Objective

   To be successful in competing for federal and private sector R&D funding, it is necessary to coordinate and enhance state-wide research, educational, and outreach activities in nano-materials science and technology and to develop new capabilities and opportunities through creation and continued maintenance and staffing of shared user facilities and networks. The NM/EPSCOR nanomaterials infrastructure development program will emphasize two emerging areas a) the nano-bio interface/biosensors and b) nanostructured materials for energy conversion. Cross-cutting these thrust areas are modeling and characterization of nanoscale materials and phenomena and the integration of nanoscale materials into MEMs, optical, electronic, and fluidic platforms in collaboration with the Center for Integrated Nanotechnology at Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories.

Nano-Bio Interfaces / Biosensors

   Biological systems are without doubt the most successful examples of integrated functional nanosystems. It is a general goal of the National Naotechnology Initiative to incorporate biological functionality into artificial micro-systems and devices, thereby endowing them with life like qualities such as the ability to sense and respond to their environments. Success in this area requires understanding, control, and tailoring of the biotic/abiotic interface, the ability to synthesize recombinant biomolecules, and specialized imaging and characterization techniques. This topical area involves researchers from throughout the state and is well-aligned with the Nano-Bio-Micro thrust within CINT and the strong life sciences program at LANL.

Nano Structured Materials for Energy Conversion

   The search for clean, renewable energy is one of the most important problems facing mankind. Pulling together the expertise of the state researchers into a concerted effort could have potentially high rewards. New Mexico, with abundance of sunshine, could naturally be a key center in producing solar hydrogen and solar electric power. Earlier this year, the state of New Mexico created the Hydrogen Technology Partnership, or HyTeP — an alliance among businesses, schools and the state. The initiative is focused on making New Mexico a leader in a new hydrogen-based economy. A number of small, start-up companies are already doing research in energy conversion devices, fuel cells as well as photovoltaics. With the expertise in reforming fuels for producing hydrogen and in fuel cell catalysts, and the expertise in solid electrolytes and polymer membranes, this is an excellent area to develop further at New Mexico universities.

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