Engineering

Latest Innovations
Carbon Nanotube Portfolio for Manufacturing Applications This portfolio includes carbon nanotube growth and processing methods relevant to nanotube manufacturing.... Read More This portfolio includes carbon nanotube growth and processing methods relevant to nanotube manufacturing. Patterned Catalyst Techniques for Aligned Single-walled Carbon Nanotube Growth Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) feature exceptional electric properties (conductivity and semi-conductivity) that make them attractive for nano-electronics, optics, material applications and more. This SWNT growth technology yields a dense structure without degraded alignment by eliminating undesired interactions between the SWNT and catalysts on the growth surface. More specifically, a patterned catalyst is used to provide a template to direct SWNT growth, resulting in perfectly aligned high coverage SWNTS. Benefits Higher density Large scale Higher quality Applications Patterned catalyst techniques are applicable for standard electronic devices that use thin film semiconductors, such as field effect transistors (FETs), sensors, thin-film transistors (TFTs). These devices can benefit from ability to deposit SWNT onto plastics and other unusual device substrates: steerable antenna arrays, flexible displays, etc. Medium Scale Carbon Nanotube Thin Film Integrated Circuits on Flexible Plastic Substrates This technology improves the performance and consistency of integrated circuits featuring semi-conductive carbon nanotube (CNT) transistors. Specifically, metallic conductive pathways in random nanotube networks are reduced using a medium scale carbon nanotube thin film. This process reduces these pathways by cutting fine lines into the carbon nanotube network while preserving its semiconducting properties. Benefits Reduces purely metallic conductive pathways in a carbon nanotube network used to construct electronic circuits. Vastly improves carbon nanotube device consistency in production (yield). Applications Primary application is integrated circuits for flexible substrate materials. Using Nanoscale Thermocapillary Flows to Create Arrays of Purely Semiconducting Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes This carbon nanotube (CNT) purification technology facilitates scalable, damage-free separation of arrayed metallic and semi-conductive CNTs. Resulting CNT arrays may be large and feature high Ion/Ioff ratios, allowing for less power loss while powered off, faster switching times, and overall lower operating voltage. The invention improves CNT array quality by creating a temperature gradient to release metallic CNTs from the array matrix. Benefits Less lost power while off Faster switching time Lower operating voltage
Suite of Bioresorbable and Transient Electronics Read More Transient electronic devices belong to a set of technologies, whereby traditional analog electronic circuits and components have been made in new ways. These new electronics exist on a much smaller scale and made of bioinert or biocompatible materials. They are flexible and transient. Transient and bioresorbable technologies are a class of device that have the ability to physically disappear at a programmed rate. Inventions within this suite includedevices and processes with applications rangingfrom medicine to construction, and from defense/securityto indoor/outdoor sensors. These technologies are appropriate for applications where device placement can be costly, invasive, or inconvenient to retrieve. Features Tunable to dissolve at programmed time Bio-compatible Soft, curvilinear surface Transient battery Materials: silicon, magnesium, magnesium oxide Benefits Electronics can now be implanted on surfaces with non-planar contact patches and non-invasive integration on soft, curvilinear surfaces of biological tissues and organs. Application Areas Remaking electronics with these capabilities permits for a plethora of new applications, in medicine, environmental research, biological enhancement, digital financial transactions and traceless surveillance.
Optical Inspection of Nanoscale Structures using a Novel Machine Learning Based Synthetic Image Generation Algorithm Semiconductor defect detection using Machine Learning Dr. Goddard and Dr. Schwing have developed a machine learning technique which requires only... Read More Semiconductor defect detection using Machine Learning Dr. Goddard and Dr. Schwing have developed a machine learning technique which requires only few training images to detect and classify nano-scale anomalies in semiconductors and in noisy optical images. It is able to automate defect inspection in a 9nm semiconductor wafer with high accuracy and at a high speed in fabrication laboratories using visible light microscopy. This method is faster than atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, and is more sensitive than current optical microscopy. It can also be used for other applications such as dimension measurements and disease sample measurements. Sanyogita Purandare, Jinlong Zhu, Renjie Zhou, Gabriel Popescu, Alexander Schwing, and Lynford L. Goddard, "Optical inspection of nanoscale structures using a novel machine learning based synthetic image generation algorithm," Opt. Express 27, 17743-17762 (2019) Optical inspection of nanoscale structures using a novel machine learning based synthetic image generation algorithm. Sanyogita Purandare, Jinlong Zhu, Renjie Zhou, Gabriel Popescu, Alexander Schwing, Lynford L. GoddardOpt Express. 2019 Jun 24; 27(13): 17743–17762. doi: 10.1364/OE.27.017743
Self-Compacting Geopolymer Concretes This geopolymer was developed through a collaboration between Professor Waltraud Kriven at the University of Illinois and the Construction Engineering Research Laboratory... Read More This geopolymer was developed through a collaboration between Professor Waltraud Kriven at the University of Illinois and the Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (an entity of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers). The concrete alternative is made from a geopolymer-based flowable binder, the supplementary cementitious materials fly ash and blast-furnace slag, alkali metal silicate, and added water. Fly ash is a byproduct of coal combustion, while slag is a byproduct of steel manufacturing. Repurposing fly ash and slag, which are considered raw waste materials, reduce emissions of CO2 by reducing the proportion of clinker produced in the Portland cement manufacturing process. Use of fly ash and blast-furnace slag in this concrete alternative is environmentally friendly and enhances the performance of key concrete properties including strength, set time, and workability. The geopolymer concrete mixture is ideal for applications requiring a short set time and high strength development, including roadway repair and general construction within warmer climates. This invention is patent pending (application number 16/255,131). The flowable geopolymer binder may be deployed and mixed in a drum for increased flexibility in a range of applications. The flowable mortar is distributed over a bed of coarse aggregate, curing rapidly to create a stronger, more environmentally-friendly concrete alternative.
Optical Fibers with Low Thermo-optic Coefficient Dr. Dragic from the University of Illinois has developed an optical fiber for high-powered fiber laser applications. This fiber is specifically designed with the thermal... Read More Dr. Dragic from the University of Illinois has developed an optical fiber for high-powered fiber laser applications. This fiber is specifically designed with the thermal mode instability problem in mind. This fiber remains single-moded at normal operating temperatures, which enhances beam quality and power efficiency of the laser. By doping the fiber core with a specific composition of rare-earth fibers, the refractive index of the core increases more slowly with increasing temperature, when compared to the refractive index of the cladding. This effect allows the optical fiber to maintain single-mode transmission at high temperatures. Benefit Improves energy efficiency of high-power fiber lasers.
Plasma Photonic Crystals Device with Plasmonic Resonances in the Microwave, Millimeter Wave, and Terahertz Spectral Regions Dr. Eden at the University of Illinois has developed a 3D microplasma photonic crystal which provides the ability to introduce or completely suppress attenuation... Read More Dr. Eden at the University of Illinois has developed a 3D microplasma photonic crystal which provides the ability to introduce or completely suppress attenuation resonances at will, in the microwave, millimeter wave, and terahertz spectral regions, while minimizing insertion loss. This complex 3D photonic crystal is comprised of a 3D-printed polymer scaffold, and free-standing arrays of polyimide capillaries. Since the capillaries are suspended in free space on the scaffold, electromagnetic structures can be placed on or around the microtubes. One example of this involves depositing metal films onto each capillary with precise periodicity. In this way, each pair of neighboring metal film rings in the 3D array are effectively coupled and constitute a capacitor, creating extremely versatile, and tunable crystal performance. Applications Microwave, millimiter-wave, terahertz communications, DoD/military (optical cloaking, electronic warfare)
Precast Prestressing Plate (PPP) for Local Repairs of Civil Structures Dr. Andrawes at the University of Illinois has developed a unique method for localized concrete repair and strengthening. A precast plate of concrete or mortar, which... Read More Dr. Andrawes at the University of Illinois has developed a unique method for localized concrete repair and strengthening. A precast plate of concrete or mortar, which contains a curved, self-anchored SMA wire, can be attached to an area of concrete in need of repair. Upon heating or passing electric current through the exposed ends of SMA wire, the restrained wire induces compressive force in the center of the plate. Since the SMA wire is self-anchored, there is no need for an external anchorage system. Additionally, since the prestressing is activated by the application of heat or electricity, there is no need for hydraulic jacking. These characteristics make this technology a flexible, and cost-saving method for localized structural repairs. Primary application: Precast/prestressed concrete products
Application Level Hardware Tracing for Scaling Post-Silicon Debug Dr. Vasudevan from the University of IL has developed an advanced algorithm for optimizing design-for-debug hardware. This algorithm takes advantage of high level... Read More Dr. Vasudevan from the University of IL has developed an advanced algorithm for optimizing design-for-debug hardware. This algorithm takes advantage of high level abstraction to enable accurate bug localization, eliminating almost 90% of possible root causes in tests using an industrial SoC. This technology, which is broadly scalable versus existing methods, addresses a great need in the field of Electronic Design Automation by decreasing the cost and shortening the timescale of chip debugging, accelerating time-to-market and streamlining the post-silicon validation phase. Application: Incorporation into chip design and verification software Publication: Pal, D.; Sharma, A.; Ray, S.; de Paula, F. M.; and Vasudevan, S. In Proceedings of the 55th Annual Design Automation Conference, DAC 2018, San Francisco, CA, USA, June 24-29, 2018, pages 92:1–92:6, 2018.
Visualizable Detection of Nanoscale Perturbations This technology adapts conventional optical microscopes for visualizable detection and sensing in nanometric volumes. Conversion is fast and low cost, and the resulting... Read More This technology adapts conventional optical microscopes for visualizable detection and sensing in nanometric volumes. Conversion is fast and low cost, and the resulting device is easy to operate, label-free, and non-destructive. Applications Microscopy, semiconductor wafer inspection, characterizing physical, biological, chemical properties of materials, bio-sensing
Single-chip Neural Probe with High Temporal Resolution Dr. Yurii Vlasov from the University of Illinois has developed a single-chip neural nanodialysis probe that can sample in vivo brain chemicals, store them, and then... Read More Dr. Yurii Vlasov from the University of Illinois has developed a single-chip neural nanodialysis probe that can sample in vivo brain chemicals, store them, and then directly deploy them for analysis, all while maintaining high temporal resolution. This device uses reversible inlets-outlets and embedded ionization ports to both sample in vivo brain chemicals and deploy them, without need for intermediate storage. This risks less contamination or Taylor dispersion than other methods, and reduces the need for bulky peripherals. Application This can be used for collecting and analyzing in-vivo biochemical concentrations in the brain. Benefits This is a single chip silicon neural probe that can sample live chemicals, store them, and then directly deploy them for analysis. Other neural probes cannot store and deploy these chemical samples, which reduces the temporal resolution of the samples.