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Project #1: Plasma Diagnostics for the Deposition of Nano-materials |
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Problem
Statement:
Millions of dollars are spent in the development of advanced coatings, but
experience has shown that scale-up is often difficult due to significant,
unpredictable variations. Plasma diagnostics will thus be performed in an
inverted cylindrical magnetron sputtering system used to deposit nano-films
on cutting tools to aid this scale-up process. Objectives and Research Plan: The objective is to use state-of-the-art plasma diagnostic systems – optical emission spectroscopy, residual gas analysis, and Langmuir probe – to quantitatively and spatially measure neutral and charged atomic and molecular ground state and excited state number densities and energy, and electron number density and energy. Critical parameters which will be investigated include pressure, power, gas composition, substrate bias voltage, magnetic field configuration, and pulsed versus alternating current power configuration. One specific task for the intern, spatially mapping the electron density, for example, will be determined when the intern arrives. Training Plan: Weeks 1-2: plasma fundamentals; Weeks 2-3: plasma diagnostic. Research Facilities: Surface Engineering and Advanced Materials Processing Laboratory |
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Project #2: Molecular Dynamic Simulations to Minimize Stress Induced Curvature |
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 Dr. Joseph J. Rencis, P.E. Professor and Head of Mechanical Engineering, and The 21st Century Leadership Chair in Engineering Program co-Director E-mail: jjrencis@uark.edu V-mail: 479-575-4153 |
Problem Statement:
Stress induced during the fabrication of thin-film devices is the main
cause of curvature in thin-films. Curvature affects the performance of
thin-films used in Micro-Opto-Electro-Mechanical System devices. One way
to reduce curvature is through argon ion bombardment on the silicon
substrate. This causes the amorphization of the surface modifying the
stress gradient through the film thickness. The simulation of the entire
process is carried out using molecular dynamic simulation to asses the
stress and curvature variation due to ion bombardment. |
| Project #3: Percolation Phenomena in Nano-Particle Composites | |
 Dr. Adam Huang Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering E-mail: phuang@uark.edu V-mail: 479-575-4054 |
Problem
Statement:
Conductive nano-particle composites can provide new capabilities as
sensing elements for micro/nano-devices. However, the non-linear
electro-conductivity characteristics of the nano-particle composites are
needed for successful application in micro/nano-devices. |
| Project #4: Engineering of Nano-Bio Materials and Manufacturing Processes | |
 Dr. Ajay Malshe Professor of Mechanical Engineering and 21st Century Chair of Materials, Manufacturing and Integrated Systems E-mail: apm2@uark.edu V-mail: 479-575-6561 |
Problem Statement:
The field of
bio/nano manufacuturing is expanding at a tremendous rate. However, there
is much to be learned before the benefits from this area can be used.
This fact is particularly true for applications involving the human body. |
| Project #5: Applying Nanosensor Technologies to HVAC Systems | |
 Dr. Darin Nutter Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering E-mail: dnutter@uark.edu V-mail: 479-575-4503 |
Problem Statement:
The heating,
ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system plays a vital role in
maintaining comfort, health, and security within residential or commercial
buildings. Surprisingly, the basic HVAC system has not significantly
changed over the last 20 years, but what have changed are the control of
the system and the monitoring of conditions within the space. What if we
could place even more sensors with the building and system? The next
level of HVAC system improvement may come from applying economically
feasible nanosensor technologies to our homes and office buildings. |
| Project #6: Carbon Nanotubes Separation for Sensing Applications | |
 Dr. Uchechukwu C. Wejinya Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering E-mail: uwejinya@uark.edu V-mail: 479-575-4800 |
Problem Statement:
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been intensely studied, and
are good candidates for many electronics and sensing applications. The
interests in using carbon nanotubes to manufacture electronics and sensors
have increased in recent years because of the increase need for making
electronics smaller, and their excellent electrical and mechanical
properties. These potentials cannot be achieved unless CNTs with
semiconducting and metallic band structure can be successfully deposited
and separated. |
| Project #7: Mechanical Behavior of Metallic Nanolaminate Composite Materials | |
 Dr. Douglas Spearot Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering E-mail: dspearot@uark.edu V-mail: 479-575-3040 |
Problem Statement:
Metallic
nanolaminate composite materials consist of many repeating layers of
metallic or intermetallic constituents. For these nanostructured
materials, it is well known that interfaces serve as the initiation sites
for dislocations during plastic deformation. However, the precise role of
the interface structure on dislocation emission is unknown. Such
information is required to develop models for deformation in metallic
nanolaminate composites. |
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Project #8: Nanoscale Biomedical Sensors |
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 Dr. Steve Tung Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering E-mail: chstung@uark.edu V-mail: 479-575-5557 |
Problem Statement:
Biomedical
sensors are becoming increasingly important in recent years due to rising
health care costs and concerns of homeland security. This is especially
the case in DNA based analysis where the traditional testing equipment,
although accurate, is expensive and requires a long testing time.
Nanoscale biomedical sensors, due to their small size and precision
design, provide a potential solution for this problem by allowing
molecular-level measurements at a tremendous saving in time and cost.
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Project #9: Gold Nanoparticle-induced Crystallization of Amorphous Silicon |
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 Dr. Min Zou Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering E-mail: mzou@uark.edu V-mail: 479-575-6671 |
Problem Statement:
Stiction/adhesion and friction are issues that affect the reliability
of
magnetic hard disk drives (HDD). Our research effort
focuses on surface nano-texturing to improve tribological performances in
the miniaturized systems. |
