SBIR-STTR Award

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project tests the feasibility of using polarized light scattering for characterization of nano-sized powder size and shape. Nanostructures are a novel family of materials that allow customized structural, electrochemical, electrical, electronic, optical, magnetic, and chemical properties. The development of nanomaterials into useful devices and products depends in large part on the ability to characterize these materials during synthesis, processing, and device production. Current characterization techniques are off-line, slow, expensive, and unreliable. Synergetic Technologies, Inc. (STI) will develop an innovative on-line, reliable, information-rich and real-time device. A precursor of the proposed system has been successfully used to characterize agglomerates of nano-sized soot monomers from combustion processes. Tasks include accuracy assessment and characterizing a variety of individual nanopowders and their agglomerates. STI has consulted with two leading commercial innovators in the nanomaterials area: Triton Systems and Nanomaterials Research Corporation. These companies have great interest in STI's technology and are eager to assist them in developing a system for on-line commercial use. Phase I efforts will focus on proof-of-concept, with special emphasis directed at characterizing the structure of nano-powder agglomerates. Phase II will involve building and integrating a prototype unit for on-line testing at a production facility.

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will further develop, test, and demonstrate a novel approach for characterizing nano-scale powders and their agglomerates. Nanostructures are a novel family of materials that allow customization of structural, electrochemical, electrical, electronic, optical, magnetic, and chemical properties. The use of nanomaterials to fabricate valuable devices and to manufacture new products depends in large part on the ability to characterize these materials during synthesis, processing, and device production. Current high resolution characterization techniques are off line, slow, expensive, and unreliable; the few on-line particle sizing instruments available make questionable assumptions (e.g., that all particles are spherical in shape) which introduce unnecessary error into the diagnosis. The commercial applications of this project is to use nano-scale powders, which are the fundamental building blocks of many products used in a wide variety of industries (e.g., advanced ceramics, pharmaceuticals, consumer products, etc.). As the technology develops, the application areas will increase. The ability to characterize nano-scale particles and agglomerates on-line is crucial for controlling the quality of products and for the invention of new products and processes. In addition, characterization of environmental particulates is critical for understanding air quality concerns and health effects - leading to improve clean air regulations and monitoring.