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Library > Fact Sheets > AFOSR: Natural Materials and Systems
AFOSR: NATURAL MATERIALS AND SYSTEMS
Air Force Office of Scientific Research
Mathematics, Information and Life Sciences Directorate
Natural Materials and Systems
Dr. Hugh C. DeLong, Program Manager
The goals of this multidisciplinary program are to study, use, mimic, or alter how natural systems accomplish their taskings. Nature has used evolution to build materials and sensors that outperform current sensors (for example, a spider's haircells can detect air flow at low levels even in a noisy background). This program not only wants to mimic existing natural sensory systems, but also add existing capabilities to these organisms for more precise control over their material production. The research will encompass four general areas: sensory mimics, natural materials, natural/synthetic interfaces, and physical mechanisms of natural systems under environmental distress.
Sensory mimetic research attempts to mimic novel sensors that organisms use in their daily lives, and to learn engineering processes and mechanisms for control of those systems. This program also focuses on natural chromophores and photoluminescent materials found in microbial and protein-based systems as well as the mimicking of sensor denial systems, such as active and passive camouflage developed in certain organisms addressing predator-prey issues.
The natural materials area is focused on synthesis of novel materials and nanostructures using organisms as material factories. The program also focuses on understanding the structure and properties of the synthetic materials. The use of extremophiles is added to address the development of materials not accessible due to environmental extremes. We are also interested in organisms that disrupt or deny a material's function or existence in some way.
The natural/synthetic interfaces area is focused on the fundamental science at the biotic and abiotic interface. The nanotechnology and mesotechnology sub-efforts are focused on surface structure and new architectures using nature's idea of directed assembly at to the nanoscale to create desired effects, such as quantum electronic or three dimensional power structures. The use of these structures is in the design of patterned and templated surfaces, new catalysts, and natural materials based-optics/electronics.
The "physical mechanisms of natural systems under environmental distress" area is focused on discovering and understanding basic natural mechanisms that could be used to either harden or repair soft material-based devices. This will enable the Air Force to employ biological systems with optimum performance and extended lifetimes. As protein and nucleic acid molecules are increasingly used as catalysts, sensors, and as materials, it will be necessary to understand how we can utilize these molecules in extreme environments, with the ability to regulate the desired function as conditions change, and to store the device for prolonged periods of time. Areas of interest include: the mechanisms for survival and protein stability in extremophilic archaea, fundamental studies of bacterial sporulation, and enzymatic engineering for faster catalysis in anti-material designs.
Contact:
Dr. Hugh C. DeLong
AFOSR/NL
Tele: (703) 696-7722
DSN: 426-7722
FAX: (703) 696-8449
Email: hugh.delong@afosr.af.mil
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