Latest Publications & Patents on Nanotechnologies

Flywheel energy storage (FES) works by accelerating a rotor (flywheel) to a very high speed and maintaining the energy in the system as rotational kinetic energy. The energy stored is proportional to the square of the rotational speed. When energy is extracted, the flywheel's rotation slows down. The formula for stored energy is \(E = \frac{1}{2} I \omega^2\), where I is the moment of inertia and ω is the angular velocity.

Molecular electronics explores using individual molecules or nanoscale molecular collections as fundamental electronic components. This approach aims to build circuits at the ultimate limit of miniaturization, far beyond traditional silicon-based technology. Key components include molecular wires, switches, and rectifiers, leveraging quantum mechanical properties like electron tunneling through molecular orbitals for their function.

Physics of Failure (PoF) is a reliability engineering approach that uses knowledge of materials science and physics to understand and model the root-cause mechanisms of failure. Instead of relying purely on statistical data from past failures, it focuses on predicting failure by analyzing the physical processes (e.g., fatigue, corrosion, creep) that lead to degradation and breakdown.

The Quantum Size Effect describes the phenomenon where the electronic and optical properties of a material change as its size approaches the nanoscale. When the dimensions of a material become comparable to the electron's de Broglie wavelength, quantum confinement occurs. This quantizes the electron energy levels, leading to a size-dependent band gap, \(E_g(R) \approx E_{g,\b\u\lk} + \frac{\hbar^2\pi^2}{2R^2}(\frac{1}{m_e^*} + \frac{1}{m_h^*})\).

The equilibrium vapor pressure of water over a liquid surface in moist air (\(p^*_{H_2O,a}\)) is slightly greater than the equilibrium vapor pressure over a pure water surface (\(p^*_{H_2O}\)). This difference is quantified by the water vapor enhancement factor, \(f_w\), which depends on temperature and the pressure of the moist air. The relationship is \(p^*_{H_2O,a} = f_w(T, p_{ms}) \cdot p^*_{H_2O}\).

Rare-earth magnets are strong permanent magnets made from alloys of rare-earth elements. Developed in the 1970s and 1980s, the most common types are neodymium magnets (NdFeB) and samarium–cobalt magnets (SmCo). They are the strongest type of permanent magnets made, producing significantly stronger magnetic fields than ferrite or alnico magnets, enabling miniaturization and improved performance in many technologies. Note: the term 'rare-earth element' is a historical misnomer. These elements are not exceptionally rare in the Earth's crust. Cerium, the most abundant, is the 25th most abundant element, similar to copper. Even the least abundant stable rare earth, lutetium, is nearly 200 times more common than gold. The 'rare' label arose because they were difficult to separate.

A lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery is a rechargeable battery where lithium ions move from the negative electrode (anode) through an electrolyte to the positive electrode (cathode) during discharge, and back when charging. It utilizes an intercalated lithium compound as the cathode material and typically graphite as the anode. The high reactivity of lithium allows for high energy density.

Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage (SMES) systems store energy in the magnetic field created by the flow of direct current in a superconducting coil. The energy can be stored indefinitely as long as the coil is kept at superconducting temperatures, as there is virtually no energy loss due to electrical resistance. The stored energy is given by \(E = \frac{1}{2} L I^2\).

The Ganz-Griesser whiteness index is a linear formula widely used, particularly in the textile industry. It is derived from CIE tristimulus values and is defined as \(W_{GG} = Y - Px - Qy + C\), where P, Q, and C are constants specific to the illuminant and observer. For the D65/10° condition, the formula is \(W_{GG} = Y - 1868.322x - 3695.690y + 1809.441\).

Lithium-ion batteries function via an intercalation mechanism, a reversible insertion of ions into a layered host material. During discharge, lithium ions (\(Li^+\)) de-intercalate from a negative electrode (anode), typically graphite, and move through a non-aqueous electrolyte to intercalate into a positive electrode (cathode), typically a metal oxide. Electrons travel through the external circuit, creating current.

Depth of Discharge (DoD) indicates the percentage of a battery's capacity that has been discharged. It is the inverse of State of Charge (SoC), where 100% DoD means the battery is empty. A battery's cycle life is highly dependent on its average DoD; lower DoD cycles (e.g., discharging to only 80% capacity) significantly increase the number of cycles a battery can endure.

MEMS scaling laws describe how physical forces and properties change as device dimensions shrink to the microscale. Unlike the macroscopic world dominated by gravity and inertia, micro-domains are governed by surface forces like surface tension, viscosity, and electrostatic forces. For example, force due to gravity scales with volume (\(L^3\)), while electrostatic force scales with area (\(L^2\)), becoming relatively stronger at smaller sizes.

Neodymium magnets are the strongest type of permanent magnet commercially available. They are a ternary alloy of neodymium, iron, and boron, with the stoichiometric formula Nd2Fe14B. Their immense magnetic strength results from the material's high magnetic anisotropy and saturation magnetization, derived from its tetragonal crystal structure. However, they are brittle, susceptible to corrosion, and have a low curie temperature.

A Single-Electron Transistor (SET) is a switching device that uses controlled electron tunneling to manipulate the flow of single electrons. It consists of a quantum dot (the 'island') coupled to source and drain leads via tunnel junctions, and capacitively coupled to a gate electrode. Its operation relies on the Coulomb blockade effect, enabling extreme sensitivity and low power consumption.