STTR Phase II: ERC - Small Business: Laser Vapor Deposition for Thin Film Functional Polymers and Nanocomposites and Mid-Infrared Characterization

美国国家科学基金会（NSF）邀请当前小企业创新研究和小企业技术转移（SBIR/STTR）第二阶段的资助申请，与工程研究中心（ERC）进行合作研究。这一合作努力的目标是提供一个互利的研究和商业化平台，在这个平台上，SBIR/STTR二期受助人可以与ERC的教师、研究人员和研究生进行合作研究，以加强他们公司的能力，和/或加速ERC的进步向市场的过渡。根据NSF征求NSF 10-617， AppliFlex LLC已经提交了额外资金申请。在补充请求中确定的次级奖学金获得者是普林斯顿大学。本提案/请求符合招标NSF 10-023的要求。该合作项目提供了一个绝佳的机会，利用健康与环境中红外技术工程研究中心（MIRTHE）的能力和专业知识，在独特的中红外波长测试AppliFlex的工艺。AppliFlex和MIRTHE共享相同的平台，中红外光；AppliFlex专注于中红外激光材料加工，MIRTHE专注于中红外激光诊断。因此，公司和MIRTHE完美互补，可以协同最大限度地发挥中红外技术的变革性。AppliFlex LLC是一家小型企业技术转让（STTR）二期公司。范德比尔特大学（Vanderbilt University）正在与AppliFlex就STTR拨款进行合作。AppliFlex计划与美国国家科学基金会（NSF）工程研究中心（ERC）健康与环境中红外技术研究所（MIRTHE）合作。MIRTHE是一个活跃的ERC，总部位于普林斯顿大学（Princeton），合作伙伴包括纽约城市学院、约翰霍普金斯大学、赖斯大学、德克萨斯州农工大学和马里兰大学巴尔的摩县。AppliFlex计划与MIRTHE合作开发激光气相沉积（LVD）技术，用于沉积薄膜、异质结构聚合物和功能化纳米颗粒。LVD利用中红外激光将有机材料转化为气体羽流，以最小的光碎片沉积在表面上。小型企业和大学之间的合作将加快进入市场的速度，并有助于扩大中红外激光加工材料的邻近市场。研究合作伙伴与小型企业在有机和聚合物材料的中红外激光共振激发方面拥有互补的技能，而MIRTHE的核心任务是中红外光材料的共振吸收和传感。创新从建模和使用矩阵辅助脉冲激光蒸发（MAPLE）开始。ERC和小型企业及其STTR合作伙伴将开发可能有助于国家检测对健康和安全重要的化合物的技术。还设想了其他将改善生活的应用。此外，该研究将以两所合作大学的研究生培训为中心，进一步提高科学、工程和数学方面的劳动力教育。

NSF invites funding requests from current Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Phase II grantees to perform collaborative research with an Engineering Research Center (ERC). The goals of this collaborative effort are to provide a mutually beneficial research and commercialization platform where SBIR/STTR Phase II grantees can perform collaborative research with ERC faculty, researchers, and graduate students, to strengthen the capacity of their firms, and/or speed the transition of ERC advances to the marketplace. In accordance with the NSF solicitation NSF 10-617, AppliFlex LLC has submitted a request for additional funding. The sub-awardee identified in the supplemental request is Princeton University. This proposal/request meets the requirements of the solicitation NSF 10-023. This collaboration program offers an excellent opportunity to test AppliFlex's process in this unique mid-infrared wavelength by utilizing the capabilities and expertise of the Engineering Research Center on Mid-InfraRed Technologies for Health and the Environment (MIRTHE). Both AppliFlex and MIRTHE share the same platform, mid-infrared light; AppliFlex focuses on mid-infrared laser materials processing and MIRTHE focuses on mid-infrared laser diagnostics. Therefore, the company and MIRTHE complement each other perfectly and together, they can synergistically maximize transformational mid-infrared technologies. AppliFlex LLC is a Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II company. Vanderbilt University (Vanderbilt) is working with AppliFlex on the STTR grant. AppliFlex is proposing to work with the National Science Foundation (NSF) Engineering Research Center (ERC) Institute for Mid-Infrared Technologies for Health and Environment (MIRTHE). MIRTHE is an active ERC headquartered at Princeton University, (Princeton) with partners including the City College New York, Johns Hopkins University, Rice, Texas A&M, and the University of Maryland Baltimore County. AppliFlex is proposing to work with MIRTHE to develop a laser vapor deposition (LVD) for depositing thin films and heterostructures of polymer and functionalized nanoparticles. LVD utilizes mid-infrared laser to convert organic materials to a gaseous plume for deposition on surfaces with minimal photo-fragmentation. This collaboration between the small business and the universities will speed up market entry and aid expansion into adjacent markets for mid-infrared laser processing of materials. The research partners have complimentary skill sets with the small business having expertise in resonant excitation of organic and polymer materials with mid-infrared laser light, while the core mission of MIRTHE is the resonant absorption and sensing of materials with mid-infrared light. The innovation starts with the modeling and using matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE). The ERC and the small business and its STTR partner will be developing technologies that will potentially help the nation in detection of compounds important to health and security. Additional applications are also envisioned that will improve lives. Additionally, the research will be centered around training for graduate students at the two partner universities furthering the education of the workforce in science, engineering and math.