PFI:AIR - TT: Graphenated-Carbon Nanotube (G-CNT) Composites for a Miniature, Optical Fiber-Integrated Spectroscopy Light Source

这个PFI：空气技术翻译项目专注于整合和翻译材料科学中的两项新创新，以满足对更高效和更具适应性的广谱光源的需求。该项目将产生一种用于光谱应用的概念验证、基于光纤的光源。这种微型光源具有以下独特的特点：器件直接在光纤上制造；材料系统效率高；系统的光谱可以调谐到理想的输出。与该市场领域领先的竞争光谱光源相比，这些功能提供了更小的尺寸、更低的功耗和更少的发热量。该项目解决了从研究发现向商业应用转化过程中的重要技术差距。这些差距包括：展示了新发现的基于碳纳米管的材料可以显著提高电致发光器件结构的照明效率；新器件结构可以直接集成到光纤上；以及由此产生的器件满足电池供电光谱的光源要求。该项目与杜克大学、维克森林大学和Zenalux Biomedical，Inc.合作建造器件并进行特定应用测试，以努力将新技术从研究发现转化为商业现实。这种新的微型光源很重要，因为在许多医疗诊断应用中需要光源，例如检测癌细胞。此外，预计最终将产生更广泛的影响，因为项目中解决的所有要求都直接适用于开发更便宜、更高效和更适应日常家庭需求的照明。

This PFI: AIR Technology Translation project focuses on integrating and translating two new innovations in materials science to fill the need for a more efficient and adaptable broad-spectrum light source. The project will result in a proof-of-concept, optical-fiber-based light source for spectroscopy applications. This miniature light source has the following unique features: the device is fabricated directly on an optical fiber; the material system is highly efficient; and the light spectrum of the system can be tuned to a desirable output. These features provide advantages of smaller size, lower power consumption and less heat generation when compared to the leading competing spectroscopy light sources in this market space. This project addresses important technology gaps in the translation from research discovery toward commercial application. These gaps include: the demonstration that newly discovered carbon nanotube-based materials can significantly improve lighting efficiency in an electroluminescent device structure; that the new device structure can be integrated directly onto optical fiber; and that the resulting device meets the requirements of a light source for battery-powered spectroscopy.The project engages Duke University, Wake Forest University and Zenalux Biomedical, Inc. to build the devices and carry out application-specific testing in this effort to translate a new technology from research discovery toward commercial reality. This new miniature light source is important due to the need for light sources in numerous medical diagnostic applications such as the detection of cancer cells. In addition, it is ultimately expected to have even broader impact because all the requirements being addressed in the project are directly applicable to developing cheaper, more efficient and more adaptable lighting for everyday household needs.