1. John Flake, Semiconductors / Electronic Materials Surface Functionalization of Silicon Nanowires, BOR-RCS $103k/3yrs Significance: Silicon nanowires are functionalized for biological interfaces, sensors, or for Li-ion battery applications. 3D Interconnects, ATMI Inc. $450k/3yr. Significance: Develop novel electrochemical approaches to forming deep through silicon vias. Other Areas of Research: TiO 2 photocatalysts, photoelectrochemical reduction of CO3, Dept. of Energy EFERC Li-ion battery materials, DoD Silicon nanowires, SEM 9 Die Stack with Through Silicon Vias

2. Francisco R. Hung, Molecular Modeling in Materials Design Ionic Liquids in Nanoporous Carbons: when confined, how are the ionic liquids affected by the properties (pore size, pore morphology, surface chemistry) of the carbons? Significance: optimize design of (1) electrodes for electrochemical double layer capacitors (EDLCs) for hybrid vehicles; and (2) nanoporous semiconductors (e.g., TiO 2 ) for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) for using solar energy (with John Flake) Electric double-layer capacitor Dye-sensitized solar cell Organization of Carbon Nanotubes Using Liquid Crystals: investigate the use of liquid crystals (LCs) to manipulate and control the orientation of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) Significance: high-quality dispersions of oriented CNTs in LCs have applications in displays, nanoscale electronics, optical sensors, and in the development of composites with unique mechanical, thermal and/or electronic properties. Wall patterned arrays that might be used to align CNTs dispersed in a LC

3. Greg Griffin, Materials Processing Aerosol synthesis methods Significance: (1) Aluminum nitride powder - thermal heat sink, ceramic armor; (2) Sol-gel / colloidal chemistry – mesoporous TiO 2 - photocatalytic air, water purification. Chemical vapor deposition / Atomic layer deposition Significance: copper thin films – microelectronic circuitry (CVD) palladium nanoparticles - heterogeneous catalysis (ALD) Future plans Nanostructured catalyst preparation Significance: CO 2 conversion; desulfurization; - photocatalytic decontamination Microelectronic devices Metallization circuitry; solar photovoltaic cells Environmental nanotechnology - education proposal

4. Kerry Dooley, Catalytic Materials Monolithic Materials for Oscillating Reactors (C. Knopf) Significance: Enhanced observed rates in catalysis of edible oil hydrogenation, oxidative desulfurization. Mixed Rare Earth Oxides for Nanocombustion and Desulfurization (S. Acharya) Significance: Enhanced thrust for fighter aircraft; desulfurization and tar removal from coal and biogasifier effluents. Hydrodeoxygenation/ Decarboxylation of Fatty Acids and Rosin Acids Significance: Biorefining the acids fraction of pyrolysis liquids and tar extracts to higher value fuels, chemicals Figure – Synthetic Evolution of Four Generations of High- Temperature (600ºC) Oxide Desulfurization Sorbents