Award Data

ABSTRACT: In order to achieve precise guidance, navigation and control in re-entry vehicles, aerodynamic shape must be accurately known throughout the flight trajectory. For this Phase I program an ultrasonic-based technique for real-time, non-intrusive (5 KHz) measurement of recession during ablation will be developed. The system combines the elements of ultrasonic thickness gauging technology w ...

ABSTRACT: This proposal attepts to develop a new high efficiency process for conversion of carbon dioxide and water to syngas, as a first step in production of synthetic fuels. We have already demonstrated the conversion of carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide at over 80% energy efficiency. The objective of the proposed work is to extend the process so that we can also produce syngas. BENEFIT: I ...

ABSTRACT: The goal of this Phase I STTR project is to investigate the application of a new class of metallic nanoparticles exhibiting a star-shaped geometry (nanostars) for use as in vivo probes of chemical and biological warfare agents. In contrast to their more commonplace spherical cousins, particles with this novel geometry have recently gained interest due to their ability to focus and enha ...

ABSTRACT: To address the need for covert, transparent optical taggants, which can upconvert and downconvert greater than 100 nm when stimulated by either 830 nm or 1064 nm laser light, a series of wide bandgap doped metal oxide nanoparticles will be developed and demonstrated. In Phase I, lanthanide-doped core-shell nanocrystals will be fabricated that are sufficiently small (e.g.

In this proposal, we demonstrate fabrication and characterization of diamond nanoribbons, novel strain-modulated diamond nanostructures (SMDN). Such structures are generated by applying strain force on nano-patterned diamond film as the nanopatterns are transferred to a flexible substrate. Once the strain is released, the rigid diamond patterns are converted to highly ordered diamond nanoribbons. ...

The proposed project will undertake the research, design, and development of key concepts and technologies for a high-speed electronically tunable channel filter, based on monolithically integrated ultra-high-resolution super-compact grating (UHR-SCG) technology that has been developed in OptoNet. The grating will be realized on Silicon-Photonic Electronic-Photonic Integrated (EPIC) Platform that ...

A notable failure mechanism in thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) is the attack by calcium-magnesium-alumino silicate (CMAS) deposits resulting from the ingestion of siliceous minerals with the intake of air. Existing TBC systems such as yittria partially stabilized zirconia (YSZ) are highly susceptible to CMAS infiltration. In this STTR program, QuesTek Innovations LLC, a leader in the field of comp ...

This Phase I Small Business Innovation Research Project develops methods of recycling rare earth alloys from used nickel metal hydride batteries. Alloys of rare earth metal, nickel and other metals provide functional hydride storage materials that are critical to the operation of nickel metal hydride batteries and their applications. The current fleet of hybrid electric vehicles relies upon nick ...

Organophosphates cannot currently be analyzed in the field using existing technologies, due to insufficient sensitivity of currently fielded instruments. This inability reduces the number of analyses that a government agency can perform on a water supply to ensure its safety to humans and the environment. The objective of this Phase I effort is to design a novel strategy that preconcentrates org ...

Current anaerobic digester systems are designed for capturing energy from waste from large heads of farm animals. GHD, Inc., a leading manufacturer of anaerobic digesters, has stated that a minimum dairy heard size for economical implementation of a biogas system as 800 cows. These require turbine or diesel generator sets of 100 Kilowatt size and larger, a limiting factor in economically scaling ...