Home > Press > Assistant professor gives big boost to little technology
 |
| Junhong Chen |
Abstract:
UW-Milwaukee Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering Junhong Chen is affixing fame to UWM at a microscopic level.
By Tom Swieciak
Assistant professor gives big boost to little technology
Milwaukee, WI | Posted on April 19th, 2010
Chen recently completed a licensing agreement with the UWM Research Foundation, allowing him to pursue the commercializing of nanotechnology that he developed, with his newly formed NanoAffix LLC.
"We have found new ways of combining nanocomponents to produce valuable technologies which are superior to existing approaches," Chen told UWM News.
According to an article on Chen's technology, he "[presents] an efficient gas-phase route to decorate both single-walled and multi-walled carbon nanotubes with nanoparticles based on electrostatic force directed assembly."
When the Post asked Dr. Chen to elaborate on his discovery, he was able to translate it into layman's terms as best he could.
"We have developed a technique to assemble nanoparticles onto carbon nanotubes (CNTs) based on the electrostatic attraction between the two," Chen said. "The resulting hybrid nanoparticle CNT structure is the key sensing material used for the gas sensor fabrication."
Chen's article outlined the numerous applications of his nanotechnology. "The nanoparticle - nanotube composite structure attracts a broad range of advanced applications, including nanoelectronics, chemical sensors, biosensors, catalysis, fuel cells and hydrogen storage," the article stated. "Current methods for assembly are primarily based on wet-chemical routes."
Chen stated that he has been working on perfecting the technology for the last five years.
"This is an ongoing research," Chen said. "The breakthrough happened in 2008 when we first demonstrated that the gas sensor based on the hybrid nanomaterials could operate at room temperature."
According to the Journal Sentinel, Chen's agreement is the sixth licensing agreement produced by the UWM Research Foundation since its formation in 2006.
"We've been fortunate to work with Dr. Chen for several years to protect intellectual property and foster this research, in part through our Catalyst Grant Program," UWM Research Foundation President Brian Thompson told UWM News. "This technology needs an organization committed to helping it realize its potential, and we believe NanoAffix is the company that can do that."
However, Chen's breakthrough has not slowed him down. If anything, he's tackling bigger and more challenging projects.
"We are currently working on nanotechnology-based solar cells and lithium ion batteries, in addition to the chemical and biological sensors," Chen said.
Chen's article had a very optimistic outlook concerning applications of similar technology in the future.
"One can imagine that nanoparticles of multiple materials, particularly interweaving metal and semiconducting, magnetic nanocrystals, can be assembled onto CNTs," the article stated. "These interesting multi-component structures will open up new opportunities in several interdisciplinary fields."
####
About UW-Milwaukee
The mission of this system is to develop human resources, to discover and disseminate knowledge, to extend knowledge and its application beyond the boundaries of its campuses, and to serve and stimulate society by developing in students heightened intellectual, cultural, and humane sensitivities; scientific, professional, and technological expertise; and a sense of purpose. Inherent in this mission are methods of instruction, research, extended education, and public service designed to educate people and improve the human condition. Basic to every purpose of the system is the search for truth.
For more information, please click here
Copyright © UW-Milwaukee
If you have a comment, please
Contact us.
Issuers of news releases, not 7th Wave, Inc. or Nanotechnology Now, are solely responsible for the accuracy of the content.
Bookmark:
News and information
Sound waves precisely position nanowires June 19th, 2013
Scientists Use Nanotechnology to Increase Thermal Stability of Essential Oils June 19th, 2013
Production of Bioactive Material for Quick Treatment of Bone Damages June 19th, 2013
Nanometrics Announces Participation in 5th Annual CEO Investor Summit: Accredited Investor and Publishing Research Analyst Event to be Held Concurrently With SEMICON West and Intersolar 2013 in San Francisco June 19th, 2013
Peratech's new QTC Ultra Touch Screen technology goes behind the display so there is no light loss and longer battery life June 18th, 2013
Chemistry
Pioneering breakthrough of chemical nanoengineering to design drugs controlled by light June 18th, 2013
New Method to Synthesize Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles with High Catalytic Activity June 18th, 2013
Nanoparticle Opens the Door to Clean-Energy Alternatives June 14th, 2013
Academic/Education
CNSE Welcomes Record Number of Students, Majority of Whom are New Yorkers, for Prestigious Summer Internship Program June 12th, 2013
FEI and University of Oklahoma Begin Collaboration Research Agreement for Understanding and Developing Unconventional Oil and Gas Reservoirs: Collaboration effort will focus on new methods to classify shales in the economic assessment of “tight” resource plays June 7th, 2013
Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz obtains new Collaborative Research Center on "Nanodimensional polymer therapeutics for tumor therapy" June 2nd, 2013
Lorraine University uses Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis to characterize biomolecules for agrichemicals, pharmacology and cosmetics May 28th, 2013
Nanotubes/Buckyballs
Unzipped nanotubes unlock potential for batteries: Rice University lab combines graphene nanoribbons with tin oxide for improved anodes June 13th, 2013
The Diabetes ‘Breathalyzer’: Pitt chemists demonstrate sensor technology that could detect and monitor diabetes through breath analysis alone June 10th, 2013
Los Alamos catalyst could jumpstart e-cars, green energy: The new material has the highest oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity in alkaline media of any non-precious metal catalyst developed to date June 4th, 2013
Even with Defects, Graphene is Strongest Material in the World: New Study Reveals Strength of CVD Graphene May 31st, 2013
Sensors
Sound waves precisely position nanowires June 19th, 2013
Imec presents 4K2K CMOS image sensor together with Panasonic: The co-developed imager sensor chip targets high speed, high resolution imaging applications such as next generation HDTV June 18th, 2013
Production of Polyaniline Biosensors Modified with Conductive Polymer Composites June 18th, 2013
Monell-led research identifies scent of melanoma: New research may lead to early non-invasive detection and diagnosis June 14th, 2013
Nanoelectronics
Sound waves precisely position nanowires June 19th, 2013
Imec presents 4K2K CMOS image sensor together with Panasonic: The co-developed imager sensor chip targets high speed, high resolution imaging applications such as next generation HDTV June 18th, 2013
Imec shows multiple enhancement options for next-generation FinFETs: Leading nano-electronics R&D center addresses key challenges of Germanium finFET technology at VLSI 2013 June 14th, 2013
Controlling magnetic clouds in graphene June 14th, 2013
Discoveries
Sound waves precisely position nanowires June 19th, 2013
Scientists Use Nanotechnology to Increase Thermal Stability of Essential Oils June 19th, 2013
Production of Bioactive Material for Quick Treatment of Bone Damages June 19th, 2013
New Method to Synthesize Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles with High Catalytic Activity June 18th, 2013
Announcements
Sound waves precisely position nanowires June 19th, 2013
Scientists Use Nanotechnology to Increase Thermal Stability of Essential Oils June 19th, 2013
Production of Bioactive Material for Quick Treatment of Bone Damages June 19th, 2013
Nanometrics Announces Participation in 5th Annual CEO Investor Summit: Accredited Investor and Publishing Research Analyst Event to be Held Concurrently With SEMICON West and Intersolar 2013 in San Francisco June 19th, 2013
Patents/IP/Tech Transfer/Licensing
Nanoparticle Opens the Door to Clean-Energy Alternatives June 14th, 2013
DRYWIRED™ Receives MILITARY-STANDARD Certifications from QUANTA LABORATORIES for Its Latest Protective Nano-Coating Technology June 5th, 2013
Apple patents point to slimmer battery tech June 1st, 2013
Patent for Coaxial Nanofibre Production: Scientists from Contipro have patented new jet for effective coaxial nanofibers production May 31st, 2013
Energy
Polymer-coated catalyst protects "artificial leaf" June 17th, 2013
Efficient and inexpensive: Researchers develop catalyst material for fuel cells: Platinum-nickel nano-octahedra save 90 percent platinum June 17th, 2013
Nanoparticles helping to recover more oil June 15th, 2013
Nanoparticle Opens the Door to Clean-Energy Alternatives June 14th, 2013
Fuel Cells
Efficient and inexpensive: Researchers develop catalyst material for fuel cells: Platinum-nickel nano-octahedra save 90 percent platinum June 17th, 2013
Discovery of new material state counterintuitive to laws of physics June 14th, 2013
Noble way to low-cost fuel cells, halogenated graphene may replace expensive platinum June 6th, 2013
Los Alamos catalyst could jumpstart e-cars, green energy: The new material has the highest oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity in alkaline media of any non-precious metal catalyst developed to date June 4th, 2013