WSU, PSU Researchers Awarded Nanotechnology Grant

PULLMAN, Wash. — Researchers at Washington State University and Portland State University have been awarded a $1 million nanotechnology grant from the National Science Foundation to develop thermal switches using carbon nanotubes. The devices are expected to be enormously useful in applications that include cooling, power generation and DNA processing.

The grant is one of only 47 awarded nationwide through the National Science Foundation’s Nanoscale Interdisciplinary Research Team. The program supports cutting-edge work in nanotechnology.

Nanotechnology is an umbrella term that covers many areas of research dealing with objects that are measured in nanometers. A nanometer (nm) is a billionth of a meter, or a millionth of a millimeter.

“Research in the revolutionary field of nanotechnology is leading to innovations that could and already are significantly improving the quality of our lives on a daily basis,” said Candis Claiborn, associate dean of research and graduate programs in the College of Engineering and Architecture. “Receiving this prestigious, highly competitive grant allows Washington State University to be a player in this exciting field.’’

This multicampus partnership is unique in that it leverages the different strengths of WSU and PSU across the region. Professors Cecilia Richards, Robert Richards and David Bahr from the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at WSU’s Pullman campus will lead the project to design and develop this new generation of thermal machines. Professors Sinisa Mesarovic and Mohammed Osman, also of WSU’s Pullman campus, will model the devices. Physics professor Jun Jiao of PSU will grow carbon nanotubes to be used in the switches, and Daniel Chiang, faculty member in mechanical engineering at WSU Vancouver, will measure their properties.

“This multidisciplinary and multicampus effort will strengthen the nanoscience and microtechnology research in the Pacific Northwest area,” Jiao said. “I am glad that Portland State University will be able to play an important role in successfully executing the proposed project.”

Nanotechnology is a hybrid science combining engineering, materials science and chemistry. The goal of nanotechnology is to create useful structures and devices by manipulating individual atoms and molecules.  Nanotechnology will require engineering input in scaling these devices, moving from the laboratory and bench top to creating useful products with consumer and industrial applications.