Albert P. Pisano (Advisor)

BPN453: MEMS Power: Fuel Flexible Engine for Portable Power Generation

Andrew Cardes
2008

The aim of this project is to develop a portable power generation system capable of utilizing several types of fuel. The system is based on the Wankel rotary engine, which will be optimized for true fuel flexibility through improvements in sealing and ignition. The Rotary Engine Power System, or REPS, is designed to be MEMS-enabled and will be used as a testbed for devices managing fuel delivery and mechanical characterization.

Project end date: 07/30/08

BPN391: MEMS Power: Thermo-Fluidic Nanoparticle Reactor

Nicola M. Fung
2008

The long-term objective of this project, along with BPN406, is to produce monodisperse nanocrystals through a microfluidic reactor. The microfluidic reactor will utilize the unique physical properties of colloidal suspension of liquid droplets in a surrounding immiscible inert liquid. This project intends to develop and produce the design from BPN406; specifically the coin structure to control the temperature profile and flow geometry to allow for flow focusing and the formation of uniform droplets. This will allow flow and temperature control, which would correlate to control over...

APP81: MEMS Biopolymer: Silicon Nanowire-Based Biochemical Sensors

Inkyu Park
2008

Our long term goal is to develop an in-vitro intra and/or extracellular protein analysis system by taking advantage of highly sensitive silicon nanowire sensor. Thus far, a variety of methods have been developed for the detection of proteins and biomolecules from cells: flight-of-time mass spectroscopy, electrophoresis, immunofluorescence, etc. However, these existing methods are not yet suitable for single-cell analysis, require high analyte concentration and large cell population, and do not provide high spatial resolution. Our approach is to use a silicon nanowire-based sensor for...

BPN363: MEMS Biopolymer: RF-Interrogated Biosensor MIB:Hydrogel Formulation

Supone Manakasettharn
2008

The goal of this research project is to make hydrogels fully compatible with microfabrication processes. Hydrogels are polymers whose matrix swell when in contact with water. Our hydrogels will be able to change reversibly and reproducibly their volume by swelling or contracting in response to their environmental changes. In order to achieve this project, we will alter viscosity of the hydrogel solution to make it easier to spin coat, conduct a design of experiment to optimize hydrogel patterning, characterize hydrogel swelling and functionalize hydrogels to respond to different...

APP92: MEMS Fuel Flow Control Valve with a Magneto-Static Linear Actuator

Sang-Won Park
2008

Development effort of an electronically controlled, reduced scale, magneto-static, metering fuel valve system, which consists of a magneto-static linear actuator and a ‘hole-in-the-wall’ valve, is ongoing. The magneto-static actuator is designed to accommodate approximate 5 mg/sec of fuel flow (220 W) by moving a linearly actuated armature in a planar micro-valve. A Step motion of the actuator accurately controls amount of fuel stream with the valve.

Project end date: 07/30/08

BPN406: Microfluidic reactor for production of semiconductor nanocrystals

Jeffrey D. Winterton
2008

Nearly all proposed applications of semiconductor nanocrystals (quantum dots) will require significant quantities of high quality nanocrystals with tightly controlled properties. Microfluidic nanocrystal synthesis techniques have recently been explored as an alternative to conventional production methods because they could potentially increase production rates, if used in parallel, while maintaining superior product quality. However, conventional microfluidic reactor designs suffer from two principal limitations: an inability to maintain a uniform reaction environment and an...

APP78: SiC TAPS: Capacitive Sensors Design and Fabrication

Babak Jamshidi
2008

The main objective of the project is to design and fabricate capacitive sensors capable of performing under harsh environments. The main focus of the project is to develop a strain gauge which measures strain at micron scale to improve the operational characteristics of its substrates in applications such as automotive and aerospace. Contrary to traditional and commercial strain gauges, temperature and aging have a relatively small influence on the sensitivity and precision of this type of sensor. Three major goals have been set for the course of research. The most prior goal is to...

BPN372: SiC TAPS: Strain Gauge System Design

David Myers
2008

The SiC MEMS strain gage can be oriented and placed on round tubing such that it can be utilized as a torque measurement device. To this extent, a shear strain application system has been designed and is currently being constructed. This device utilizes a common automotive halfshaft, a component which would see fairly high torques during its lifetime and could benefit from torque monitoring systems. Validation of the strain application system has been completed, and strain gauge device testing is commencing. The testing will focus on characterizing strain transfer and strain gauge...

BPN343: MEMS Biopolymer: Surface Electrophoresis with Functionalized Bilayer Lipid Membranes for Sample Preparation

Thomas H. Cauley III
2008

The goal of this project is to develop a robust, reusable, and automated micro-fluidic platform for the manipulation and use of integral membrane proteins and membrane associated proteins. In particular, the goal will be to use an artificially assembled phospholipid bi-layer membrane as an armature for engineered integral membrane proteins, such as alpha-hemolysin (a virulence factor responsible for the lysis of red blood cells). This functionalized membrane will be tested as an active “filtration” element in a sample preparation system, as a stand alone sensing platform with...

BPN446: AlN Piezo: Monolithic Acoustic RF MEMS Modules

Jan H. Kuypers
2008

The goal of this research is the development of RF modules for wireless applications equipped with acoustic MEMS based filters and oscillators. Using CMOS compatible post-processes the acoustic components are to be fabricated directly on circuitry. In order to justify the increased complexity of such a module besides the advantage of size and cost, this will require a performance comparable to existing modules. Therefore the greatest challenges concerning the acoustic MEMS filters are lowering the insertion loss and increasing the bandwidth. The most important issue for oscillators...