University of Delaware – TechConnect Briefs

Self-healing Composite Membranes for Fuel Cell Applications

Wang L., Advani S.G., Prasd A.K., University of Delaware, US

Defects in the form of pinholes and cracks can occur in the membrane due to a combination of chemical and mechanical degradation mechanisms during operation of the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell. Such defects are [...]

The distribution of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) in municipal wastewater treatment systems

Choi S., Eichhorn J., Johnston M., Huang C.P., University of Delaware, US

The objective of this research was to develop a method reliable for the detection and quantification of engineered nanoparticles in municipal wastewater treatment systems. Wastewater and sludge samples were sampled from four regional municipal wastewater [...]

Monometallic nano-catalysts for the reduction of perchlorate in water

Wang D.M., Lin H-Y, Huang C.P., University of Delaware, US

Perchlorate removal in a clean, cost-effective and public-acceptable approach is one of the important issues for current drinking water treatment. Catalytic membrane (CM) was prepared by coating monometallic catalysts of the nano-size onto supports by [...]

Growth and Some Enzymatic Responses of E. coli to Photocatalytic TiO2

Erdem A., Metzler D., Chou H.W., Lin H-Y, Huang C.P., University of Delaware, US

The effects of photocatalytic nano-TiO2 on the survival or die-off of E. coli (e.g. TK2) were investigated under ambient conditions. Experimentally, a 28-h E. coli culture was exposed to photocatalytic nano-TiO2 at various concentrations, e.g., [...]

Growth and Some Enzymatic Responses of E. coli to Photocatalytic TiO2

Erdem A., Metzler D., Chou H.W., Lin H-Y, Huang C.P., University of Delaware, US

The effects of photocatalytic nano-TiO2 on the survival or die-off of E. coli (e.g. TK2) were investigated under ambient conditions. Experimentally, a 28-h E. coli culture was exposed to photocatalytic nano-TiO2 at various concentrations, e.g., [...]

Monometallic nano-catalysts for the reduction of perchlorate in water

Wang D.M., Lin H-Y, Huang C.P., University of Delaware, US

Perchlorate removal in a clean, cost-effective and public-acceptable approach is one of the important issues for current drinking water treatment. Catalytic membrane (CM) was prepared by coating monometallic catalysts of the nano-size onto supports by [...]

Single wall Carbon Nanotube Optical Actuators: Towards Optical Artificial Muscles

Lu S., Panchapakesan B., University of Delaware, US

The direct conversion of electrical energy to mechanical energy has been realized by various types of actuation technologies. But the direct conversion of optical energy to mechanical energy is rarely touched to date. Here we [...]

Platinum Nanowire Actuator: Metallic Artificial Muscles

Lu S., Sivakumar K., Panchapakesan B., University of Delaware, US

In this paper, we have fabricated platinum nanowires by using carbon nanotube as templates and have shown its applications for nanoactuation using electro-chemical actuation techniques.The strain response of the nanowire is measured and a total [...]

Electronic Sensing of Antibodies using Carbon Nanotube Devices

Teker K., Sivakumar K., Wickstrom E., Panchapakesan B., University of Delaware, US

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are remarkable solid state nanomaterials due to their unique properties such as high surface area, hollow cavities, and excellent mechanical and electrical properties. Interfacing carbon nanotubes with biological materials could enable significant [...]

Symmetry and Symmetry Breaking in Electrostatically Actuated MEMS

Pelesko J.A., Bernstein D.H., McCuan J., University of Delaware, US

We investigate the symmetry of solutions to the small aspect ratio approximate model of electrostatic actuation. We find that for an annular shaped domain asymmetric solutions may occur.