InterNano Nanomanufacturing Repository
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Strain-Tunable One Dimensional Photonic Crystals Based on Zirconium Dioxide/Slide-Ring Elastomer Nanocomposites for Mechanochromic Sensing
No full textWe demonstrate the fabrication and performance of tunable, elastic organic/inorganic composite one-dimensional photonic crystals (1DPCs) in the visible spectrum. By controlling the composition of high refractive index metal oxide nanoparticle/polymer composites, a refractive index difference of 0.18 between the filled and unfilled polymer layers can be achieved while maintaining desirable flexibility and elasticity. This index contrast is achieved with a loading of 70 wt % zirconium dioxide nanoparticles within a slide-ring elastomer matrix, which is composed of topologically cross-linked polyrotaxane polyols. The large refractive index contrast enables high reflectivity while simultaneously minimizing the number of layers necessary, compared to purely polymer systems. Because the films are both flexible and elastic, these nanocomposite 1DPCs can function as colorimetric strain sensors. We demonstrate the sensing behavior of these 1DPCs by applying over 40% strain, resulting in a visible color shift across the visible spectrum from red to blue. 1DPCs of just 6 periods maintain reflectance of 40% throughout the visible spectrum, with a tensile mechanochromic sensitivity (Delta lambda/Delta epsilon(max)) as high as -6.05 nm/%
DNA nanostructures: a shift from assembly to applications
No full textThe specificity of DNA hybridization allows for the modular design of 2D and 3D shapes with wide-ranging applications including sensors, actuators, and even logic devices. The inherent biocompatibility of DNA and the ability to produce monodisperse structures of controlled shape and size make DNA nanostructures of interest as potential drug and gene delivery vehicles. In this review, we discuss several new approaches for the assembly of DNA nanostructures, advances in the modeling of these structures, and we highlight recent studies on the use of DNA nanotechnology for therapeutic applications such as drug delivery in tumor models
Large-Volume Self-Organization of Polymer/Nanoparticle Hybrids with Millimeter-Scale Grain Sizes Using Brush Block Copolymers
No full textWe report that an exceptionally large volume of highly ordered arrays (single grains) on the order of millimeters in scale can be rapidly created through a unique innate guiding mechanism of brush block copolymers (BBCPs). The grain volume is over 109 times larger than that of typical self-assembled linear BCPs (LBCPs). The use of strong interactions between nanoparticles (NPs) and BBCPs enables high loadings of functional materials, up to 76 wt % (46 vol %) in the target domain, while maintaining excellent long-range order. Overall, this work provides a simple method to precisely control the spatial orientation of functionalities at nanometer length scales over macroscopic volumes, thereby enabling the production of hybrid materials for many important applications
Large amplitude oscillatory shear rheology of three different shear-thickening particle dispersions
No full textWe present a large amplitude oscillatory shear rheology (LAOS) investigation of three different shear-thickening particle dispersions - fumed silica in polyethylene oxide (FLOC), fumed silica in polypropylene glycol (HydroC), and cornstarch in water (JAM). These systems shear-thicken by three different mechanisms - shear-induced formation of particle clusters flocculated by polymer bridging, hydrocluster formation, and jamming. The viscoelastic non-linearities of the three fluids were studied as a function of strain and strain-rate space through the use of Lissajous-Bowditch curves and local nonlinear viscoelastic moduli of an oscillatory shear cycle. The nonlinear behaviors of the three fluids were compared and contrasted to understand the nonlinear shear-thickening mechanism of each. Both HydroC and JAM dispersions were found to exhibit strong strain stiffening of the elastic moduli and strain thickening of the loss moduli behavior associated with possible hydrocluster formation and particle jamming. However, the FLOC dispersion, in contrast, showed strong strain softening and strain thinning behavior at large strain amplitudes associated with yielding of the microstructure. The expected thickening of the loss modulus of FLOC in LAOS with increasing strain was not observed even though viscosity of FLOC was found to shear-thicken in steady-shear measurements. This disagreement is likely due to very large strain amplitudes required for shear-thickening to occur by shear-induced polymer bridging mechanism. The hypothesis was confirmed through stress growth experiments. Conversely, the HydroC and JAM dispersions required relatively small applied strains for shear-thickening to occur by hydrocluster and jamming mechanism. The comparison of local intra-cycle nonlinearity through Lissajous-Bowditch plots and nonlinear viscoelastic parameters indicated that the elastic nonlinearities of all three systems are primarily driven by a strong dependence on the magnitude of the applied strain-rates within an oscillatory cycle rather than the amplitude of the applied strain. A close inspection of the LAOS data reveals strong differences in the viscoelastic nonlinearities of these three different shear-thickening dispersions which can be used to create a nonlinear rheological fingerprint for each and offers valuable new insights into the nonlinear dynamics associated with each of the shear-thickening mechanisms
Stakeholder Perspectives on Perception, Assessment, and Management of the Potential Risks of Nanotechnology
No full textThis report on "Stakeholder Perspectives on Perception, Assessment, and Management of the Potential Risks of Nanotechnology" is the result of the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) workshop held on September 10–11, 2013, in Washington, DC. The goal of the workshop was to assess the state of research progress in risk assessment, management, and communication as it aligns with the Risk Assessment and Risk Management Methods research area of the 2011 NNI Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) Research Strategy. The workshop was initiated and organized by the Nanotechnology Environmental and Health Implications (NEHI) Working Group of the Nanoscale Science, Engineering, and Technology (NSET) Subcommittee under the Committee on Technology of the National Science and Technology Council, with the assistance of the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office
Low-Power Heterogeneous Graphene Nanoribbon-CMOS Multistate Volatile Memory Circuit
No full textGraphene is an emerging nanomaterial believed to be a potential candidate for post-Si nanoelectronics, due to its exotic properties. Recently, a new graphene nanoribbon crossbar (xGNR) device was proposed which exhibits negative differential resistance (NDR). In this paper, a multi-state memory design is presented that can store multiple bits in a single cell enabled by this xGNR device, called Graphene Nanoribbon Tunneling Random Access Memory (GNTRAM). An approach to increase the number of bits per cell is explored alternative to physical scaling to overcome CMOS SRAM limitations. A comprehensive design for quaternary GNTRAM is presented as a baseline, implemented with a heterogeneous integration between graphene and CMOS. Sources of leakage and approaches to mitigate them are investigated. This design is extensively benchmarked against 16nm CMOS SRAMs and 3T DRAM. The proposed quaternary cell shows up to 2.27x density benefit vs. 16nm CMOS SRAMs and 1.8x vs. 3T DRAM. It has comparable read performance and is power-efficient, up to 1.32x during active period and 818x during stand-by against high performance SRAMs. Multi-state GNTRAM has the potential to realize high-density low-power nanoscale embedded memories. Further improvements may be possible by using graphene more extensively, as graphene transistors become available in future
Thermally Tunable Metallodielectric Photonic Crystals from the Self-Assembly of Brush Block Copolymers and Gold Nanoparticles
No full textFabrication of Functional Nanofibers Through Post-Nanoparticle Functionalization
No full textA facile method is developed to functionalize nanofiber surfaces with nanoparticles (NPs) through dithiocarbamate chemistry. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and quantum dots (QDs) are immobilized on the nanofiber surface. These surfaces provide scaffolds for further supramolecular functionalization, as demonstrated through the Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) pairing of QD-decorated fibers and fluorescent proteins
Grid-based matching for full-field large-area deformation measurement
No full textGrid-based measurement can facilitate metrology and inspection of flexible electronics manufacturing. Multiple fundamental difficulties, however, arise in the large-area and full-field deformation measurement of deformable grid patterns including noise, occlusions, and artifacts. This paper addresses one of the key issues in deformation measurement: the registration and matching of deformed grid patterns. The emphasis is on accurate and robust periodicity tracing registration and constellation matching algorithms for grid pattern fidelity. The registration algorithm uses deviation metrics in deformed grids to estimate global translation, rotation and scaling; the matching algorithm uses the constellation reference grid to mine buried deformed point patterns. Using synthetic data, the validity of the registration algorithm is proved by registering noisy deformed grid patterns with various distortion scales and transformations; the validity of the matching algorithm is proved by matching deformed grid point patterns with various distortion scales, extra point rates and missing point rates. Compared to established non-rigid registration and point pattern matching algorithms, our algorithms demonstrate higher speed, sub-pixel accuracy and robustness in the matching of highly-deformed and noisy grids. Published by Elsevier Ltd
Realizing the Promise of Carbon Nanotubes: Challenges, Opportunities, and the Pathway to Commercialization
No full textThis report is a summary of the discussions that occurred during the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) technical interchange meeting on “Realizing the Promise of Carbon Nanotubes: Challenges, Opportunities, and the Pathway to Commercialization,” held at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Headquarters on September 15, 2014. The goals of the meeting were to identify, discuss, and report on technical barriers to the production of carbon nanotube (CNT)-based bulk and composite materials with electrical and mechanical properties nearer the ideal, and to explore ways to overcome these barriers