2009 National Nanotechnology Initiative R&D Achievements
Significant scientific and technological achievements have been made as a result of the research and development funding by NNI participating agencies since the start of the NNI. By clicking on the subject titles below, you can access individual files describing hundreds of achievements submitted by NNI member agencies in 2009. These examples provide perspective on what the NNI investment in R&D has resulted in over the last few years. In many instances, the combined efforts of multiple agencies have been needed to bring about these success stories.
Click on each individual gray bar to access the 2009 NNI Achievements (pdf):
Foundational Research
- 4D Electron Microscope for Directly Visualizing Atomic-Scale Motion
- An STM Study of Atomic Co Wires
- Bioinspired Templates for the Growth of Semiconductor Nanowires
- Combinatorial Discovery of Biomimetic Atomically Defined Soft Nanomaterials
- Core-Shell Particle Restruction during CO Oxidation Cycles: A DRIFTS Investigation
- Cross-Media Environmental Transport, Transformation, and Fate of Manufactured Carbonaceous Nanomaterials
- Current-Induced Resonant Vortex Motion
- Deciphering the Mechanisms of Bias-Induced Phase Transitions of a Single Defect Level
- Defect-Free Gallium Nitride Nanowires Fabricated with Superior Properties
- Deterministic Control of Polarization Switching in Multiferroic Materials Using Scanning Probe Microscopy
- Dirac Materials
- Direct Measurement of Conductance of a Single Molecule (with NYSTAR)
- Directed Assembly of Diblock Copolymer on Nano-Patterned Substrates
- Directional Etching of Graphene by Catalytic Silver Nanoparticles
- Discovery of Nanoscale Repulsion
- Discovery PlatformsTM for Nanoscience
- Dispensing & Surface-Induced Crystallization of Zeptoliter Liquid Metal Alloy Drops
- Dispersions of Nanoparticles in Polymers: Interfacial and Bulk Behavior
- DNA-Guided 3-D Assembly of Colloidal Gold Nanoparticles
- Dynamics of Pattern-Forming and Self-Assembling Soft Nanostructured Materials
- Electron Nanodiffraction Reveals Surface Structure of Nanocrystals
- Enabling Nanocrystal Science & Applications with WANDA, A Custom Robotic Laboratory
- Enhanced Mobility of Confined Polymers
- Experimental and Theoretical Studies of Molecular-Scale Quantum Dots at Carbon Nanotube Heterojunctions
- Extreme Ultraviolet Nanoscale Imaging Microscope: ERC Team Receives "R&D 100" Award
- First Electrically Pumped Semiconductor Room-Temperature Terahertz Radiation
- Flying-Head Plasmonic Imaging Lithography
- From Nanomechanical Science to Nanofabrication Technology: A New Route towards Nanotube Synthesis
- Guided Self-Assembling of Nanostructures Using Magnetic Fluids
- Hard X-ray Kinoform Lenses
- Heterogeneous Photophysics and Photochemistry of Luminescent Ruthenium Complexes: Implications in Sensor Design
- Hierarchical Assembly of Nanoparticle Superstructures from Block Copolymer-Nanoparticle Composites
- Hot Scanning Probe Tips Create Highly Ordered Polymer Monolayers
- Hybrid Plasmonics: New Routes to Imaging, Spectroscopy, and Efficient Energy Flow at the Nanoscale
- Imaging the Mechanical Properties of Spider Silk Fibers
- Internalization and Fate of Individual Manufactured Nanomaterial within Living Cells
- Investigation of Structure and Photocatalytic Activity for Water Splitting at the Aqueous-(Ga1-xZn)(N1-xOx) Alloy Interface
- Large-Scale Nanomanufacturing of Complex Single-Walled Nanotube Architectures
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging with Nanometer Resolution
- Measurement Suite Established for Carbon Nanotube Standards
- Mechanics of Nanoporous Metals
- Nanoantenna Arrays with Visible/Near-infrared Resonances
- Nanocrystalline Coating Technology
- Nano-Crystalline Zinc Oxide for High-Performance Thin Film Transistors
- Nanofabrication of High-Aspect-Ratio Zone Plates for Hard X-rays
- Nanoimprint and Nanoprint - Based Routes for Producing Organized Few-Layer-Graphene Nano/Microstructures
- Nanoscale Heterogeneous Catalysis at the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences
- Nanostructure Characterization of Resistive Oxides
- Nanotechnology to Replace Copper-Based Electrical Wiring
- Nanowire Thermoelectrics
- New Ways of Seeing - Developing and Understanding Sensors for Scanning Probe Microscopy (New Ways of Seeing)
- NIST Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology Established to Support Nanotechnology from Discovery to Production
- Optical Nanotomography of Anisotropic Fluids
- Optimizing Supercapacitor Electrodes for a Green Energy Future
- Path towards Nanofocusing of X-rays: Multilayer Laue Lenses
- Photon-Plasmon-Electron Conversion Enables A New Class of Imaging Cameras
- Polyamic Acid Motifs Facilitate Intra and Intra-Molecular Cross-Linking in Flexible Membranes
- Programmable Nanoscale Machines Achieved by DNA Self-Assembly
- Quantitative Imaging Analysis Using the Aberration Corrected Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope (Hitachi HD2700C)
- Quantum Cascade Laser Nano-Antenna for Future Identification of Biological Threats
- Recent Progress in Scanning Probe Microscopy at Argonne's CNM
- Role of Cel7A Linker in Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Cellulose Chains: A Simulation Study
- Self-Assembled, Nanostructured Carbon for Energy Storage and Water Treatment
- Single Molecules Junctions: Conductance, Formation and Evolution Statistics
- Solvent Vapor-Assisted Self-Assembly of Patternable Block Copolymers
- Spatially Patterned Chemistry on Nanomechanical Resonators for Targeted Sensing
- Submicron Ferroelectric Domain Patterning with Real-Time Feedback
- Surface Properties of Electrospun Chitosan Nanofibers
- Teleporting Quantum Information from One Atom to Another
- The Interplay of Theory and Experiment in Nanoscience
- Toward Complete Control of Localized Light and its Interactions with Matter
- Tracking Single Quantum Dots in Three Dimensions: Following Receptor Traffic and Membrane Topology
- Transport and Retention of Fullerene (C60) Nanoparticles in Porous Media
- Two-Armed Nanorobot Manipulates Molecules within a DNA Device
- Unconventional Donor-Acceptor Molecules for Supramolecular Assembly and Electronics
- Uncooled Infrared Detector Made Possible with Controlled Carbon Nano-Tube Array
- Understanding the Conductance of Single-Molecule Junctions from First Principles
- Using Living Cells as Nanotechnology Factories
- Using Surface Plasmon Resonance Coupled Emission and Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence to Detect Single Molecule Conformational Changes
- Visualizing 3-D Directed Assembly of Block-Copolymer Thin Films on Nanoparticle Substrates using Neutron Scattering
- X-ray Photoemission Spectroscopy and Scanning Tunneling Microscopy of Model Catalysts at Elevated Pressure Conditions
Energy
- Activation of nanostructured catalysts for Environmentally Friendly, Energy Efficient Heavy Crude Oil Processing
- Battery Materials for Ultra-Fast Charging and Discharging
- Biomimetic Solar Cells
- Breakthrough in the Development of "Green Gasoline"
- Carbon Nanotube Materials Tailored for Wiring
- Comparing the Environmental Impacts of Nanoscale & Bulk Materials in Photovoltaics
- Designer Nanomaterials for Solar Cells & LEDs
- Detonation Nanodiamonds as an Advanced Energy Source
- Highly Dispersed Metal Catalysts with SubNanoscale Structure
- Improved Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Photovoltaics via In Situ UV-Polymerization in Nanotube Arrays
- Improving Electronic Transport in Nanostructured Organic Semiconductor Solar Cells
- Multifunctional Electrode Nanoarchitectures for Electrochemical Capacitors
- Nanocrystalline Magnetic Alloys
- Nanolaminate Films for Hydrogen Wear Resistance
- Nanoparticles Dramatically Improve Chiller Efficiency
- Nanoparticles Enable Superconducting Wire for Compact Power Systems
- Nanorod Antireflection Coatings Improve Quantum Dot Solar Cells
- Nanoscience Paths to Metal-Support Interactions in Fuel Cell Catalysts
- Nanostructuring of Silicon Surfaces for Photovoltaic Devices
- Nanotechnology to Improve Lithium-Ion Battery Storage Capacity
- Nanotechnology to Improve the Efficiency of Space Solar Cells
- Organic Solar Cells Using Fullerene-Single Wall Carbon Nanotube Composites
- Oxygen-Deficient 1D-Nano-Metal Oxides and Their Energy Applications
Health
- Barcode Chip for Biomarker Detection
- Bioactive Nanostructures for Neural Regeneration (NIH/NIBIB)
- Carbon Nanotube Membranes for Transdermal Drug Delivery of Nicotine & Other Compounds
- Golden siRNA Nanoparticle Conjugates
- Implantable Microfluidic Devices for Cancer
- Implantable Renal Assist Device
- Integrated System for Cancer Biomarker Detection
- Nano-Assisted, Intraoperative Brain Tumor Therapy
- Nanoparticles for Healthy Eyes
- New X-ray Imaging System for Breast Tomosynthesis
- NIOSH Nanotechnology Program Major Achievements
- Novel Positron Emission Tomography Probe
- Nuclear Pore Complex - A Nanoscale Gateway to the Nucleus
- Point of Contact Microchip for Early Detection of Cancer Cells
- Stealth Probes that Fuse into Lipid Bilayers
- Synthetic Scaffolds for Bladder Regeneration
- Zein Nanofabricated Biomaterials for Tissue Scaffolding
Environmental-Health-Safety-Related-Research
- Bioavailability, Toxicity, and Trophic Transfer of Manufactured ZnO Nanoparticles (with U. Georgia, U. Kentucky)
- Bioluminescence to Determine Sub-lethal Toxicity of Buckminster Fullerenes: Potential for Bacterial Bioaccumulation
- Carbon-Based Nanomaterials in the Environment (with Indiana Water Resources Research Ctr.)
- Characterizing the Scientific Literature on Nanotoxicology
- Chemical Transformation of C60 Cluster in Aqueous Phase by Oxidants and UV
- Determination of Manufactured Nanoparticles Toxicity Using Novel Rapid Screening Methods
- Ecotoxicology of C60 Fullerenes in Fish
- Effects of Ingested Nanoparticles on Gene Regulation in the Colon
- Effects of Manufactured Nanoparticles on the Immune System of Macrophages
- Evaluating the Potential for Metal Nanoparticles to Enter Food Webs
- Fate of Carbon Nanomaterials in Natural Waters and Water Treatment Processes
- How do nanoparticles get into cells?
- Impact of Ambient Ultrafine Particles on Atherosclerosis and Asthma Exacerbation: The Role of Oxidative Stress
- Impact of Physicochemical Properties on Skin Absorption of Manufactured Nanomaterials
- Integrated Approach Toward Understanding the Toxicity of Inhaled Nanomaterials
- Lung-Deposition of Highly Agglomerated Nanoparticles
- Mechanisms of Inhaled Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Immune Suppression
- Nanoparticle Fate for a Safer Work Environment
- Nanoparticles Leach from Commercial Products into Sewage, but Can be Removed during Wastewater Treatment
- Nanoparticles Tracked in a Model Food Chain
- Nanostructured Materials for Environmental Decontamination of Chlorinated Compounds
- Non-Water-Soluble Quantum Dots Dissolve in Water
- Penetration and Translocation of Nanoparticles through Skin
- Photochemical Fate of Manufactured Carbon Nanomaterials in the Aquatic Environment
- Photochemical Reactivity of C60 Depends on its Dispersion Status in the Aqueous Phase
- Preparation and Screening of Membranes to Control NOM Fouling via High Throughput UV Graft Polymerization
- Removal of Engineered Nanoparticles During Drinking Water Treatment
- Responses of Lung Cells to Metals in Manufactured Nanoparticles
- Role of White Rot Fungi in the Environmental Fate of C60-Fullerols
- Safer Carbon Nanotubes through Targeted Removal of Bioavailable Metal
- Safety/Toxicity Assessment of Ceria (a Model Engineered Nanomaterial) to the Brain
- Towards Methodologies to Assess Occupational Exposure to Engineered Nanomaterials
- UC Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (UC CEIN): Early Progress
- Ultrahigh Sensitivity Biosensors Based on Nanoscale Field-Effect Transistors
- Understanding and Predicting the Toxicity of Manufactured Nanomaterials
Electronics
- 2-D Electron Gas Piezoelectric Sensors
- Active and Passive Metamaterials Research at CINT
- Carbon Nanotubes for Photo-Thermo-Mechanical Actuators
- CNT FET (Carbon Nanotube Field Effect Transistor) Technology to Support National Security Space System Applications
- Critical Advances Made in Nanomagnetics for New Technologies
- Dualband Quantum Well Infrared Camera for Target Identification
- Efficient Electrical Spin Injection into Silicon
- Electrodeposition of Patterned Metal and Semiconductor Micro- and Nanowires on Ultrananocrystalline Diamond Electrodes
- Electron Donor-Acceptor Interactions Directed Self Assembly of Organic Nanostructures
- Electron Spins in Single-Electron Transistors
- Electronic Conduction Mechanisms in Thin Wires and Nanoscale Contacts
- Electrons (and Holes) Move Faster in Graphene than in Any Other Material
- Excited Atoms Advance Quantum Computing
- Fabrication of Carbon Nanotube Field-Effect Transistors with Semiconductors as Source and Drain Contact Materials
- Fundamental Properties of Graphene Revealed for Device Applications
- Generation, Manipulation and Detection of Pure Spin Currents in Silicon
- Giant Nanocrystal Quantum Dots: Suppressed Blinking and Auger Recombination Through Solution-Phase Physical and Electronic-Structure Engineering
- Growth of Single-Crystalline B12As2 on m-plane (1-100) 15R-SiC
- Intershell Exchange in Spin-polarized Semiconductor Quantum Dots
- Light Scattering of Periodic β-Aligned Carbon Nanotubes--Antennae Effect in Aligned CNTs
- Measurement Solutions Delivered to Industry for Optical Nanolithography
- Molecular Labeling Diagnostic for Self-Assembled Nano-Electronics
- Nano-Column Fabrication for Gallium Nitride Radio Frequency Electronics
- Nano-Layer Midwave Infrared Detectors and Cameras
- Nano-Membrane Flexible Electronics for Surveillance Radar
- Nanowires Memorize by Changing Phase
- New Materials Approach to Spintronics (Selective Doping of Antiferromagnetic Semiconductors)
- Nonlinear optical signatures of semiconducting-nanowire orientation
- Quantum Dot Thermometry
- Receiving and Transmitting Light-Like Radio Waves: Antenna Effect in Arrays of Aligned Carbon Nanotubes (CO2 Laser Fibers)
- Revolutionary Electronics through Carbon Nanotube Nano-Electro-Mechanical Switches
- Revolutionary Memories from Carbon Nanotube Technology
- Revolutionary Method Generates New Template for Microelectronics
- Semiconductor Quantum Well Lasers for Aircraft Self Protection
- Single-Photon Detectors Developed for Quantum Communications and Computing
- Surface Modification of Semiconductor Nanowires and Their Properties
- Synthesis and Science of Correlated Complex Oxides at the Nanoscale
- Synthesis of Plasmonic Nanoparticles for Hybrid Nanophotonic Materials
- Tracking Carrier Dynamics in Semiconductor Nanostructures Through Space and Time
- Tunable Ferroelectric Photonic Crystals Using Epitaxial Barium Titanate Thin Films as the Nonlinear Medium
- Using Low-Cost Nanofabrication to Make the Most of a Scarce but Technologically Precious Metal
Nanobiology
- Attenuation of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection with Short Interfering RNA
- Biodegradable Nanoparticles to Image New Blood Vessels
- Detection of misfolded proteins through molecular imprinting
- Development of Nanoparticle Complexes as Breast Cancer Imaging and Therapy Agent
- Dynamics of Phospholipid Membrane Composite Nanomaterials
- Engineering DNA as a Generic Nano-material
- High-Throughput Screen for Nanoparticle Toxicity
- In Vivo Imaging of Hydrogen Peroxide with Chemiluminescent Nanoparticles
- Multicompartment Hybrid Biological/Inorganic Nanocomposites
- Nanobio Hybrids for Stimuli Transduction
- Nanoconfinement for DNA Analysis
- Nanoparticle-Mediated Inhibition of Restenosis
- NIST Issues First Nanoparticle Reference Materials for Biomedical Research
- Role of Surface Chemistry in the Toxicological Properties of Manufactured Nanoparticles
- Smart Nanoparticles for Biological Imaging
- Temperature Compensation in Biomolecular Motor-Powered Nanomaterials and Devices
Nanomaterials
- Amplifying Fluorescent Polymers for Detecting Hazardous Substances
- Bulk Nanostructured Aluminum Composites
- Cable Harnesses from Carbon Nanotube Materials
- Carbon Nanotube [Conductive] Yarns and Sheets for Structural Components
- Catalysis and Corrosion on Transition Metal Nanocluster
- Coating Nano-Architecture Leads to Improved Engine Performance
- Collaborative Partnerships with Oak Ridge National Laboratory for the Discovery of Functional Charged Macromolecules
- Commercialization of Nano-Composites for Space Systems Insulation
- Deformation Physics of Ultrafine Scale Materials
- DNA Nano-Taggants for Covert Watermarking, Tracking, and Communication
- Edge Effects in Nanoindentation Measurements of Biological Materials
- Electrospun PMMA Fibers Demonstrate Migration of Nanoscale Self-Stratifying Additives
- Exothermic Nanocomposite for Self-Contained Ration Heater
- Formation of Carbon Nanotubes in Bulk Carbonaceous Solid
- Freezing as a Path to Build Complex Composites
- Functional Nanofibrous Membrane Assemblies Towards Biological Sensing
- Functional Soft Interfaces Based on Reactive Polymer Scaffolds
- Linear and Nonlinear Properties of Large-Area Metamaterials
- Mechanical Properties of Materials with Nanoscale Microstructures
- Methods for the Synthesis of Defined Protein Nanotubes
- Multicomponent Nanoscale Systems Fabricated with a Macromolecular Toolbox
- Multiscale Nanoengineered Trimodal Aluminum Composites Manufacturing
- Nano-Additive Demonstrates Potential for JP-900 Fuel
- Nano-Aluminum Alloy to Replace Titanium in Liquid Rocket Engines
- Nano-Coating Enables New Class of High-Power Microwave Devices
- Nano-Composite Coatings for F-35 LiftFan and RL-10 Rocket Engine Turbopump
- Nanocomposite Fire Retardants Dramatically Improve Fire Safety
- Nanoengineered Self-Segregating Additives for Self-Detoxifying Coatings
- Nanofiber Filtration of Lunar Dust Simulant
- Nanofiber Thermal Insulation
- Nano-Jet Microthrusters for Space Propulsion
- Nanoparticle Lubricant Produced by Biosynthesis
- Nanoparticle Transformations: From Solid Solution to Nanoscale Phase Segregation
- Nanoparticles with Different Functionalities and Their Periodic Structures
- Nanoporous Polymer Networks: Potential Adsorbents for Hydrogen Storage
- Nano-scale Inorganic-Organic Fiber Sizings for Enhanced Energy Absorption in Structural Composite Materials
- Nano-Taggants for Biological Threat Detection
- Nanotech Water-Repellent Breathable Fabric Treatments
- Nickel Nano-Strands for Aircraft Lightning Strike Protection and Electro-Magnetic Shielding
- Optical Properties of Phthalocyanine and Naphthalocyanine Compounds
- Polymer Nano-Layer Coatings for Optical Applications
- Processing of Explosive Formulations with Nano-Aluminum Powder
- Pulse Thermal Processing Technology for Rapid Thermal Annealing of Thin Films Receives 2009 R&D 100 Award
- Resolving the Mysteries of Electron Beam Resist Exposure and Development
- Reversible Wet/Dry Adhesive Inspired by Mussels and Geckos
- Role of Surface Effects on the Electro-Optical Properties of Nanocrystalline ZnO
- Self-Protection and Self-Healing of Polymer Nano-Composites
- Surface Passivated Air and Moisture Stable Mixed Zirconium Aluminum Metal-Hydride Nanoparticles
- Synthesis, Characterization, and Fabrication of Ultrananocrystalline Diamond-Based NEMS
- Tailored Nanopost Arrays for Nanophotonic Ion Production
- Thermochromism of Poly (Phenylene) Vinylene: Untangling the Role of Polymer Aggregate and Chain Conformation
- Thermodynamically Stable CNT
- Transition Metal Catalyzed Graphene
- U.S. Forest Products Industry and Nanotechnology-the Green Connection (Basic nanotechnology research agenda)
- Wood and Paper as Materials for the 21st Century (more on research agenda; examples)
Food and Agriculture
- A Soluble Nanoscale Self-Assembling Complex from Starch, Protein and Lipid for Healthy Nutrient Delivery
- Enhancing Public Understanding of Nanotechnology and Its Applications to Agriculture and Food
- Nanocomplexes for Functional Micronutrients: Nanoemulsions for Increased Solubility and Bioavailability of Bioactives
- Nanocomposites for Military Food Packaging
- Nanolaminated Coatings of Microemulsion for Better Delivery of Bioactives in Foods
- Nanoscale Magnetostrictive Particles as Biosensor Platforms for In Situ Detection
- Nanostructured Vehicles for Delivery of Micronutrients and Flavor Release in Foods
- New Nanoscale Materials for the Detection of Bio-terror Agents in Food
- Self-Amplifying Nanobiosensor for Direct Detection of Prions in Blood
- Stand-off SERS Detection of Pesticides and Agriculturally Important Analytes Using Nanoparticles
Infrastructure
Education - Training