Carbon nanotubes have tremendous potential in many applications, but are limited by their high cost. The cost is driven by two factors, the low process yield and the laborious purification procedures required by current synthesis techniques, DC dischargeand laser ablation. However, nanotubes… More

"Carbon nanotubes have enormous potential for applications in composites, batteries, and nanostructured devices. However, these applications will not become feasible until the material is produced in kilogram per day quantities. Compounding the problem isthe material's high cost, presently $500/g.… More

In January 2003, the US Army Natick Soldier Center awarded a Phase I SBIR contract to NanoLab, Inc. The main contract goal was to improve the toughness of boron carbide armor materials, through the addition of carbon nanotubes. To reach this goal, NanoLabconducted studies to determine suitable… More

Boron Carbide (B4C) was chosen for use as a ceramic ballistic protection system due to the beneficial combination of low density and high elastic modulus. These properties contribute to the performance characteristics of high hardness and high sonic valuethat defeats the incoming projectile. … More

Advanced fiber composites are fabricated by automated 3D weaving and braiding processes. These weaving processes use tows of micron diameter fibers, to create preforms for resin infiltration. The interaction between the resin matrix and the fibers can be potentially increased by creating nanoscale… More

Advances in thermoelectric materials are needed to broaden the application areas for these materials. Specifically, the figure of merit (ZT) for thermoelectrics must be increased. Some recent demonstrations show that nanoscale structures are the key to obtaining high ZT (>2). However, these… More

NanoLab plans to synthesize nanoparticles of Sb2Te3, Bi2Te3,Bi2Se3, silicon and germanium using established and experimental techniques that are applicable to large scale synthesis. We will investigate the rapid consolidation of these nanoparticles to form nanocomposites of Si-Ge, Bi2Te3-Sb2Te3… More

NanoLab, Boston College and MIT conducted a Phase I development effort in nanoscale thermoelectric composites. Our goal was to show that the high ZT obtained for quantum dot structures can also be obtained using scalable nanoparticle processes. The research focused on the synthesis of nanoscale… More

Many Navy aircraft platforms face the compromise between complete crew protection and diminished mission capability. NanoLab proposes a novel, lightweight aircraft armor solution that is easily manufactured, repairable and cost competitive. This is accomplished using a composite approach to the… More

This effort will culminate in the demonstration of a new class of antennas, to allow the coupling of RF signals with nanoscale devices and sensors. An antenna for RF must be millimeters long, and nanoscale in diameter, if it is to interact with nanoscale devices. The aligned carbon nanotubes grown… More

Carbon nanotubes, have extraordinary mechanical properties, but these properties are difficult to manifest in composites, due to their limited interfacial bonding, and therefore the inability to transfer loads from a polymer matrix. Chemical functionalization of the nanotube surface is required to… More

Over the past ten years, it has become increasingly clear that carbon fiber composites can replace more common engineering materials such as aluminum in weight critical, structural components, such as those found in missile systems. Nanoscale materials, such as carbon nanotubes, can impart superior… More

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): NanoLab is proposing to develop a new biomolecule delivery technique named nanospearing , based on its previously published work. DNA plasmids are immobilized on magnetically susceptible, needle-like nanostructures. Th ese needles can be magnetically accelerated… More

Over the past ten years, it has become clear that the high mechanical, thermal and electrical properties inherent to carbon nanotubes are not easily manifested in nanocomposites. The nanoparticle content that can be achieved in epoxy resin is limited to

The goal of the proposed STTR is to demonstrate the feasibility of using a rapid, automated spray layer by layer process, developed by the Hammond group in MIT's Department of Chemical Engineering, to create polyelectrolyte/carbon nanotube composites for Air Force applications at deposition rates… More

The subject of this proposal is the large scale production of carbon nanotube based composites, manufactured by the In-Situ Growth (ISG) process, which is being developed by NanoLab, Inc. In the ISG process, composites are made by the chemical vapor deposition of carbon nanotubes within a catalyzed… More

The Navy needs coatings that offer improved corrosion resistance compared to the current state of the art, and if these coatings can also offer tailorable conductivity, this would be a substantial benefit for some applications. Conductivity is essential for some components to serve their mission,… More

NASA faces difficulties in imaging and characterizing faint astrophysical objects within the glare of brighter stellar sources. Achieving a very low background requires control of both scattered and diffracted light. Aligned arrays of carbon nanotubes have recently been recognized as having… More

The maintenance of bearings and rod ends is critical for rotary and fixed wing aircraft. There is currently no indicator or feedback mechanism in place for the maintenance crew to determine the remaining life or state of the liner. NanoLab, Security Technology Systems, and New Hampshire Ball Bearing… More