US – Page 347 – TechConnect Briefs

A New Environmental Accountability System for the Nanotechnology Industry

Paddock L.C., Pace Law School, US

Historically, the United States and many other countries have relied on a government-based regulatory system as the principle method of holding industries accountable for the environmental and public health consequences of their activities and product. [...]

Slowing the Nanoscale Revolution? Questions about Government Regulatory Capacity

Bosso C.J., Isaacs J., Kay W.D., Sandler R.L., Rodrigues R., Northeastern University, US

The National Nanotechnology Initiative has committed substantial funding to nanoscale research and development. These efforts will bear fruit fairly soon, yet the path to commercial production is strewn with a number of potentially considerable legal, [...]

Approaching Risk Assessment of Nanoscale Materials

Shatkin J.A., Barry B.E., The Cadmus Group, Inc., US

Developments in nanotechnology and nanomaterials (NM) are rapidly proceeding ahead of a clear understanding of their potential health effects and environmental impacts. Risk assessment will be an important tool for evaluating and potentially regulating NM [...]

Nanotechnology and Design: The nanostudio project

Elvin G., Ball State University, US

Nanotechnology has the potential to transform the built environment dramatically. According to the Interagency Working Group on Nanoscience, Engineering, and Technology, nanotechnology “is likely to change the way almost everything - from vaccines to computers [...]

A Framework for Responsible Nanotechnology Standards

Walsh S., Medley T., Environmental Defense and DuPont, US

Environmental Defense and DuPont will discuss their work together to develop a framework for the responsible development, production, use and disposal of nano-scale materials. The intent of this framework is to define a systematic and [...]

Nanoporous Silicon Membrane Based Micro Fuel Cells for Portable Power Sources Applications

Chu K-L, Shannon M.A., Masel R.I., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, US

In this paper the formation of nanoporous silicon membranes and evaluation of their usage for the solid electrolyte in miniature direct formic acid fuel cells compatible with silicon micro-fabrication technology is reported. Nanoporous silicon membranes [...]

Pt and Pt-Ru/Carbon Nanotube Nanocomposites Synthesized in Supercritical Fluid as Electrocatalysts for Low-Temperature Fuel Cells

Lin Y., Cui X., Wang J., Yen C.H., Wai C.M., Pacific Northwest National laboratory, US

In recent years, the use of supercritical fluids (SCFs) for the synthesis and processing of nanomaterials has proven to be a rapid, direct, and clean approach to develop nanomaterials and nanocomposites. The application of supercritical [...]

TiN/GaN- Metal/Semiconductor Multilayers for Thermionic Energy Conversion Devices

Rawat V., Sands T.D., Purdue University, US

This work deals with investigation of metal/semiconductor nitrides for potential application as solid state thermionic energy converters. TiN/GaN multilayers were deposited on Sapphire and MgO substrate using reactive pulsed laser deposition. This is the first [...]

A search of superparamagnetic iron oxide-myoglobin as potential nanoparticle based magnetic resonance imaging marker in mouse heart imaging

Sharma R., Haik Y., Chen C-J., FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, US

Superparamagnetic iron oxide (Fe2O3) has emerged as potential MRI contrast agent in whole animal imaging to localize the site of clinically important physiological damage such as ischemia, angiogenesis, oxygen insufficiency, immuno-deficiency [1, 2]. We achieved [...]

Effectively Grinding and Dispersing Nanoparticles Using a Fine Bead Mill

Enderle U., Kolb G., Mende S., Way H., NETZSCH Fine Particle Technology, LLC, US

Dispersing NanoParticles into liquids can be challenging, the tremendous surface area and surface energy which provides the beneficial effects of nanomaterials also prevents easy dispersion into liquids. Conventional technology for dispersing powders into liquids is [...]