Challenge: The size-dependent optical and electrical properties of semiconductor nanocrystals make them attractive candidates for many applications. These applications include those in the fields of solar energy conversion optoelectronic devices and cellular imaging. Recent research efforts are directed towards the synthesis of nanostructures with well-defined structures and morphologies. Such control allows for the tuning of optical properties a feature that holds particular promise in solar cell applications.

Challenge: While solar radiation is an abundant energy source current methods for its capture and use suffer from low efficiencies and high costs. For example conventional photovoltaic devices are limited to a theoretical maximum efficiency of 32%. Rectennas have received recent attention as energy harvesting and conversion devices. These devices absorb incident radiation and convert it to DC electric power through the use of a diode (rectifier).

Background: For many years significant efforts have been undertaken to repair broken or resected bone with an implant comprised of biodegradable polymeric compounds that closely resembles the original bone. Poly(propylene fumerate) (PPF) is a polymer of choice for orthopedic applications due to its high mechanical strength biodegradability non-toxicity and ability to crosslink in situ. Since the implant is gradually degraded by the body there is need for it to be biocompatible and non-toxic.

Rutgers scientists have developed an insecticide (e.g pyriproxyfen) autodissemination station that topically contaminates oviposition-seeking mosquitoes in such a manner that the mosquitoes then bring the active control agent back to their breeding locations for control of container-inhabiting mosquitoes in urban environments particularly the Asian tiger mosquito.

This invention relates to the use of microbes isolated from a rhizosphere of rice to provide anti pathogenic effect on rice plants improve biomass and growth and restrict arsenic uptake by rice plants.

Rice is an essential food source for more than 50% of the world’s population. Heat and drought stress are important factors limiting rice production exacerbated by the impending threat of climate change. Stress tolerant cultivars are needed to expand rice production. Drought tolerant varieties have been developed but in narrow genetic backgrounds characterized only in simulated growing conditions.

Challenge: While solar radiation is an abundant energy source current methods for its capture and use suffer from low efficiencies and high costs. For example conventional photovoltaic devices are limited to a theoretical maximum efficiency of 32%. Rectennas have received recent attention as energy harvesting and conversion devices. These devices absorb incident radiation and convert it to electricity through the use of a diode (rectifier).

Herbivorous insects can cause significant damages in agriculture resulting in reduced crop yields quality and profit for most of the crops worldwide. The largest insecticide markets are fruit and vegetable cotton rice and corn. The worldwide market for chemicals for plant protection is worth than US$ 30 Mrd. including insecticides herbicides and fungicides. But chemicals can have a negative ecological impact interfering with beneficial organisms polluting the environment and even be a health risk for humanity through the food chain. Thus biological alternatives are looked for.

Weed infestations cause considerable crop yield losses worldwide. C4 weeds like Black-Grass Cleavers Green foxtail Kochia and Barnyard Grass reduce yields of important C3 cereals such as rice wheat barley and oat. For example Barnyard Grass the most important weed species in rice which is now found in over 60 countries ranging from North America to South Asia provokes yield losses of up to 70 %. Similarly Black-Grass has become a severe threat for global food production causing yield losses of 5 to 50 % already in Western Europe.

Rapid detection and identification of gases and other volatile compounds is needed in diverse areas that include environmental monitoring medical diagnosis quality control and defense applications. Current methods that rely on chromatographic analyses are expensive time consuming and require skilled operators. As a result new methods that enable the simple direct identification of these volatile species are needed. Researchers at Rice University have developed a new material that can be used in the identification of unknown solvent vapors.