PARTICLE SYNTHESIS AND PROPERTIES

Metallic Particles

CAMP Professor Dan Goia is involved in the synthesis, characterization, and modification of ultra-fine and nanosize metallic and metal-composite particles with controlled size, shape, internal structure, composition, and surface properties. Besides being already used extensively in catalysis, electronics, metallurgy, and pigments, these materials could have a significant impact in many emerging technological fields such as medicine, biology, defense, nonlinear optics, energy generation, and magnetic storage. Professor Goia also has several active government and industrial grants to conduct research in the areas of metal and metal-composite particles for defense applications, heterogeneous metallic catalysts for PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) and solid oxide fuel cells, precious and base metal powders for electronic components, metallic flakes for electromagnetic interference shielding, nanosize metallic particles for medical and antimicrobial applications, and metal composite powders for metallurgical applications. As a result of the research conducted under these grants, Professor Goia has already developed several novel technologies to manufacture fine, ultra-fine, and nanosize dispersed metallic particles and flakes for electronic, catalytic, metallurgical, and biological applications. The intellectual property rights for four of these technologies were already acquired by two of CAMP’s industrial partners who have scaled up the respective processes and have introduced several new products into these markets.

CAMP Professor Fendler Uses the Technique of Self-Assembly in his Research

CAMP Distinguished Professor Janos Fendler of Chemistry uses the technique of self-assembly to prepare thin films composed of highly ordered nanomaterials. Molecular self-assembly is now widely recognized as a cost-effective approach to the fabrication of biomaterials. It often involves relatively simple and well-developed chemical techniques, and at the same time, can provide highly ordered molecular structures that are precisely tailored with desired chemical properties and complex functionalities.

THIN FILMS AND COATINGS

Deposition of Diamond Films

With support from CAMP and companies, Professor Liya L. Regel continued her research on the deposition of diamond films ( not DLC) on a variety of substrates. Her group has been utilizing a new, simpler, less expensive method. Modification of this technique has permitted Professor Regel to deposit diamond at temperatures as low as 150 degrees C, which was widely believed to be impossible. Raman spectroscopy, the definitive technique for identifying the different forms of carbon, revealed very sharp crystalline diamond peaks both for faceted crystals and for polycrystalline layers formed at low temperature on polymers, glass and other substrates. Several invention disclosures have been submitted and accepted.

PARTICLE TRANSPORT, DEPOSITION AND REMOVAL

Inhalation Drug Delivery and Lung Deposition

Clarkson Distinguished Professor Goodarz Ahmadi (the Robert R. Hill ‘48 Professor and Dean of Engineering) and Professor Philip Hopke (the Bayard D. Clarkson Distinguished Professor), in collaboration with Dr. Yung Sung Cheng of Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, are studying particle and fiber deposition in the human lung and nose for a NIOSH funded project. Earlier Professor Ahmadi and Dr. Han and Dr. Greenspan of Elan (Dura) Pharmaceuticals studied powder dispersion in inhalation drug delivery systems.

Three-Phase Slurry Reactors

Professor Ahmadi is collaborating with scientists at the Department of Energy in developing a model for a three-phase slurry reactor for synthetic liquid fuel production from coal. The advanced computational capability for predicting the transport and processing of three-phase (liquid - gas - solid) slurry reactors would be helpful in design optimization of the synthetic liquid fuel production. The computational model uses the Eulerian-Lagrangian approach for analyzing the three-phase flows.