Award Data

Under this STTR program, QuesTek Innovations LLC (QuesTek), teaming with Prof. Yip-Wah Chung at Northwestern University (NU), proposes to develop a nanocrystalline coating technology to enable consistent superlubricity in engines by combining computational materials design approach at QuesTek and experimental prototyping at NU, with consulting services provided by Prof. Christopher Schuh at Xtalic ...

This project focuses on the development of computational tools for the multiscale simulation of engineered wood products under impulsive loading conditions resulting from blasts and impacts. The proposed computational tools are based on a multiscale model for wood that simulates failure mechanisms at the length scale of the wood cellular structure. The adopted fine scale model, entitled Connectors ...

The U.S. Army has a future need for multiple secondary high explosive compositions that can also be used interchangeably as rocket propellants. In this proposal we will discuss a method of preparing such compositions via advanced spray drying technology and involving the use of a highly insensitive spray dried nitramine or CL-20 composition which have been plasticized with an energetic polymer t ...

We propose to develop a systematic approach to identify and design infrared-absorbing colloidal quantum dots for high-performance infrared imaging. This effort will enable the advancement of compact, lightweight, and low-cost infrared systems that are deployable with dispensable unmanned drones for surveillance in contested environments, vehicles in low-visibility conditions, and soldier-mountable ...

Synclesis, Inc., and the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (UIUC) propose to investigate and assess the potential of a latency insertion method (LIM) based circuit simulator developed at UIUC to address a critical need to quickly and accurately simulate complex, non-linear circuits excited by time-varying frequency content waveforms. Compared to conventional matrix-based methods, LIM is s ...

Sivananthan Laboratories in collaboration with the University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Central Florida propose to model absorption in two dimensional materials and develop designs with structured materials for the amplitude modulation of emissivity. The optical simulations—with commercial COMSOL code--will be used in the calculation of the electric field distribution in the s ...

Rubber is pervasive in our economy, with over 50,000 products requiring natural rubber (NR), including military grade tires. Yet significant global shortfalls are projected. Rubber dandelion (Taraxacum kok-saghyz) produces natural rubber (cis-1,4, -polyisoprene) in root latex vessels (laticifers) almost identical to rubber from the tropical rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis). Problem: Cost-effective ...

It is here proposed to demonstrate AlGaN based solar-blind avalanche photodiodes and arrays operating in both linear and Geiger mode that would be suitable for replacing photomultiplier tube technology bio-agent detection, missile warning systems, and hostile fire identification. These objectives will be reached through a comprehensive R&D thrust in the areas of semiconductor material epitaxial gr ...

Natural fiber welding provides a unique strategy to impregnate fibers, threads, and fabrics with nanostructure materials such as MOFs. The procedure utilizes ionic liquids to slightly dissolve cellulosic structure of the material, making it loose and mobile. Then water is used to remove the ionic liquid, and upon the removal of the ionic liquid, the cellulose structures are comingled and bind to e ...

Nanoparticles represent an attractive alternative in coating processes due to their functional versatility, including surface, optical, conductive and catalytic properties. However, current processes of coating textile products with nanoparticles results in rapid loss of the nanoparticles during laundering or use, leading to a significant decrease in product durability and functionality and increa ...