Less is more: UTB-TSC leads study of tiny technology

The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College has taken the lead in a multi-year, federally funded research project studying microscopic materials for potential use in the aerospace industry.

Researchers have received $2.4 million in federal appropriations to continue research as part of a group of seven Texas universities including UTB-TSC and the University of Texas-Pan American, university officials said.

These universities, along with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, are studying the use of materials 100 nanometers in size and smaller in applications like surface coatings on planes, solar cells and biological-agent detectors.

A nanometer is equal to one billionth of a meter.

"We're doing just a small part of the research," said Mario Diaz, professor of physics and director of the Center for Gravitational Wave Astronomy at UTB-TSC. But because the university is the lead institution in the consortium this year, hopefully its role in the Consortium for Nanomaterials for Aerospace Commerce and Technology will expand, Diaz said.

At UTB-TSC, researchers are looking at creating "biosensors" that can detect pathogens in the human body, Diaz said.

Andreas Hanke, assistant professor of physics at UTB-TSC, is working on using tiny particles to attract the DNA molecules of a harmful agent - such as bacteria molecules - and binding them to make them harmless.

"Our main accomplishment so far is we've produced particles that are much smaller than others have, at 4 nanometers in size," Hanke said.

The university's research could "very likely" lead to a patent down the road, Diaz said.

Professors at UTPA are looking at "electrorheological" fluids - liquids that become solid when electrified, said Karen Lozano, assistant professor of engineering.

Such fluids could be used in brakes, pistons, inks, switches and even Braille keyboards, Lozano said.

"Right now, it's very difficult to use (these fluids) ... it's a very nice effect, but has only worked at very high voltages," Lozano said. "We're working on achieving high strength with a low voltage."

The consortium was founded in 2006 with a $1.4 million U.S. Department of Defense grant. In previous years, Rice University was the lead institution, Diaz said.

Other consortium participants include the University of Houston and University of Texas campuses in Austin, Arlington and Dallas.

Melissa McEver covers health and environment issues for Valley Freedom Newspapers. She is based in Harlingen and you can reach her at (956) 430-6252.