Award Data

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 superlattice structures are created one layer at a time, in expensive processes. In the Phase I effort, Nan ...

The availability of the human genome and its potential in disease and health applications has spurred the development of novel methodologies in genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. These technologies represent an untapped promise in optimizing nutrition and diet for achieving optimal health and fitness levels. Defense-based programs stand to benefit highly from such initiatives because of the ...

Theoretical investigations and technology developments during last years have created new conceptual approach to design and build a new class of plasma wave electronics detectors of terahertz (THz) wave range. Terahertz radiation corresponds to the frequency bands of molecular and lattice vibrations in gases, fluids, and solids. THz detectors with higher sensitivity is urgently need for important ...

Traditional coatings used by the military to camouflage and protect aluminum alloys contain organic solvents (VOCs) and toxic metal corrosion inhibitors (chromates). Gases emitted during application and wastes generated when stripping the metal for recoating create hazardous working conditions and pollute the environment. Appliqués (thin film fluoropolymers with a pressure sensitive adhesive) pr ...

The dependency of United States military forward units on logistic fuels, such as JP-8, presents significant tactical and strategic disadvantages, as fuel shortages in times of heightened mission-criticality greatly burden operations. Reducing the logistic fuel dependency gap during these periods would result in marked tactical advantages for American forces. In this Phase I Small Business Techn ...

Abstract: Foster-Miller and the University of Pittsburgh propose to develop a new artificial oxygen carrier (OC) formulation with improved stability and tissue oxygenation performance for use in first echelon combat casualty care applications. In Phase I, they will demonstrate the feasibility of using structure-property relationships and computer-aided property prediction methods to develop impr ...

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) proposes to utilize 2 dimensional and 3 dimensional Metal Organic Framework (MOF) structures for the selective adsorption of small contaminant molecules from a hydrogen feed stream. These contaminants include carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, and ammonia. Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEM-FC), which are typically fueled by hydrogen, can suffer catalyst poisonin ...

Current methods for representing terrain data utilize standard metrics (least squares or maximum deviation) to generate an approximation of terrain surfaces. These methods typically represent the data through a piecewise linear (polygonal) surface which fails to capture the smoothness of the data and thereby creates undesirable artifacts. The result is a poor representation of the actual surface w ...

We have developed a novel type of military obscurant that is based on the fabrication of composite particles with precisely defined geometries. These particles have very high infrared extinction efficiencies with peak extinction wavelengths that are directly correlated to the major and minor dimensions of the particles. By combining populations of particles, obscurants clouds can be produced that ...

We have developed a cost-effective process to improve the dissemination of particle-based obscurants. Surface coatings with defined chemical properties improve the obscurant dissemination characteristics by reducing inter-particle binding forces. This encapsulation method protects the particles from structural damage incurred during processing and dissemination, thereby improving their functional ...