Apr 24 2007
Headwaters Technology Innovation Group (HTIG) has begun collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania through the Penn Regional Nanotechnology Facility (PRNTF). PRNTF has made available state-of-the-art electron microscopy instruments for characterization and analysis of nanocatalysts and nanomaterials. Within this relationship, HTIG receives the full benefit of equipment and personnel that would be prohibitively expensive to maintain in-house, while PRNTF gets access to the industry and to work on projects and materials with near-term application and commercialization potential.
Dr. Douglas Yates, who has over 20 years of experience in materials science and with the aforementioned techniques, is the technical director of PRNTF and also works as a consultant to HTIG. “Every time HTIG comes in with a sample I know I have to be at my best,” says Dr. Yates. “It can be anything from 1-2 nanometer bimetallic catalyst particles, a new nanocarbon material, or nanosized metaloxides. They’ve even brought in things I have never seen before!” Similarly Dr. Martin Fransson, who is responsible for characterization and technology evaluation at HTIG says, “It has been crucial for both HTIG and myself to rely on Dr. Yates for data generation and interpretation of our nanomaterials and catalysts.” The cutting edge nanoresearch that both HTIG and PRNTF have begun would not be possible were it not for what each team brings to the table. The result is that both teams are pushed to the limit, driving innovation forward in this burgeoning field.