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Chemistry

Chemical engineering & processing

Projects/Programs

Displaying 1 - 25 of 28
The NIST Acoustic Thermometer

Acoustic Techniques in Fluid Metrology

Ongoing
In collaboration with NIST's Chemical Sciences Division, we use photoacoustic resonators for continuous monitoring of the CO2 concentration in ambient air from a tall building rooftop; (see Fig. 2) [ 1] for measuring the optical properties of particles (e.g. soot) in air that affect the energy
Microfluidic tissue/organ on a chip system

Bioelectronic Sensors for Tissue/Organ-on-a-Chip Systems

Ongoing
We apply our expertise in micro/nanofabrication, electrokinetics and cell-based assays to develop bioelectronic sensors in microfluidic platforms. We are working on a platform that entraps cells for electrochemical monitoring in an environment that has mechanical properties more similar to those

Controlling Microfluidic Cell Cultures

Ongoing
Intended impact:Cell behavior is powerfully modulated by local extracellular cues. However, the number of parameters that affect cell behavior is large, and include soluble signaling molecules, dissolved gases, the chemistry and mechanics of the extracellular matrix, and the proximity and behavior

Development of Enhanced mRNA Amplification Using Microfluidics

Ongoing
Intended Impact:Tissue samples frequently contain multiple cell types. New methods (e.g. laser capture microdissection) enable the segregation of small quantities of individual cells and cell types, but the current methods to analyze global gene expression do not provide highly efficient profiling

Digital PCR

Ongoing
With appropriately validated assays, digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) determines the number of DNA targets (copies) per reaction partition, without the need for a standard curve. Reaction partitions can be in the form of fixed chambers in a microfluidic device, referred to as chamber digital
surface acoustic wave sensor

Electroacoustic Wave-Based Flow Sensors

Ongoing
As part of our NIST-on-a-Chip efforts, we are developing strategies to measure local flow in microfluidic systems. This project will develop label-free flow sensors using surface acoustic waves embedded in microfluidic devices. In this approach, an electromechanical transducer is placed on a
Ammunition metal box with explosives sticker.

Explosives Decomposition Chemistry

Completed
Intended Impact Computational modeling and simulation will help in the invention of new explosives, the design of compounded mixtures of existing materials, and the engineering of delivered systems such as military ordnance. Objective Detailed chemistry is a necessary part of computational

Fluid Suspensions and Emulsions

Ongoing
We aim to: Develop measurement capabilities to relate solution structure and viscosity through novel combinations of unique small volume, high shear rate rheometers with scattering and particle-imaging techniques. A major application of these capabilities is understanding self-association in fluids

Improved Benchtop Connectivity to Complex Microfluidic Devices

Ongoing
Intended impact Microfluidic devices with many fluidic and pneumatic inlets are difficult to connect to benchtop reservoirs and controllers. Many hours can be spent sorting, untangling, and connecting tubing to a single device. If one then finds that the device is not fully functional, the process

Low Temperature Regenerator and Pulse Tube Losses

Ongoing
All-digital radio communication between the various forces of the U.S. military is required to improve communications to the level needed in the near future. Such communication requires analog-to-digital converters of speeds only possible with low temperature superconducting electronics. The
A micromechanical bulk acoustic resonator that uses phononic crystal tethers to achieve a quality factor approaching the fundamental dissipation limit (fxQ can be as large as 1.2 x 1013 Hz)

Micro- and Nanoelectromechanical Systems

Completed
MEMS/NEMS are enabling technologies that bring new functionalities with the potential to radically transform markets ranging from consumer products to national defense. The meteoric rise of the smartphone is an excellent example, in which MEMS accelerometers, gyroscopes, microphones, displays, and

Microcryocooler for Terahertz Detectors

Ongoing
DARPA has been interested in the development of cooled detector systems (infrared and terahertz) that require less than 1 W of input power (battery operated) and have a total volume less than about 4 cm 3. Such systems could be used for detection of enemy missile launches (infrared), chemical

Multiplexed "Detectorless" Electrophoresis

Ongoing
Intended impact:In the biological sciences, there is an increasing need for measurement tools that can provide high-throughput, high-quality data (consider drug discovery and systems biology, for example). Capillary electrophoresis (CE) is fast, requires only small amounts of sample and reagents
USAXS animation

Multiscale structure and dynamics in advanced technological materials

Ongoing
New technologies increasingly harness materials phenomena that operate across many length-scales: e.g., in selective gas adsorption, additive manufacturing, new alloy designs, or advanced concretes. To overcome technology barriers, it is no longer sufficient just to characterize the materials

NCNR DAC and CCUS efforts

Ongoing
Objectives To advance US competitiveness in Direct Air Capture (DAC) and Carbon Capture, Usage, and Sequestration (CCUS) Use advanced neutron scattering techniques to understand the adsorption process for the most promising materials for adsorption-based carbon capture and provide avenues to
Conceptual Art of Gas Molecules Adsorbed in a Zeolite Adsorbent

NIST Data Resources for Adsorption

Ongoing
NIST/ARPA-e Database of Novel and Emerging Adsorbent Materials A centralized resource for the scientific community to find and compare single- and multi-component adsorption isotherms reported in the literature. The database sorts data according to adsorbent material, adsorbate species
Evolution of Flat-histogram Monte Carlo Simulation

NIST Standard Reference Simulation Website

Ongoing
Molecular simulations, in particular Monte Carlo Molecular Simulation and Molecular Dynamics Simulation, are methods for computing the properties of some kind of system, for which the intermolecular interactions are specified via mathematical relationships derived from statistical mechanics. Since
Materials Extrusion Additive Manufacturing

Polymer Additive Manufacturing and Rheology

Ongoing
We are measuring the fundamental processes and material parameters that are critical to understanding and furthering polymers-based AM. These efforts will aid the AM ecosystem through better online monitoring capabilities and developing strategies for materials optimization. In situ measurements of

Polymer Formulations

Completed
Bringing new and optimized formulated products to market requires measurements that will allow rapid assessment of the structure and properties of multicomponent mixtures over large parameter spaces. To this end, we are developing microfluidic "lab on a chip" technologies that enable researchers to

Renewable Energy and Fuels

Ongoing
Fuel volatility and chemical characterization. We specialize in the Advanced Distillation Curve (ADC) method , developed at NIST, which is a powerful tool for the measurement of distillation curves to characterize complex fluids. We have applied this to simple hydrocarbons, gasolines, diesel fuels
Schematic figure illustrating the principle of operation of a mass spectrometer, showing deflection of ions based on mass.

Theoretical Mass Spectrometry

Ongoing
No Description Intended Impact Unknown compounds will be identified more reliably. Quality control for the NIST Mass Spectrometry Database will be enhanced. Goals Develop software tools for predicting microcanonical branching fractions automatically. This is currently too laborious and too technical
reaction coordinate

Thermodynamics of Enzyme-catalyzed Reactions

Ongoing
Current efforts are focused on industrially important biotransformation problems such as those found in hydrogenation, hydroxylation, aromatic amino acid metabolic pathways, and biofuel applications. The methods used include calorimetry, chromatography, enzymology, and spectrophotometry. The

Tissue Engineering

Ongoing
Tissue Engineering Measurands: Tissue engineering measurands are confusing to discuss and a charting method to improve communication is demonstrated. Measurement Assurance Strategies for Regenerative Medicine: Reliable methods for assessing product consistency and quality. Regenerative Medicine