Events

Interdisciplinary Science & Engineering Materials Research Group Workshop
(ISEMRG Workshop/Spring ’08)
April 16-17, 2008

Registration Form

December 7, 2007:
Dr. Andrew Skipor, Motorola Research Center,
“Nanotechnology: A Look into the Future, Think-Small”
Abstract:
Nanotechnology encompasses many diverse disciplines to enable the manipulation of matter at the atomic level, enabling radical new approaches to material property enhancement and synthesis. Several opportunities exist for near term as well as long term integration of nanotechnology into future products- novel interfaces such as a multi-functional, high strength, and active housings for a rich and exciting experience are on the horizon. An overview of several nano-technology opportunities and their research challenges will be presented. Nano-focused projects to be discussed include: polymer nano-composites, no-clean surfaces, nano-solder, nano-attach, free standing quantum dots, and self-healing materials. First we will present an overview of nano-technology, followed by a discussion of these nano-focused projects and close with “lessons from biology."

February 7, 2008:
Dr. Michael Wang, Argonne National Laboratory,
“Well-to-Wheels Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emission Results and Issues of Bio-Fuels” 
Abstract:
The United States is expected to produce 7 billion gallons of fuel ethanol for blending with gasoline in 2007 virtually all of which is produced from corn. The energy and environmental effects of using corn-based ethanol have nonetheless been debated. Since 1997, Argonne National Laboratory has been studying the energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission impacts of fuel ethanol as part of its overall efforts to evaluate the well-to-wheels (WTW) energy and emission effects of various advanced vehicle technologies and transportation fuels.
Argonne’s WTW analysis shows that so far, corn-based ethanol in the United States seems to result in moderate GHG emission reductions. As U.S. corn ethanol production will expand rapidly in the next 10 years, it remains to be seen if and how much GHG reductions will result from corn ethanol. The unclear future of the GHG results for corn ethanol stems from the potential land use changes that may be caused by the demand for corn by ethanol production in the near future, as well as by the intensity of fertilizer use in new corn farms, among many other factors. On the other hand, cellulosic ethanol could substantially reduce GHG emissions, and the level of GHG reductions by cellulosic ethanol seems to overwhelm the uncertainties of potential GHG emissions from land use changes by cellulosic biomass growth.

March 6, 2008:
Prof. Preston Sneed, Chemistry Department – UIC,
“Synthesis of Emissive Semiconductor Nanocrystals and Biological / Chemical Imaging Agents”
Abstract:
Our group over the past year has developed novel chemical synthetic techniques to create highly emissive Cadmium Calcogenide and non-toxic semiconductor nanoparticles. The strategy we have employed involves the synthesis of precursors that are not generally commercially available. Essentially this gives us a large number of chemical degrees of freedom that allows us to develop the best methods for nanoparticle synthesis. We have also developed novel methods for aqueous solubilization of nanoparticles which also allows us to easily functionalize the material. At present, we have developed nanoparticle ratiometric sensors for pH and mercury by functionalizing the nanoparticle with chemically responsive dyes. The method imparts chemical sensitization by modulation of Forster Energy Transfer (FRET) from the nanoparticle to the emissive dye which is a function of the local chemical environment. We next plan to develop infrared chemical sensors that may help aid in the detection of cancer tumors in the lymphatic system.