The development of novel materials with unique properties is critical to advances
in industry, medicine, energy systems, microelectronics, aeronautics and many ...
Novel Materials The development of novel materials with unique properties is critical to advances in industry, medicine, energy systems, microelectronics, aeronautics and many other fields. Our researchers are pursuing a broad range of interdisciplinary projects with tremendous potential for new products and applications. definition novel materials research focuses on improving the performance of materials such as plastics, metals and ceramics by manipulating their structures to exhibit new properties for a wide range of products and applications.
at-a-glance RESEARCH PROGRAMS in nuclear fuels and materials, biomaterials, glasses, semiconductors, nanofabrication, electronic memories, minerals, computational modeling, energy materials and magnetic materials PENDING PATENTS for Multi-State Memory and Multi-Functional Devices, Magnetomechanical Transducers and Magnetic Shape Memory Structures MAJOR GRANTS from the National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Agency for International Development, the state of Idaho, the Idaho National Laboratory and from private businesses and industry PARTNERSHIPS with Idaho National Laboratory, Center for Advanced Energy Studies, private industries, businesses, universities and government agencies STUDENT INTERNSHIPS with industry and business FUNDED STUDENT research positions for many novel materials research projects DYNAMIC FACULTY with academic credentials from MIT, UC-Berkeley, Georgia Tech, ETH Zurich, Cal Tech, Penn State, University of Florida, Cornell and other top schools, and former positions with industry and national labs including Bell Laboratories, Micron Technology, Hewlett Packard and Los Alamos National Laboratory
projects Boise State researchers are: • D eveloping advanced materials for memory device fabrication • U sing strands of DNA to build nanomachines • F abricating materials capable of withstanding extreme environments • Building powerful sensors that integrate advanced materials into their design • D eveloping magnetic materials that “remember” their original shape • Studying environmental degradation of materials and sustainability • Conducting nanoscale tests and synthesis of new materials • Expanding the realm of what’s possible for energy systems, space exploration and microelectronics
CAPABILITIES A suite of materials fabrication facilities at Boise State is available for use by industry and business for measurement of magnetic materials, electrochemical and environmental testing, surface analysis, nano-micro indentation testing, mechanical/environmental testing, electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy.
“It’s been rewarding to work with a wide range of businesses that are using our facilities as part of product testing and research. The center also supports many research projects here at Boise State, and it underpins a lot of our teaching in characterization as well.” — Dr. Rick Ubic (pictured above) Associate research professor, Materials Science and Engineering, talking about the Boise State Center for Materials Characterization
BOISE STATE PROFILES/Novel Materials Peter Müllner, Ph.D. Dr. Müllner and his collaborators have several patents pending for inventions with magnetic shape-memory alloys — materials that change shape and mechanical properties in the presence of a magnetic field. The research has great potential for commercial applications, from ultra-efficient engine valves that open and close automatically, to positioning tools for microsurgical procedures, sensors for detecting environmental contaminants, “green” batteries and multi-state memory devices. Dr. Müllner collaborates with Boise State researchers Dr. William Knowlton on the memory research and Dr. Greg Hampikian on a power generation device. He also collaborates with Northwestern University’s Dr. David Dunand on magnetic shape memory alloy foam, and on related subjects with colleagues in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Spain, China and Japan. Bernard Yurke, Ph.D. Dr. Yurke and a multidisciplinary team are among only a handful of research groups in the nation using DNA nanotechnology to fabricate nanoscale devices that have the potential to greatly expand the capabilities of computers and other microelectronics products. Dr. Yurke and his collaborators are researching how the self-assembly mechanism of DNA could be harnessed to fabricate electrical and optical devices and circuits that would be 10 times smaller in size than current technology allows. The miniscule devices — one-thousandth the width of a human hair — would deliver much more power in the same amount of space, opening the doors for new product development and expansions. Dr. Yurke brings nearly 25 years of experience as a research physicist and distinguished member of the technical staff at Bell Laboratories to his position at Boise State. He collaborates with Boise State colleagues Drs. William Knowlton, Wan Kuang, Will Hughes and Jeunghoon Lee. Sharla Hopkins, senior from meridian, Idaho Hopkins is studying the dynamic recrystallization of commercial-grade nickel as part of research that could lead to improved manufacturing processes for everything from airplane parts to bridge joists to medical tools. “Conducting hands-on research in Dr. Megan Frary’s lab has been one of the best parts of going to Boise State,” she said. “It has enhanced what I’ve learned in the classroom, prepared me for a future career in industry, and provided me with income to meet my college expenses.”
research grants Here is a sampling of grants for novel materials research at Boise State: • Role of Grain Boundary Character on Dynamic Recrystallization National Science Foundation $302,200 • The Inverse Magnetoplastic Effect of Magnetic ShapeMemory Alloys U.S. Department of Energy $335,979 • Microstructural Evolution During Spark Plasma Synthesis of High Temperature Fuels and Coatings Battelle Energy Alliance $445,000 • Advanced Processing Techniques for Fabrication of 3-D Microstructures for Future Electronic Devices U.S. Department of Defense $3.2 million • Nuclear Fuels Academic Center for Excellence U.S. Department of Energy $127,934 • Enabling Magnetoplasticity in a Polycrystalline Material by Reducing Internal Constraints National Science Foundation $220,000 • Development of Materials Connection Centre National Academy of Sciences $146,072 • Corrosion-Resistant CeramicMetal Joints Prepared by a Novel Transient Liquid Phase Method National Science Foundation $30,000 • Emerging Models and Technologies National Science Foundation $281,292
Research
Matters As an emerging metropolitan research university of distinction, Boise State University is committed to fostering an environment where exceptional research and creative activity thrive.
Division of Research boisestate.edu/research (208) 426-5732
