CNM News: February 2009

On behalf of everyone at the CNM and our user community, I'm very happy to report that our scientific program is thriving and demand from users for the CNM's capabilities continues to increase. The CNM is well into our second year of full operations, and the number of user proposals and active user projects has shown sustained growth. We are also pleased to acknowledge our many returning users, and the importance of our partnership with users as we attempt to realize the promise of nanoscience. The CNM is proud to have helped its users' research programs move forward, and while budgets for science are uncertain in this distressing economic climate, we look forward to the unique contributions the CNM will make to our users' science in the upcoming year.

One of the most exciting aspects of the CNM is its dynamic nature as a young organization. Reflecting this, we continue to add scientific and technical staff. Three scientists have recently joined our Nanofabrication and Devices group as it expands opportunities for cleanroom-based research, and we look forward to the addition of NanoBio Interfaces and facility operations staff in the next few months. The CNM also welcomes Stephen Gray, who has now assumed the role of Group Leader for our Theory and Modeling effort. In turn, we also thank Larry Curtiss for his dedicated effort as acting Group Leader of Theory and Modeling while the CNM competed the position. Finally, as you are probably already aware, Eric Isaacs, the CNM's first Director during operations, has been on leave of absence since May 2008 to take up a new role as Argonne's Deputy Laboratory Director for Programs. Argonne is now conducting an open search for his successor as Division Director. Please don't hesitate to contact the CNM User Office for further information about the search. In his new role, we look forward to Eric's continued engagement with the CNM at both the scientific and strategic levels.

Please read on for more news about the CNM.

In closing, the CNM wishes you great success in 2009!

-- Stephen Streiffer, Interim Director

Announcing! The next call-for-proposals deadline is March 6, 2009. The system is open to submissions beginning on February 6, 2009. (Details...)

The Center for Nanoscale Materials has developed a robust and active user community requiring a separate users meeting this year, and will participate in Argonne Users Week (May 2009) to a limited extent. Workshops, exhibitors, short courses, posters, tours, etc. – details to come.

An extremely important part of CNM operations is periodic Department of Energy (DOE) evaluation of performance as measured by the impact of the CNM's user science. To quantify this impact, we report to DOE all publications that result from user projects at the CNM. Please provide the following information to the CNM User Office by February 20:

For 2008-2009, full citation information for papers in refereed journals and conference proceedings, including those in press, resultling from any work that benefited from the use of CNM facilities in whole or in part; please indicate the relevant CNM user proposal numbers

• Check to see whether your publications are already on record
• Required acknowledgment statement

a. Patterned copper nanowires with novel electrical effects

Copper nanowires fabricated via e-beam evaporation and patterned by e-beam lithography reveal that both surface and size have effects on the electrical properties. Metallic nanowires have applications as sensors and high-density interconnects in field-effect transistors. Monitoring the influence of size and surface effects on material properties, such as electrical resistivity and failure properties, is important in designing new, reliable nanowires. CNM staff and collaborative users partnered for this project using the CNM Omicron UHV Nanoprobe and non-contact AFM. (More >>)

b. Networks of metal nanoparticles are culprits in alloy corrosion

Oxide scales develop on the outer surface of alloys at high temperatures creating a protective barrier that keeps destructive carbon-bearing molecules from slipping into the alloy. Common belief held that carbon-containing molecules escaped into cracks or pores in the oxide scales, but collaborative users have discovered networks of iron and nickel nanoparticles embedded within the oxide scales. Carbon can easily diffuse through the metals and create a path for carbon atom transport that does not involve defects in the scale. CNM staff and collaborative users partnered for this project exploiting CNM magnetic force microscopy capabilities. (More >>)

c. Organic photovoltaics

Diane Hinkens, a Postdoctoral Research Assistant at South Dakota State University (SDSU), received an American Competitiveness in Chemistry Fellowship, a $200,000 NSF award. Hinkens and colleagues are collaborative users on a project titled “Theoretical Study of Block Copolymers Made From Organoborane and Thiophene Polymers for use in Photovoltaics.” The fellowship consists of the synthesis and self-assembly of these polymers and their integration into new polymer-based solar energy cells. This user group works collaboratively with CNM staff to perform calculations that support this work and test the properties of the new polymers and solar cells. (More>>)