Friday, November 14, 2003Volume 3, Issue 14
WUN - Metal Atom-Molecule Interactions in Self-Assembled Monolayers
Professor Dave Allara
Penn State University
Monday, November 17, 2003
12:00 Noon
108 Wartik Lab
The development of surface molecular assembly has provided new approaches to the study of molecular interfaces with applications in diverse areas. A recent example is provided by the study of metal atom-molecule interactions at planar interfaces. Using self-assembled monolayers as well-defined molecular substrates, a variety of in-situ surface analysis probes, in combination with quantum chemical calculations, can be applied to follow the evolution of chemical and physical interactions of vapor-deposited metal atoms with the surface. The character of the interfaces and interphases provides new insights into organometallic chemistry and processes and is of particular interest for applications such as metallized contacts on molecule-based electronic devices. Examples will be given from recent work with collaborators in which a variety of substrate functional groups is studied over a range of metal atoms from the transition, alkali and alkaline earth series.
MRI Board Meeting Report - September 2003
Nano Research Discussion:
Carlo distributed information on nano-related grants, contracts and centers at Penn State. The data showed clearly that nano is where the major successes and programs are being funded in materials, including the expanded NSF-MRSEC, 7 NSF-NIRTs, and 144 awards since fiscal 02 with the word "nano" in the title.
Carlo reminded everyone that current plans are to evolve the MRI Building into the "Nanoscale Sciences and Engineering Building" for Penn State. The administration believes that we need one flagship facility that will be visible to the outside, that can compete with the "nano-buildings" being advertised in neighboring states and that can be a repository for state-of-the-art equipment that we cannot afford to duplicate. The plan is to use the current MRI building as this platform, per the recommendations of the faculty and connect to complementary "satellite" facilities at other locations on campus. Another goal for the facility, beyond nanofabrication and nanocharacterization is to incorporate shared lab space where graduate students, post-docs and faculty can focus on common research themes - right now the emerging themes are "nanobiotechnology" and "nano-manufacturing."
This decision to allocate resources to expand the nanofab raised questions amongst the active faculty engaged in nanoscience research with regard to equipment acquisitions, facility management and shared lab space. In response, the MRI Executive Committee formed an ad-hoc team consisting of Hank Foley, David Allara, and Steve Fonash to seek advice from faculty (via the Nanofabrication Facility Users Advisory Committee), and to prepare a set of recommendations for the MRI Executive Committee.
Numerous issues were discussed and debated, and it was obvious that even in this small group, there are many perspectives to the nano-opportunities on campus. But chief among them was that in spite of the investments at the MRI building, we are not investing enough in nano, university-wide, to stay competitive. It was pointed out that we are among the top 5 schools in the world in scientific contributions to Nanoscience and Technology, but unless we invest significantly more in the infrastructure, we will loose this competitive edge to government labs and other universities that are investing with significant facility upgrades and new faculty hires. In fact, Purdue and the University of Albany are aggressively recruiting our faculty and promising them access to new multi-million dollar facilities.
It was suggested that if we cannot build another building now, the university should invest in all areas and build a stronger distributed network. It was also noted that PSU's total clean-room space, at all cleanliness levels, is 1/3 of what we actually need today. The cost of capturing all the apparent nano-opportunities may be too high for the university under the current fiscal constraints.
Additionally, there needs to be a research and education vision for the administration from the MRI Board. This vision should include development of a strong undergraduate and graduate education program that crosses and integrates the colleges and departments that work in nanotechnology. A new building, appropriate space allocations and location of the facilities are all critical to successfully integrating a college-level education program and conducting world-leading research.
There are significant "cultural issues" associated with user facilities, in general, including intellectual property, shared discovery, and the balance between research and routine activities, external and internal users, and student training/courses.
Summary of the Discussion:
- Penn State needs a large materials/nano building on central campus as soon as possible. Faculty realize that this will not happen overnight, but believe that it is critical to the long term success of Penn State's nanomaterials research. In the meantime, we need to consider how best to organize and share resources without being bound by walls or distance.
- Penn State needs a range of clean room space from Class 10 to Class 1000, as well as regular lab space immediately adjacent.
- This process is moving at an evolutionary pace and perhaps needs to be more revolutionary.
- Penn State has an opportunity to double or triple its awards with respect to nanoscience and technology research, but we need to invest today to make it happen.
- Some of our faculty are being courted by universities with new flagship facilities and un-complicated space.
- Research, education of grads and undergrads, and training are all mutually achievable but we need to plan now.
- The nano community and the administration need to continue to work towards a common vision for nano at Penn State.
Fenske Professor Named
The College of Engineering has named Kristen Fichthorn the Merrell R. Fenske professor of chemical engineering.
Fichthorn, who holds the rank of professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and the Department of Physics, joined the University faculty in 1990. Her research focuses on applying atomistic simulation techniques, such as Monte Carlo methods and molecular dynamics, quantum mechanics and condensed matter theory, to the study of surface phenomena and topics in materials science.
Fichthorn was named a National Science Foundation Presidential Young Investigator in 1990 and received an Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship in 1998. She holds a doctoral degree in chemical engineering from the University of Michigan.
The Merrell R. Fenske Professorship in Chemical Engineering provides support for an outstanding faculty member in the Department of Chemical Engineering to continue and further scholarly contributions to teaching, research and public service. The professorship honors Merrell R. Fenske, a noted expert in the study of friction, wear and lubrication, who served as chemical engineering department head at Penn State from 1959 until his retirement in 1969.
Grants and Contracts
Materials research accounted for more than $6.9 million in contracts and grants for the month of October! The largest of these contracts and grants (those greater than $150K) are listed below, along with a link to the complete list of contracts and grants. These data are provided by OSPs Strategic Information Management System.
Allcock, Harry R; Novel Biodegradable Composites for Tissue Engineering, Virginia, University of
Eden, Timothy J; Advanced Technologies for Printed Wiring Board Fabrication, U.S. Department of the Navy
Krauthammer, Theodor; Light-Framed Structures Subjected to Blast Loading, United States Marine Corps
Macdonald, Digby D; The Fundamental Role of Nano-Scale Oxide Films in the Oxidation of Hydrogen and the Reduction of Oxygen on Noble Metal Electrocatalysts, U.S. Department of Energy
Macdonald, Digby D; Urquidi-Macdonald, Mirna; The Oxidation of Zircaloy Fuel Cladding in Water-Cooled Nuclear Reactors, U.S. Department of Energy
Messier, Russell F; Horn, Mark W; Scheetz, Barry E; Collins, Robert W; Friedman, Lawrence; Segall, Albert; Nanostructured Protective Coatings Against Wear, North Dakota State University
Motta, Arthur T; Advanced Corrosion Resistant Zr Alloys for High Burnup and Generation IV Applications, U.S. Department of Energy
Snyder, David W; Temperature Dependent Non-Contact Resistivity Measurement for Silicon Carbide, U.S. Department of the Navy
Tittmann, Bernhard R; The Investigation and Evaluation of Ultrasonic/Acoustic Techniques for Radiation Detection, Industry
Varadan, Vijay K; A Study of Artificial Composite Materials, National University of Singapore
For a complete list of the contracts and grants for October go to:
http://www.mri.psu.edu/research/awards.asp?awardperiod=0310
Materials Seminars
Monday, November 17, 2003Time: 12:00 PMMonday, November 17, 2003
Location: 108 Wartik Lab
Title: Metal Atom-Molecule Interactions in Self-Assembled Monolayers
Speaker: Dave Allara, Penn State University
Time: 12:00 PMWednesday, November 19, 2003
Location: 339 Davey Lab
Title: Coulomb blockade and quantum dynamics of solid-state qubits
Speaker: Dmitri A. Averin, SUNY Stony Brook
Time: 11:00 AMWednesday, November 19, 2003
Location: 250 MRL Bldg.
Title: Recent Progress on the Growth, Characterization and Application of Relaxor-based Single Crystals
Speaker: Haosu Luo Shanghai Institute of Ceramics of the Chinese Academy of Science (SICCAS)
Time: 3:35 PMThursday, November 20, 2003
Location: 114 EES Building
Title: An introduction to liquid metal MHD applications.
Speaker: Gita Talmage, Penn State
Time: 12:15 PMThursday, November 20, 2003
Location: S5 Osmond Laboratory
Title: Highly Conductive Block Co-Polymer Nanowires, Nanocables, MEMS Sesnors and Other Cool and Useful Stuff
Speaker: Richard McCullough, Carnegie Mellon University
Time: 1:15 PMThursday, November 20, 2003
Location: 26 Hosler Building
Title: Topics in the Physics of Novel Magnetic Material
Speaker: Peter Schiffer, Penn State
Time: 3:50 PM
Location: 117 Osmond Laboratory
Title: Penn State Films of Superconductor Magnesium DiBoride: A Success Story of Interdisciplinary Research
Speaker: Xiaoxing Xi, Penn State
Funding Opportunities
- ONR: Engineering and Technical Support Services in Infrared and Electro-Optical Areas
- DARPA: Imaging Coherent Optical Radar (ICHOR)
- DOE: Materials Sciences and Engineering
