RAPID CITY, S.D. (April 1, 2013) – Slated for Saturday, April 13, the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology Nano Expo 2013 showcases small-scale technology making a big impact, as student and faculty present their research from 1-3 p.m. in the Surbeck Center Bump Lounge on campus.
Designed for current and potential students, parents and community members who may have an interest in Mines’ Nanoscience and Nanoengineering Ph.D. Program, or for those who simply want to know more about nanotechnology in South Dakota, the annual event is open to the public, and admission is free.
Students will present posters highlighting their dissertation research and will also be available to explain their work to visitors. Broad in scope, research ranges from sustainable technology with ink-jet printing of solar cells to sustainable habitats in space aided by the development of structural, thermal insulation composites.
Graduate student Xiaoxu Wang hopes the expo will offer the public an understanding of nanotechnology while situating advancements within a larger framework. “For the public, they may get some concept and basic sense of what nanotechnology is and what nanotechnology can do to improve our standard of living.”
As for the campus community, Wang believes the expo may prompt students and faculty to “find some new concept in our presentation that can broaden their scope or even benefit their own research.”
The nano Ph.D. program is an interdisciplinary doctoral program focusing on the science and engineering of nanomaterials. The goal is to manipulate matter at the atomic and nano length scales where new materials and phenomena have been discovered.
The program offers a research intensive degree, with faculty and students from chemistry, physics, chemical, electrical, materials & metallurgical and mechanical engineering participating.
Active research areas pursued by School of Mines students and faculty include:
• Producing nanocomposite materials that incorporate carbon nanotubes and nano-fibers, which are stronger and lighter, with improved properties over conventional materials.
• Developing photo-activated nano-inks used in direct write applications such as flexible electronic circuits, lower-cost solar cells and secure printing.
• Synthesizing improved nano-structured solar cells including “quantum dots,” sometimes referred to as “artificial atoms.”