CA – Page 11 – TechConnect Briefs

Scalable gas phase nanoparticle treatment methods required for large-scale nanofluid and nanocomposite synthesis

Dion C.A.D., Tavares J.R., École Polytechnique de Montréal, CA

Recent work has demonstrated that while nanofluids do indeed exhibit increased heat transfer properties , there is no abnormal enhancement as had been claimed by early proponents of nanofluids. However, this lack of abnormal enhancement [...]

Spatial profiles of electrical conductivity, fluid admittance and water flow in a charged nanopore

Virdi G., Glavinovic M.I., McGill University, CA

The transport of charged particles and water through nanofluidic pores is governed by the concentration, potential and pressure gradients. Better understanding of the interplay of these forces, of the resulting fluxes of charged particles and [...]

Microfluidic Control of Adipose-Derived Stem Cell Growth and Positioning

Wadhawan N., Kalkat H., Ma X., Gajjeraman S., Nandagopal S., Hao N., Deng J., Xiang B., Zhang M., Tian G., Lin F., University of Manitoba, CA

Microfluidic devices provide powerful new tools for quantitative stem cell research owing to its advantages in cellular microenvironmental control and experiment throughput over conventional methods. Particularly, microfluidics is playing a growing role in studying stem [...]

Direct-Write Microfabrication for Enhancement of Functionality of Optical Fiber Devices

Alemohammad H.R., Foroozmehr E., Cotten B., Toyserkani E., University of Waterloo, CA

The improvement of the functionality of optical fiber devices has always been a research topic. In this regard, coating of optical fibers with metal thin films has been considered as an effective approach. We report [...]

MEMS Strain Sensors with High Linearity and Sensitivity with an Enhanced Strain Transfer Mechanism for Wind Turbine Blades

Moradi M., Sivoththaman S., University of Waterloo, CA

A new physical sensor design for strain measurement for wind turbine blades is presented. While the proposed sensors are highly sensitive, they are based on simple operating principle: application of an input force, which is [...]

Off-Chip Printed Interconnects for Ultrathin Flexible Products

Alemohammad H., Zadeh A., Sheats J., Toyserkani E., University of Waterloo, CA

The relentless needs for increasing the functionality of microelectronic products while reducing their size and weight and having the advantages of thinness and flexibility call for novel technologies for the integration and assembly of multi-chip [...]

Understanding Charge Dynamics in Silicon Dangling Bond Structures for Nanoscale Devices

Livadaru L., Pitters J.L., Taucer M., Wolkow R.A., University of Alberta / NINT, CA

A dangling bond (DB) on a silicon surface atomic has been found to behave as an atomic-scale quantum dot [1-4]. This opens up the possibility of using DBs as building blocks for novel electronic structures, [...]

Synthesis, characterization and viscoelastic properties of Nanocrystalline Cellulose grafted with Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)

Hemraz U.D., Danumah C., Lu A., Boluk Y., National Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Alberta, CA

Nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) is a renewable, nontoxic and biodegradable nanomaterial that can be obtained by acid hydrolysis of the amorphous regions of the widely available cellulose. The relative low density, low cost, high aspect ratios, [...]

Multifunctional Nanocomposites: Modeling and Characterization

Wernik J.M., Meguid S.A., University of Toronto, CA

Unlike traditional adhesive bonds, where only one material property is enhanced, multifunctional systems are capable of fulfilling several design requirements (e.g., strength/toughness, sensing, actuation, and condition monitoring). In this research, we intend to introduce this [...]

Fabrication of Nanoporous Metals by Dealloying of Ternary Alloys: Evaluation of their Electrocatalytic Properties

Vega A., Newman R.C., University of Toronto, CA

Novel nanoporous metals from ternary precursors (i.e., AgAu(Pt) alloys with a platinum content of 1, 2 and 4 at.%) have been developed by electrochemical dealloying. These structures represent a class of functional materials with intriguing [...]