer a new toughening agent for commercial iPP applications that require high impact strength.
Polylactose Prebiotic Dietary Fiber
Polylactose, a novel dietary fiber, shows great promise as a prebiotic additive to human food products, as a supplement, an animal feed additive and potentially a therapeutic drug. Created by polymerizing lactose (a component of dairy whey), polylactose is highly fermentable, and has a profoundly positive effect on the colonic microflora. Current prebiotic ingredients, fructans (fructo-oligosaccharide and inulins) and galacto-oligosaccharide, offer health benefits such as weight reduction and glycemic control. Preclinical studies of polylactose showed significantly reduced body fat, lowered plasma leptin concentrations, improved blood glucose control and reduced fatty liver at a dietary concentration where other prebiotics were ineffective. While viscous dietary fibers (i.e., guar gum and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose) may offer these benefits, their slimy/gummy texture is unpleasant to most consumers. Polylactose powder, on the other hand, should be very easy to incorporate into foods and can be manufactured at a reasonable cost.
Advanced, Cost Effective Propylene Separation
Propylene/propane separation is one of the most important, challenging and energy-intensive processes in petrochemical industry. The separation is traditionally performed by a highly energy-intensive, and therefore expensive, distillation process. It has been proposed that significant energy and capital cost savings are possible by replacing or combining the distillation processes with membrane separations. A new nanocomposite membrane shows excellent propylene/propane separation. The membrane consists of propylene-selective coordination compounds uniquely embedded inside a mesoporous oxide matrix. Previous propylene-selective membranes were made by forming a continuous membrane layer on the surface of a porous support, but these membranes are susceptible to mechanical damage during handling and operation and suffer from other stability issues. By creating a propylene-selective nanocomposite membrane with the membrane materials embedded inside a mesoporous oxide matrix, this first-of-its-kind nanocomposite membrane offers enhanced propylene separation performance and membrane stability at an expected lower cost than previous technology.
Minneapolis, MN
www.research.umn.edu/techcomm/
Booth: 109
Bio-based Process to Produce Acrylic Acid, Acrylate monomers and Propionic acid in High Yield
Acrylic esters are currently derived directly from acrylic acid produced from byproducts of ethylene and gasoline production. Use of bio-renewable starting materials is of key interest, and the technology presented here provides a viable route from bio-derived lactate esters to acrylic esters via a catalytic, two-step process. The synthesis can be done under neat conditions, avoiding the need for solvent, and takes place at just 80 degrees Celsius, a significant improvement over other methods that require temperatures higher than 250 degrees Celsius. This new, sustainable method synthesizes acrylic acid and acrylate esters starting from alkyl lactates. The method reacts alkyl lactate with carbon monoxide and ethylene in the presence of a palladium catalyst, resulting in catalytic hydroesterification of the alkyl lactates yields alkyl 2-(propionyloxy)propanoates. Pyrolysis of the alkyl 2-(propionyloxy)propanoates yields acrylate esters and propionic acid, and further hydrolysis of the acrylate esters yields acrylic acid. The synthetic method provides quantitative yields of the 2-(propionyloxy)propanoates, making it ideal for industry use, and the catalytic species can be generated in situ in both in the neat alkyl lactate and in organic solvent from inexpensive and readily available starting materials.
Minneapolis, MN
www.research.umn.edu/techcomm/
Booth: 109
Remediating Phosphate and Herbicide Contaminants in Water
A new absorbent technology simultaneously sorbs phosphate and phosphate-containing herbicides and pesticides (organophosphates, such as glyphosate-based herbicides) present in low concentrations typically found in agricultural runoff water and industrial wastewater such as cooling water. The technology is formed through hydrothermal carbonization of agricultural residues (e.g., corn stover), which results in a biomass-based hydrochar that simultaneously sorbs phosphate and glyphosate from water in a single, simultaneous and non-competitive step. BENEFITS AND FEATURES: - Simultaneously sorbs phosphate and phosphate-containing herbicides and pesticide - Effective on organophosphates, such as glyphosate containing herbicides - Absorbs low concentrations (e.g., as typically found in agricultural runoff water) - Economical manufacturing process: hydrothermal carbonization of agricultural residues results in a hydrochar - Potential to remediate algal blooms in agricultural run-off - Potential to remediate toxicity associated with exposure to low levels of herbicides and pesticides APPLICATIONS: - Filter medium for agricultural run-off water - Environmental applications (i.e., preventing algal blooms in agricultural run-off) - Public health applications (i.e., preventing toxicity associated with exposure to even low levels of pesticides)
Lipid profiling for early detection of pancreatic cancer
We performed the initial retrospective clinical study based on 365 patient blood samples of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and matched healthy controls, with the main focus on early stages (I-II) when the cancer is still resectable by surgical procedures. The study consisted of two steps: first “training” the system to recognize the lipid profile pattern of PDAC patients to create a clear distinction between cancer and healthy individuals, and then testing the results of that training. Cancer subjects including early stages were statistically differentiated from healthy controls with an accuracy 96-100%. Pancreatitis or diabetes mellitus did not influence the correct assignment. The whole methodology is based on accurate performance of multiple steps, including mainly the sample collection, storage, transport, and processing, followed by analysis using ultrahigh-performance supercritical fluid chromatography - mass spectrometry (UHPSFC/MS), followed by multivariate data analysis (MDA) of obtained absolute quantitative data for all the detectable lipids to create the comprehesive lipid profile (at least 51, but usually up to 500 or more lipid species). The method is suitable for high-throughput screening of the healthy individuals. 10,000 samples can be analyzed per year per 1 MS system and 1 operator. Further automatization could improve the performance.
Bismuth-based electrochemical desalination cells and desalination battery
The inventor group recently discovered that bismuth (Bi) can serve as an effective and practical chlorine (Cl) storage electrode. This is achieved through the use of a nanocrystalline Bi foam, which stores Cl ions in the form of BiOCl. Utilizing this innovation, the group was able to develop a practical desalination cell using Bi as the Cl storage electrode and readily available materials as the sodium (Na) electrodes. This cell requires an energy input for desalination, but during the reverse cycle (salination) the energy released can be utilized for any desired work, thus dramatically lowering the overall energy input required for the desalination cycle. Unlike other electrodialysis (ED) based desalination systems, this technology will operate at full efficiency regardless of the salt concentration in water. Using standard calculations to estimate operating voltage, the theoretical limit for this technology is at least 35x lower energy consumption than reverse osmosis (1kw/m3 vs 0.028kw/m3). This will enable ED to be a viable standalone option for seawater desalination or combined with RO in a hybrid process. Longer term, the Bi electrode technology could be used in a battery configuration to further reduce the net electrical requirement for desalination.
Liquid Crystal Detection of Endotoxins
A new test to detect endotoxin contamination of parenteral drugs. This test utilizes liquid crystals, as opposed to the current Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) test, which is derived from the blood of the horseshoe crab. Since the test is based on synthetic reagents, the test can be more replicable and more easily calibrated. The liquid crystal test is compatible with buffers and surfactants that would otherwise cause low endotoxin recovery (LER) issues. LER can lead to regulatory delays, including hold-times and post-marketing commitments The FDA has requested industry explore alternatives to the current LAL test.
Liquid Crystal Detection of Volatile Organic Compounds
This technology is a new sensor for volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The sensor operates by liquid crystals that change phases and colors upon contact with VOCs. These features allow the users to quickly see when recommended exposure levels have been exceeded. Traditional passive chemical sensors require sending samples for analytical testing, which increase the cost and creates a considerable lag time between exposure and notification. This technology can also sense aromatic VOCs, which are difficult to detect using electrochemical methods.
Aligned Nanotube Technology (ANT)
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are among the best semiconductor materials ever discovered offering dramatically greater efficiency, lower energy requirements, and less heat generation for a variety of electronic devices and biosensors. Aligned arrays of CNTs offer up to five times faster performance and consume less energy (roughly 1/5) than silicon transistors. In addition, aligned nanotubes (ANTs) will enable rapid and controllable change in a current signal traveling across it, leading to substantial gains in the sensitivity of biosensors and bandwidth of wireless communications. However, the enormous promise of these materials is only possible if the CNTs are purified and properly aligned. Addressing a twenty-year materials challenge, Dr. Arnold has developed the capability to extract semiconducting nanotubes from raw powders to create electronics-grade inks using removable polymer wrappers. Moreover, his team discovered multiple scalable, fluid-based techniques that deposit nanotubes as aligned arrays over large surface areas including a 4x4 in2 wafer. Using these methods, Dr. Arnold’s lab has demonstrated thin film transistors with mobility between 50 and 200 cm2V-1s. The lab has also created transistors with current density exceeding silicon and gallium arsenide.
Fabrication of Slippery Anti-Fouling Coatings on Flexible Catheters
Recent advances toward the design of so-called ‘liquid-infused surfaces’—materials fabricated by the infusion of oily liquid lubricants into chemically compatible surfaces—have enabled the development of new classes of synthetic and highly ‘slippery’ materials with robust anti-fouling properties. Unfortunately, existing liquid-infused materials do not completely inhibit microbial colonization, and fundamental questions remain regarding the long-term stabilities of these materials and the ability of microorganisms to adapt to or breach the infused liquid barriers. In addition, existing SLIPS cannot kill microorganisms and it remains challenging to fabricate SLIPS on the inner and outer surfaces of tubing, such as that needed to manufacture central venous or urinary catheters. We recently developed a strategy for the design of polymer-based SLIPS that both inhibit microbial adhesion and promote the sustained release of conventional antimicrobial agents. Our technology is based on SLIPS fabricated by the infusion of a hydrophobic liquid oil into nanoporous polymer multilayers fabricated by reactive/covalent layer-by-layer assembly. This advance permits the facile fabrication of these coatings on the surfaces of topologically complex objects, including the inner and outer surfaces of flexible polymer tubing used to manufacture indwelling catheters, and provides a matrix for the loading of active pharmaceutical agents.
Non-invasive blood glucose monitor
The non-invasive blood glucose monitor uses a technology called an optical bridge. The optical bridge uses the near-infrared wavelength range that includes the glucose absorption band at about 1620 nm. It sends two different wavelengths alternating in time into the earlobe, having the same extinction in the tissue background. One of the wavelengths is absorbed by glucose; the other is not. In order to separate the glucose signal from the background, the blood content of the sample volume is modulated by squeezing the sample. Almost all of the glucose is in the bloodstream. Without modulation, the glucose signal would be indistinguishable from the background. Signals are recorded while the blood content changes in the sample volume. A green wavelength measures the actual blood content independently. The ratio of the infrared differential change to the green change is the basis for the measurement. The method measures glucose in the bloodstream, which is of capital importance and which many other methods cannot do, as they are affected by the glucose in the interstitial fluid. The ultimate goal is a universal calibration that allows most people to use the device right out of the box.
Ultra high strength and lightweight components via scalable nanocrystalline alloy technology
The Veloxint technology exploits Hall-Petch strengthening to boost alloy properties by controlling grain structure at the nanometer scale. The Veloxint team uses technology platform developed at MIT to develop proprietary alloy compositions and industrial processes to create thermodynamically stable nanocrystalline structures, thereby locking in the exceptional properties derived from grain-size strengthening. These alloys can be made into high performance components via both conventional and advanced powder metallurgy approaches, such as press and sinter, metal injection molding (MIM) and additive manufacturing. While the Veloxint technology is a platform technology that applies to many alloy systems, the company is currently focusing on two alloy systems. Veloxint Hard Metal (VHM) alloys are among the hardest metals in the world. Their superior strength, toughness and elevated temperature performance offer unparalleled performance, productivity and value for a broad range of cutting and wear applications. Veloxint Stainless (VS) alloys offer some of the highest strength to weight and stiffness to weight ratio among engineering metal alloys. VS alloys empower designers and engineers to create and produce exceptional components with up to 50% weight and footprint reduction for a broad range of end use applications..
LiTell: Robust Indoor Localization Using Unmodified Light Fixtures
LiTell is a ready-to-use, easy-to-deploy indoor localization system that entirely relies on unmodified light fixtures and off-the-shelf smartphones to provide location-based services for a variety of indoor venues. LiTell utilizes existing fluorescent or LED lights as the sensing medium to overcome the reliability issues associated with radio- and motion-based localization techniques. Visible light provided by fluorescent and LED lights contains a characteristic frequency that varies from one light to the next. The characteristic frequency is not visible to the human eye, but exists in the following lighting mediums: • Tube fluorescents: Characteristic frequency is generated by the ballast • Compact fluorescents: Characteristic frequency is generated by the internal ballast • LED: Characteristic frequency is generated by the oscillating circuitry within the bulb Given an indoor environment, LiTell first conducts a fingerprinting procedure to map the indoor space using a light sensor to capture the characteristic frequency of each light. At runtime, a users smartphone camera captures an image of the light, determines the characteristic frequency, and looks up the database to fix its location. LiTell can reliably achieve decimeter of location precision, using either smartphone cameras or small light sensors.
Powerboard Smart Building Technology
The core technology, a paper-thin triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), produces electricity from the application of human movements applied to it. A typical one-square-inch of this nanogenerator can generate electricity of ~35V and ~0.4mA upon a finger tap. The generated electricity can be used as a sensing signal or can be used to charge low-power electronics. The size of the nanogenerator can be as large as tens of square feet due to the easy scalability of the fabrication process. This nanogenerator can be used as a renewable power source or a self-powered sensor in a wide variety of applications, ranging from green buildings, wearable electronics, to self-sufficient implantable medical devices. An initial application, which was the subject of a high profile demonstration at the UW-Madison student union, is a nanogenerator subfloor sensor mat (Powerboard) that integrates with standard flooring products to generate power and sense occupancy. By laying this Powerboard mat below standard flooring materials, acquisition and tracking of occupancy data can be readily achieved. Building owners adopting this technology can use the resulting occupancy analytics to better utilize working spaces, increase productivity, improve store layouts, and optimize traffic flow in public spaces.
Liquid Crystal Detection of Volatile Organic Compounds
This technology is a new sensor for volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The sensor operates by liquid crystals that change phases and colors upon contact with VOCs. These features allow the users to quickly see when recommended exposure levels have been exceeded. Traditional passive chemical sensors require sending samples for analytical testing, which increase the cost and creates a considerable lag time between exposure and notification. This technology can also sense aromatic VOCs, which are difficult to detect using electrochemical methods.
Efficient and Cost-Effective Hydrogen Storage and Release
The proposed LOHC system is based on an inexpensive and readily available group of compounds (piperidines) that can generate hydrogen gas during its conversion to a second group of compounds (pyridines), using a heterogeneous catalyst. The uptake and release of hydrogen is performed under mild conditions and using a single catalyst, and can be repeated with 100% yield. A hydrogen storage capacity of 5.3 wt% has been demonstrated and can reach 6.06 wt% with further adjustments. An example of a promising LOHC system is based on the N-ethylcarbazole molecule that exhibits a hydrogen storage capacity of 5.8 wt%. However, the disadvantages of that system include high pressure and temperature requirements, resulting in the degradation of the carrier, and the fact that the carrier is solid and expensive. Another disadvantage is the use of two different catalysts for the hydrogen uptake and release steps. Liquid to liquid LOHC systems based on inexpensive compounds with high hydrogen storage capacity using only one heterogeneous catalyst under relatively mild loading/unloading conditions that are compatible with existing infrastructure as presented here are not known to date.
Super-Tough Light Metal Matrix Composites
New composite materials based on lightweight metal alloys combined with inorganic nanopowders, exhibit supreme toughness among other excellent mechanical properties. Aluminum and magnesium alloys were combined with small amounts (up to 0.5 wt%) of tungsten disulfide nanopowder, using a conventional melt-stirring reactor, to form metal matrix composites. Despite the small amounts of added nanostructures, their addition led to remarkable improvements in the mechanical properties of the alloys. Surprisingly, both the tensile strength of the alloys and their elongation were improved by approximately 10-50% and 40-100%, respectively, consequently leading to increased fracture toughness as well. In addition, alloy hardness was significantly improved. For example, the yield strength, ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and ductility of aluminum alloy AA6061 reinforced with 0.2wt.% WS2 nanotubes improved by 15%, 21%, and 68%, respectively. Physical considerations suggest that the main mechanism responsible for the reinforcement effect lies in the mismatch between the thermal expansion coefficients of the metal and the nanostructures. The observed high specific fracture toughness may render the super-tough light metal matrix composites advantageous in various critical applications in the automotive and aerospace industries, both in casting and wrought alloys.
Novel CNT Hybrid Films Used as Porous Electrodes
A new hybrid carbon nanotube (CNT) dispersion and self-assembly platform developed by a group of researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science, enables simple and large-scale production of CNT films. The technology utilizes readily available, hydrophobic perylene diimide derivatives as the base component for the production of organic nanocrystals (ONCs) that are later dispersed at different CNT/ONC ratios, to form adjustable films. While known methods for the formation of CNT films are both complicated and costly or are hampered by the qualities of the material, causing conductivity reduction, the new suggested technology is simple and potentially cost-effective. In addition, the films preserve the high electrical qualities of the original CNTs, show high mechanical and thermal stability and can be integrated into existing platforms, such as porous electrodes, with an easily adjusted pore size. Films prepared in this method were recently efficiently incorporated into perovskite solar cells to replace gold electrodes and resulted in a dramatic increase in cell photo-stability. The CNT films are also expected to improve the electrical and environmental properties of batteries and super-capacitors, which will enable their utilization in rapidly increasing markets requiring higher-energy and power density electrodes.
Photovoltaic Devices Based on Guided Nanowire Arrays
Most nanowire-based photovoltaic cells and photodetectors are based on vertical arrays, which can only be integrated in parallel (not in series), limiting their open-circuit voltage to less than 1V, whereas the voltage necessary to power certain devices can be several volts or more. Current nanowire technologies also lack compatibility with existing platforms, primarily with silicon technology. This new nanowire technology achieved through a novel method for guided planar nanowire growth enables fabrication of high voltage photovoltaic cells necessary to power a variety of microsystems by in-series nanowire integration. Moreover, such cells can be integrated with other systems on the same chip. To date, a voltage of 2.5V was already obtained by integrating four CdS-Cu2S core-shell, one-dimensional nanostructure cells connected in series. This technology enables photovoltaic integration into autonomous microsystems, higher solar energy utilization, and expansion of photovoltaic cell applications. Additionally, this technology is silicon-compatible and can, therefore, be easily integrated into existing silicon-based platforms. With the growing need for systems allowing renewable energy harvesting, and ever-increasing performance demands – such as speed, efficiency, size, and lower cost, an efficient nanowire-based photovoltaic technology can be of high value and is applicable in a variety of market sectors.
Cost-Effective Desulfurization System to Eliminate SO2 Emissions from Fossil-Fuel Fired Plants
Despite an increase in alternative energy sources, coal remains the most prominent energy source accounting for about one-third of the world’s energy consumption, with a stable long term growth. According to a 2017 report by the USA EIA, coal remains the largest electricity generation source in the US and a prominent energy source in the APAC region. Existing technologies for SO2 capture from coal-fired plants have not changed in nearly 40 years, consequently, thousands of metric tons of gypsum contaminated with multiple compounds are produced for every year from each single FGD unit. The presented technology aims at converting SO2 from a fossil-fuel flue-gas emission into useful output, via a reduction chamber, which utilizes a carbonate eutectic melt as the reaction medium. The novel system selectively recycles SO2 into useful sulfur-based compounds. This procedure can also be applied to generate elemental sulfur, an inert and non-toxic compound which can be stored long-term until required for further use. The technology presented here promises to be significantly more efficient and environmentally sustainable as it may provide the versatility to choose the final product – either sulfuric acid or elemental sulfur rather than creating waste streams typical to existing FGD systems.
Recycling of Platinum Group Metals and Gold Via an Efficient Process With No Toxic Byproducts
Current methods for recycling of gold and platinum group metals (PGM) from electronic waste and spent industrial and automotive catalysts include hydrometallurgical extraction, which generates massive quantities of hazardous waste, and pyrometallurgical techniques, which are inefficient as stand-alone processes - typically done within metal smelters. An additional extremely hazardous method is volatilization recovery, which employs toxic chlorine gas at high temperatures (typically 1,200 C). A safe method for the recovery of PGM and gold with low environmental impact, high selectivity, and requiring mild conditions, is thus extremely attractive. The proposed method is based on a reaction with chlorine-containing salts rather than pure chlorine gas, at relatively low temperatures. This safe, economically viable and environmentally friendly technology can have a high impact on many adjacent markets, as it allows for the recovery of PGM and gold from waste streams that, so far, have not been exploited for metal recovery due to numerous drawbacks of existing recycling technologies. This method has the potential to be easily industrialized at different scales and locations provides high recovered metal yields.
Miniaturized Zero-Power Flame Detectors for Ubiquitous Fire Monitoring
State-of-the-art sensors consume electrical power continually to scan the environment and process the data even when the signal of interest is not present. Our group has recently developed first-of-their-kind light sensors working in infrared (IR) spectral range that do not consume any power in standby. The sensor harvests the energy contained in the IR signal of interest to mechanically create a conducting channel between two electrical contacts without the need of any additional power source. IR radiation is everywhere around us: radiators, car exhaust fumes, fires and even human bodies, they all emit IR in different wavelengths. Our zero-power infrared (ZIR) sensors not only can detect the IR radiation without using power, but also differentiate between the IR sources through their emission spectrum. Therefore, an extremely low false alarm rate is guaranteed when the sensors are configured to detect a specific IR source. By leveraging the mature semiconductor manufacturing processes, our miniaturized sensors can be produced at high volume with very low cost per unit. Equipped with low-power and long-range wireless connectivity, the zero-power flame detectors based on our groundbreaking technology will enable ubiquitous fire monitoring in warehouses and the wilderness for several sectors.
