CAREER: Synthesis, Characterization and Discovery of Frontier Carbon Materials Yoke Khin Yap, Michigan Technological University, DMR The arrangement of carbon (C) atoms differentiates a pencil lead from a pricey diamond. In this project we investigate how to control the arrangement of boron (B), carbon (C), and nitrogen (N) atoms for the formation of frontier carbon materials: boron nitride (B-N), carbon nitride (C-N) and boron-carbon nitride (B-C-N) phases. We aim to formulate steps toward creation of new materials with desired electronic, optical, and mechanical properties. a)b)c) d) Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) are promising materials for electronic and optical devices at a nanoscale (billionth of a meter). Previously, BNNTs powders predominated with impurities can be made at high temperatures (>1100 ºC). Now we show that pure BNNTs can be grown on silicon chips at 600 ºC. As shown, (a) low energy species will be coated as B-N films. Energetic species (b & c) will bounce away and prevent the coating of B-N films. Highly energetic species will react with the iron nanoparticles and form BNNTs (c & d).

CAREER: Synthesis, Characterization and Discovery of Frontier Carbon Materials Yoke Khin Yap, Michigan Technological University, DMR Slide 1: This is the first success of growing BNNTs on substrates. These BNNTs are grown vertically aligned on desired locations and patterns. They are pure and readily use for applications. We anticipate that this is the starting point for future study on doping and even making hetero-junctions of BNNTs and carbon nanotubes on substrates. We anticipate that this phase selective growth approach can lead to the discovery of new metastable materials. A manuscript is now submitted for publication. Slide 2: The open house was conducted on 9/17/05. The Summer Youth Program was conducted together with Prof. Paul Bergstrom and Prof. Craig Friedrich (7/18/2005 to 7/23/2005). We involved 3 students for summer research and two of them were supported/cost shared by the NSF project. The Engineering Explorations are 2-hour programs for Engineering freshmen at Michigan Tech. There were 10 students from 5 departments attended the new graduate course (PH5090). PH1160 is officially a Honors Physics I Mechanics course. Part of the course is devoted to know the “hot topics” in physics and professional opportunities. Students will have seminars from some faculty in the department. Prof. Raymond Shaw is the instructor of this course.

1)48 high school students and their families visited the laboratory during our campus open house (a & b). Six seminars on nanotechnology were conducted in 3 hours. These visitors are form Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, and Indiana. 2)4 Indian high school students have attended our Microsystems Summer Youth Program. 3)2 undergraduate students (Dave Price and Michael Gussert) conduct their 10-week Summer Research. 4)2 groups of Michigan Tech undergraduate students (12 students /group) attended our Engineering Exploration (ENG1101) and laboratory tours (c) in Spring )A new graduate course (PH 5090: Selected topics in Nanotech) was initiated and opened for students across all fields at Michigan Tech. 6)22 physics freshmen (e) attended a seminar (PH 1160) on nanotechnology. ab c d CAREER: Synthesis, Characterization and Discovery of Frontier Carbon Materials Yoke Khin Yap, Michigan Technological University, DMR Education and Outreach to the younger generations and their families