Award Data

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will develop low-oxygen, nanometer-sized aluminum powders with a narrow particle size distribution to be employed in the anodes of lithium ion batteries. Specifically, this research addresses the need to process nanometer sized aluminum particles such that they do not spontaneously oxidize on contact with air or moisture so the particles may ...

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will scale-up a new technology for producing high-surface area tantalum powders for the electronic capacitor industry. The existing technology is over 30 years old and cannot keep pace with the needs of smaller electronics, which require tantalum particles in the nanometer size range. In addition, environmental factors are driving t ...

THIS PROJECT WILL TAKE AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARD THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTELLIGENT GENERAL PURPOSE ROBOTIC SYSTEMCAPABLE OF OBJECT LOCATION, IDENTIFICATION, AND MANIPULATIONTHROUGH THE JUDICIAL USE OF NON-VISUAL SENSING MODALITIES. CURRENTLY, ROBOTIC APPLICATIONS IN MANUFACTURING REQUIRE A HIGHLY STRUCTURED ENVIRONMENT SO THAT POSITION CONTROL OF THE ROBOT IS SATISFACTORY FOR THE TASK (E.G., PAINT ...

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will develop bottom anti-reflective coatings (BARCs) for production of advanced semiconductor devices by 157 nm lithography . The NSF Phase I technical objectives are to demonstrate the feasibility of potential technical approaches to workable 157nm BARCs. The prototype 157 nm BARCs will be produced and characterized for critical industry req ...

A NOVEL METHOD FOR STRENGTHENING CERAMICS AND ALLOWING STRENGTH RETENTION TO HIGH TEMPERATURE IS PROPOSED. THE PHASE I RESEARCH WILL DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF INTRODUCING SUBSTANTIAL SURFACE COMPRESSIVE RESIDUAL STRESSES IN ALUMINA, SILICON CARBIDE, AND SILICON NITRIDE USING A DIFFERENTIAL CREEP MECHANISM. THE PHASE II RESEARCHWILL OPTIMIZE PARAMETERS FOR CONTROLLING THE MAGNITUDE AND STRESS DI ...

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will develop a ceramic hydrogen fuel appliance (CHFA) using ceramic microreactor modules (CMMs) using a low-cost, net-shape manufacturing process, and a new material, that was developed in the Phase I project. The new material developed was demonstrated to have excellent capability for cost-effective microfabri ...

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will develop a ceramic hydrogen fuel appliance (CHFA) using ceramic microreactor modules (CMMs) using a low-cost, net-shape manufacturing process, and a new material, that was developed in the Phase I project. The new material developed was demonstrated to have excellent capability for cost-effective microfabri ...

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project is intended to demonstrate Surveyor Telescope for Atmospheric Research (STAR) as a viable real-time nighttime ozone monitor. STAR is reaching fruition as an atmospheric extinction monitor in support of other optical instrumentation. STAR can also be used for direct data collection by using the extinction properties of absorption lines and ban ...

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is focused on automating the identification of individual fish while eliminating mutilation. The project, named TNT ("the natural tag"), is directed at developing a new fisheries management tool using the latest image processing/pattern recognition technology, and it is based on the knowledge that natural marks on animals, specificall ...

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project proposes to develop transgenic crop plants exhibiting increased resistance to nematode infection and damage. Present strategies for dealing with nematode infections involve chemicals that are both toxic and environmentally hazardous. A transgenic solution has the potential to provide economic benefit to producers through improved yiel ...