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Material Measurement Laboratory

Projects/Programs

Displaying 426 - 450 of 569
Schematic of selective transport of water, ions, or molecules across a polymer membrane.

Polymer Membranes

Ongoing
We are developing and applying the following advanced tools to measure the structure, dynamics, and performance of polymer-based membranes and sorbents: Vibrational Spectroscopy We have developed a custom-built tandem quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), which measures total mass uptake of adsorbed

Polymer Property Predictor and Database

Ongoing
We aim to generate the data necessary for polymer informatics by developing information extraction pipelines to automatically extract polymer properties from the literature. We use natural language processing software (ChemDataExtractor) to extract both names of chemical entities and properties

Polymers for Next-Generation Lithography

Completed
We work closely with the semiconductor industry to develop and apply measurements with high-spatial and chemically-specific resolution to elucidate the critical materials properties and process kinetics at nanometer scales that are needed to advance next-generation photolithography, including both
Stylized illustration of a DNA molecule with associated figures that denote analytical measurements

Potential Primary Measurement Tool for the Quantification of DNA

Ongoing
The biotechnology industry relies primarily on absorbance and fluorescence methodologies to assess DNA mass. However, these measurements can be seriously compromised by impurities in the DNA preparations or state of the DNA itself. These techniques are also not traceable to the SI because the
Picture of PBD set up for wavelength measurement

Powder Diffraction SRMs

Ongoing
This program strives to produce the highest-quality, traceable powders and other artifacts for x-ray diffraction calibration. (to be completed)
Image of PBD 3-bounce crystals

Precision X-ray Emission Line Measurements

Ongoing
Precise knowledge of the shape and position of x-ray emission lines is the basis of connecting x-ray diffraction measurements to the Système Internationale d'Unités (SI), the official worldwide standard for making any measurement. Measurements of position of x-ray emission lines have been made been
Climate Science

Prediction of Global Warming Potential

Ongoing
Goals Use ANN models to fit RF and .OH rate constant data k(.OH). Be able to predict RF, k(.OH), and GWP with reasonable accuracy using readily available information. Create a screening tool based on the ANNs.  Research Activities Improve the performance of rate constant prediction. Compare rate

Protein Preservation

Completed
This project is an integral part of a cooperative effort – led by NIST, and partially funded by NIH/ NIBIB – which includes the University of Wisconsin, the University of Colorado, and the University of Connecticut. We use the following approach to develop measurement solutions for biopharmaceutical

Protein rheology measurements

Ongoing
Intended Impact Why does the health-care industry care about rheology and scattering of protein solutions? Operations. Viscosity is a critical and fundamental constitutive input for drug delivery, device design and manufacturing. For example, high viscosity leads to poor syringeability due to high

Prototype Cell Assay Measurement Platform (P-CAMP)

Ongoing
A systematic approach to the development of robust biological assay includes identifying and ranking the sources of variability in an assay protocol. With a focus on mammalian cellular assays, the Prototype Cell Assay Measurement Platform ( P-CAMP) laboratory was designed and built to take advantage

Pushing the Limits of Measurement Accuracy in Atom Probe Mass Spectrometry

Ongoing
Isotopic Analysis for Isotopic Geochemistry, Nuclear Safety, and Materials Science : Atom probe tomography has a significant advantage over other forms of mass spectrometry, which typically have a combined efficiency < 5%, in terms of ionization and detection efficiency. Commercial atom probe

Quantitative, Cell-based Immunofluorescence Assays

Completed
Analysis of signaling events within individual cells with microscopy imaging has several advantages over non-imaging techniques. The principal advantage of imaging cytometry over plate reader assays and even other single cell techniques such as flow cytometry is the potential for collection of

Quantitative Flow Cytometry Measurements

Ongoing
Flow cytometry is an essential tool for: basic biotechnological and immunological research, the clinical discovery of potential therapeutics, development and approval of drugs and devices, disease diagnosis, and therapeutic treatment and monitoring For example, flow cytometry is commonly used in pre

Radioanalytical Metrology

Ongoing
The Group engages in a wide range of methods applicable to the detection and characterization of nuclear materials. The work can benefit environmental studies, waste remediation, naturally occurring radioactivity detection and characterization and general radioanalytical metrology. Expertise in
A photo of a rapid DNA typing instrument. A screen controls the interface and a chip is loaded into the instrument.

Rapid DNA Typing

Ongoing
The Applied Genetics Group at NIST has been involved in testing integrated rapid DNA instruments since the prototype stage in the fall of 2012 and began robustly testing the maturity of these rapid DNA instruments in 2013. The three maturity assessments conducted by NIST focused on the genotyping
Nanoparticles labeled infographic. Microscopic element vector illustration.

Reactivity of Nanoparticle Catalysts

Ongoing
Goals: Provide mechanisms for various prototypical electrocatalytic reactions on different metallic surfaces an nanoparticles. Validate the results of DFT calculations versus experimental data. Research Activities: Studying the methanol oxidation reaction on Pt and PtRu surfaces. Studying the effect
Photograph of a long pink flame against a black background, emanating from a torch, with small blue cone near the base of the nozzle.

Real Fuels

Ongoing
The variability of the price of oil, the need for energy efficiency and pollution minimization has led to increasing interest in alternative fuels. These fuels are structurally and compositionally different than the conventional fuels presently used.  Past work on conventional fuels have established
Graphic depicting the complexity of reclaimed and recaptured plastics. Textiles (arm chair, t-shirt, and spool of yarn), plastic containers (jug, rectangular food containers, and bag), and gaoline pump - along with chemical structures surround a globe with the bottom half covered with three buildings and half of a mechanical gear.

Recaptured and Reclaimed Plastic Measurements

Ongoing
Plastics are a complex mixture of various types of polymers with different chemical structures, shapes, and chemical additives. From microscopic nanoplastics (as small as 1 nm) to large megaplastics (over 1 m), plastic poses significant measurement science challenges. By developing accurate methods
A collage of REFPROP screens

Reference Fluid Thermodynamic and Transport Properties Database (REFPROP)

Ongoing
REFPROP is a computer program, distributed through the Standard Reference Data program of NIST, that provides thermophysical properties of pure fluids and mixtures over a wide range of fluid conditions including liquid, gas, and supercritical phases. It contains critically evaluated mathematical
Photo showing the production of Salmon Standard Reference Material

Reference Material Production and Support

Ongoing
Bulk Cryogenic Production Large-batch cryogenic reference materials are produced using a specialized Palla VM-KT Vibrating Cryomill. The mill is pre-cooled to cryogenic temperatures using liquid nitrogen. Frozen material is fed through the inlet funnel to a vibrating chamber containing 26 titanium
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