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Toward University/Industry Collaborative Research Center
in Materials Nanotechnology

University of Louisville            University of Kentucky      Holy Trinity Middle School
            Lexmark International, Inc.,     Sud Chemie, Inc.,            Valvoline 

PI:           M. K. Sunkara, Assoc. Prof., Chemical Engineering, UofL
Co-PIs:    E. A. Grulke, Prof., Chemical Engineering, UK,  
               U. M. Graham, Center for Applied Energy Research, UK,  
               R.W. Cohn, Professor, Electrical Engineering, UofL
               T.L. Starr, Professor, Chemical Engineering, UofL

Project Duration:  Two Years (August 1, 2003 – July 30, 2005)
Amount Awarded:  $40,000

ABSTRACT

Kentucky is a state rich in natural resources, scenic beauty and traditional manufacturing.  However, in order to provide the highest quality of life to its citizens, the State is committed to developing a knowledge-based economy — an economy based on transitioning the most current science and technology into industrial products.  The Kentucky Science and Technology Plan and the Kentucky Innovation Act of 2000 have identified Materials as one of the three major focuses for its vision of the new economy.   

The University of Louisville, the state-supported Center for Applied Energy Research and the University of Kentucky have state-of-the-art instrumentation and dedicated researchers in the area of nanomaterials synthesis, characterization, manipulation and fabrication. Importantly, these academic organizations have coordinated their efforts and developed technology for bulk synthesis of novel nanoscale materials including carbon nozzles, nanopipettes, inorganic nanowires, nanotubes and metal oxide nanowebs. Also, four major progressive industrial concerns have direct interest in these materials. To date, there is no formal partnership between these industrial concerns and the co-coordinated materials nanotechnology programs at the major academic organizations. Such partnerships exist in other fields – such as a long-term partnership between major Louisville hospitals and the University of Louisville Medical School – and have stimulated innovative and entrepreneurial economic growth in the State. 

This proposal is a major step toward help building in the state of Kentucky an intellectual partnership with three major industrial concerns (Lexmark, Sud-Chemie, and Valvoline) and the academic institutions (UofL and UK). The proposed center will allow for focused partnerships with industry on “productization” of the newly discovered nanoscale materials at UofL and UK and development of a nanotechnology infrastructure in Kentucky. We also envision another model partnership with a highly qualified middle school (Holy Trinity) in Louisville to develop educational materials for 7-12 grade students through the proposed center. The anticipated outcomes and broader impacts of the proposed university/industry center in materials nanotechnology include:

·     Technology transfer to industry and establishment of formal and sustaining relationship between the major industrial concerns and the leading academic institutions in Kentucky.

·     Development of services and training for partners and non-partner Kentucky industries, laboratories and institutions in the area of Materials Nanotechnology, and expertise that seamlessly links regional groups to ORNL and other national level facilities noted for specialized capabilities in Materials Nanotechnology.

·     Development of new human and capital resources in Materials Nanotechnology at a time critical to Kentucky’s expansion and growth and innovation that ensures the long-term economic development of the region.

·     Development of educational materials highlighting the impact of materials nanotechnology for pre-college students and the general public, in order to stimulate young people to pursue careers in science and engineering and to support technology-based entrepreneurship.