BAND GAP ENGINEERED NANOMATERIALS FOR MISSILE SENSORS (02-214A)

"The far-UV radiations of the electromagnetic spectrum show enormous promise for a variety of applications ranging from extra terrestrial missile sensors to next-generation lithography. However, this region has not been utilized to any great extent so far,due to the absence of window materials that can transmit light of wavelengths below 125 nm. With nanotechnology being increasingly perceived as an important tool in band-gap engineering, Materials Modification, Inc. (VA) proposes to tap on its vast expertise in this field to fabricate novel materials that are transparent to far-UV. The goalthis STTR project in collaboration with the college of William and Mary, Williamsburgh, VA is to develop and commercialize nanostructured quantum dot based optics for the vacuum ultraviolet region. MMI has earlier developed cost effective processes forproducing and processing nanoparticles and these established techniques will be employed for the synthesis of far-UV-transmitting materials. Apart from use as window materials in extraterrestrial detectors for rogue missiles and rockets, there is also enormous commercial demand for far-UV transparent materials for future lithographic techniques2. Academic interests include UV-vis spectroscopyand ultraviolet astronomy."