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Materials

Projects/Programs

Displaying 126 - 150 of 156
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

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

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
Example of a star-mesh device design

Quantum Conductance

Ongoing
The quantum Hall effect (QHE), and devices that exhibit it, will continue to serve as the foundation of the ohm while also expanding its territory into other SI derived units. The world adopted the quantum SI in 2019, and it remains essential that the global metrology community pushes forth and

Raman Metrology and Instrumentation

Ongoing
Raman spectroscopy/microscopy is a powerful optical technique for rapid, non-destructive, label-free characterization of materials. It works under ambient conditions, often without requirement of any sample preparation. Applications span microelectronics, pharmaceutical, security and fundamental

Renewable Polymers

Completed
In this project, use innovative measurements to optimize existing materials synthesis and discover new routes to polymers from renewable feedstocks by providing characterization methods that can describe the mechanisms and of enzymatic catalysis of polymers from renewable feedstocks and synthetic

Resonating Platforms for Microbial, Environmental, and Materials Sensing

Ongoing
The high sensitivity of resonating piezoelectric crystals to surface perturbations has led to quartz crystal microbalances (QCMs) being widely used to measure changes in mass of thin films and adhered nanoparticles or cells. This project proceeds beyond this traditional sensing approach with quartz

Scientific Workflow

Ongoing
Digitally capturing the "scientific workflow" will be a key component to modernizing scientific data management. Defined in this context, a scientific workflow is the encapsulation of all processes and accompanying relevant data necessary to reproduce and validate an experiment. Thus, a workflow

AI self-quality assurance using learning curves in feedback loops

Ongoing
One application of artificial intelligence (AI) in materials is the acceleration of materials innovation, which is the mission of the Materials Genome Initiative. However, to decrease the cost and time-to-market, we must continuously assess the quality of models with new facts. AI quality assurance

Semiconductor Nanowire Metrology: Electronics, Photonics, and Sensors

Completed
One of the key issues hampering progress in semiconductor nanotechnology is the absence of standardized nanostructures. We address this need through the controlled fabrication and assembly of semiconductor nanowire test structures with well-defined properties. To achieve this, we have manufactured

Standards

Ongoing
Standards for Optical Based Standoff Detection NIST is researching methods for creating explosive threat materials standards relevant to optical detection technologies (e.g. that result in samples with particle morphologies similar to those found in explosive threat devices). This includes both
Breathalyzer

Standards Development to Ensure Reliable Breath Analysis in the Field

Ongoing
Numerous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been identified in human breath. These compounds can be produced by the body or by organisms in the body (e.g., bacteria or viruses) and provide a non-invasive window into human health. Inexpensive point-of-care devices are being developed to diagnose

Stochastic Network Growth Simulation for Photopolymerization

Ongoing
We have developed a computational method to simulate the complex interactions of the stochastic processes during polymerization. Specifically, the firing rates of these stochastic events are determined based on monomer information ( e.g. functionalities, rate constants, diffusivities, interaction

Strategy for extensible, evolving terminology for MGI efforts

Ongoing
Many Indo-European languages utilize a limited set of highly reused, non-synonymous, short semantically relevant words called roots that can be combined to facilitate the building of new compounded terms such as peanut butter and watch dog. This approach, which is more prominent in certain languages

Stroboscopic TEM for Ultrafast Materials Science

Ongoing
Our people: June Lau co-invented the stroboscopic microscope and had been with this project since inception. She is a physicist, and the PI of this project. She received 2 non-provisional patents for the design of the microscope, and one provisional patent on a specimen holder for microwave delivery

Structural Metrology of Advanced Manufacturing Processes

Ongoing
Understanding material structures in advanced manufacturing is crucial because it enables precise control over material properties, leading to improved performance, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness in production processes. However, this understanding poses many challenges, such as the

Structure-Property Relationships for High-Strength Materials

Ongoing
The body-armor community generally bases armor design on empirical models that do not directly relate molecular properties to performance. Aramid, aramid copolymers, and polyethylene fibers are highly oriented, anisotropic fibers that require specialized characterization techniques. In addition

Synchrotron X-ray Spectroscopic Imaging

Ongoing
Building off technologies and expertise developed in the Synchrotron X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy project, the Spectroscopic Imaging effort seeks to develop measurements that provide spatial mapping of the local chemical, electronic, and physical structure in advanced materials. Technology is
Project Infographic for synthesis and longevity of candidate direct air capture (DAC) materials

Synthesis and longevity of candidate direct air capture (DAC) materials

Ongoing
We have been working on the identification and development of repeatable synthesis techniques for DAC materials for the purposes of generating repeatable samples for evaluating DAC characterization techniques. We have initially focused on impregnated and grafted aminosilane-silica materials. We are

Teaching Liquid State Theory to an Artificial Neural Network (ANN)

Ongoing
Scientific questions: Can an ANN allow us to predict the structure of fluids that are impossible to predict numerically via liquid-state theory? Can we learn something about liquid-state theory itself by the nature of the trained ANN? What features do the hidden layers capture?

Templated Assembly of Block Copolymer Films

Completed
Viable nanomanufacturing of templated block copolymers will require a capability to control orientation and line edge roughness of trillions of structures to within a single nanometer, however there are no existing platforms that meet this need. We are developing small angle x-ray and neutron

Thermodynamic & Kinetic Data for Sustainable Energy

Completed
Knowledge of the thermodynamic, phase equilibria and diffusion properties of potential novel materials can greatly accelerate their development. However, the data needed for new, multi-component materials are often not available. The CALPHAD (Computer Coupling of Phase Diagrams and thermochemistry)
David Gundlach

Thin Film Electronics (Archived)

Completed
Today's electronics have reached a point where sheer computation power has yielded to combined form and function as the key driver of large consumer markets. The demand for portable and pervasive electronics with greater functionality promises significant changes over the next decades in how society

Tissue Engineering

Ongoing
Tissue Engineering Measurands: Tissue engineering measurands are confusing to discuss and a charting method to improve communication is demonstrated. Measurement Assurance Strategies for Regenerative Medicine: Reliable methods for assessing product consistency and quality. Regenerative Medicine

Training for Screeners and Lab Staff

Ongoing
Advances in primary screening technologies (x-ray, CT, AIT) have allowed the detection and discrimination of bulk quantities of potentially dangerous compounds on people or in bags. However, a secondary screening method - typically based on trace detection - is still required for correct