Award Data

"Fuel cell membrane electrode assemblies (MEA's) operating between 250 and 400 C will be optimized to utilize hydrogen (H2) fuel contaminated with methanol reforming side products. At this operating temperature, H2/CO equilibrium mixtures can be made byreforming liquid fuels, such as methanol-water mixtures. The proposed MEA structures are based on a proprietary hybrid electrolyte system that cons ...

ABSTRACT: Due to scarcity of spectrum, Dynamic Spectrum Access (DSA) becomes a needed technology to improve the utilization of electromagnetic spectrum for DoD satellite communication. However, current DSA approaches are developed for terrestrial communications without addressing the unique challenges for SATCOM environments such as error-prone spectrum sensing, high mobility, and large coverage. ...

ABSTRACT: The objective of this project is to move an energy efficient process for the conversion of carbon dioxide and water into syngas, a key feedstock for the production of synthetic chemicals. BENEFIT: If we are successful we will have a new process to convert air water and sunlight into transportation fuels. That will result in a domestic source of fuels that does not compete with the foo ...

"We propose to investigate the feasibility of using Avanti's self-aligning kinematic optoelectronic mounts for active 3-D RF/optoelectronic microstructures. We believe the unique benefit of our approach is the precision alignment of optoelectronic devicesfor coupling to the outside world (and layer-to-layer). This unique benefit is coupled with additional benefits of easy manufacturability, direct ...

Dramatic differences in the diffusivities of the constituents of novel thin film materials and structures limit material perfection under far from equilibrium growth conditions. We will develop a new light-mass ion source, compatible with the low pressurerequirements of molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), to provide selective enhancement of the motion of surface atoms. Helium or hydrogen ions incident ...

ABSTRACT: Living systems rely on pervasive vascular networks to enable a plurality of biological function, exemplified by natural composite structures that are lightweight, high-strength, and capable of mass and energy transport. In contrast, synthetic composites possess high strength-to-weight ratios but lack the dynamic functionality of their natural counterparts. CU Aerospace, with team partne ...

"Laser beam interactions with free shear turbulent structures in the context of a recessed cavity window will be investigated. The proposed program will investigate the aero-optic degradation of a laser beam, housed within the cavity, and its remediationusing high frequency flow control. Beam wander and displacement statistics, obtained via a Position Sensitive Detector (PSD), will be complemented ...

ABSTRACT: CU Aerospace (CUA) and team partner the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) propose to perform research, development and demonstration of experimental quenching free measurements of heat-release in a realistic highly turbulent plasma-assisted flame. Kinetics models will be correspondingly updated and detailed 3D multiphysics simulations will be validated by the measuremen ...

Two-electron reduced-density-matrix (2-RDM) methods represent all of the electrons in any molecule or material with only two electrons by replacing the wave function by the 2-RDM as the basic variable for quantum many-electron theory. The 2-RDM methods, developed by David Mazziotti at The University of Chicago with support from the Army Research Office, have polynomial scaling with system size, al ...

ABSTRACT: The innovation proposed is a computationally-tractable, physics-based, portable turbulent combustion modeling strategy for application to a wide range of Air Force aero-propulsive systems, including augmentors, liquid rockets and scramjets. This modeling strategy will be implemented within an Application Programming Interface (API) library suitable for easy integration within Air Force ...