Thank you for the enormous support we received from many of you for the 1^st issue of newsletter we sent last quarter. As some of you pointed out, the links to our custom news services had a few errors and we apologize for that. You can see all our custom news channels on our webpage here. This quarter, we have released three new reports on the Singapore nanotechnology eco system.

Singapore NanoEnergy Report
This report discusses Singapore energy policy and key areas of research related to the application of nanotechnology to energy. The report also identifies the business landscape related to this area.  You can download the report from here.

Singapore NanoSafety Report
NanoConsulting, along with the Singapore EDB and MOM  conducted a survey of Singapore organizations during the first part of this year to gather information on the profile of usage of nanomaterials and current occupational safety and health practices in establishments handling nanomaterials in Singapore. This draft report discusses the results of this survey and - using the data from our nanosafety news scan service - puts it in the context of evolving nanosafety landscape around the world. The report can be found here.

Singapore NanoH2O Report
Water is an area of strategic importance to Singapore. In this report, Singapore water policy and the eco system that has evolved as result of this are discussed. Ongoing research in the use of nanotechnology for water purification and sensing are discussed. This report can be found here

In other news, I will be attending the NSTI Nanotech Conference in Anaheim CA between June 21-24th. If you are attending and want to discuss any of these reports or just want to have a cup of coffee, send me an email at hiranvedam@nanoconsulting.com.sg .I look forward to meeting you in Anaheim.

Thank you and I hope you enjoy this newsletter. I look forward to your feedback on how we can make this more relevant to your needs.

Hiran Vedam

UK based university spin-out, Exilica Limited, is currently promoting their micrometer sized spherical polymer particles, referred to as µ-Sq beads, for applications that require the incorporation of fragrances into thermoplastics. The success of the technology in this area is most certainly due to the unique physical properties of the beads, which can be thought of as being micro-sponges. The beads have an elaborate network of nanopores that can absorb an extensive range of both inorganic and organic chemical species. The beads are both chemically and thermally robust enough to withstand thermoplastic compounding temperatures. They can also protect volatile organics (such as fragrances) deep within the pores at such temperatures. Release of the fragrance is then down to migration out through the thermoplastic matrix. Exilica is seeking collaboration with companies wishing to impregnate their signature fragrances into surfaces or objects to develop new and innovative commercial products. For more information on Exilica's µ-Sq beads, and details of how to contact the company, please refer to www.exilica.co.uk

Leeds Lithium Power, a spin off from the University of Leeds (UK), has developed a new generation of thin film batteries based on polymer gel electrolytes. Highly conductive polymer films are used to replace both separator and electrolyte in primary and secondary lithium cells, allowing the manufacture of all-solid-state, flexible cells with significantly improved safety and reduced manufacturing costs. Typical overall cell thickness is around 0.3-0.4 mm with a capacity of 3 mAh cm^-2 making such cells ideal for latest generation smart cards with embedded power.

Patents are held on the materials and a continuous manufacturing process. Partnerships and investment are sought from battery manufacturers and/or smart card manufacturers. For more information contact Derek Riley at rileyd2@btinternet.com

DCN Corp's overall objectives are to provide an internationally recognised service in nano-fluidic fabrications through a mechanical engineering process called dip coating and a final thin film deposition employing wet Chemistry by chemical self-assembly regulation. Alongside our core specialism in dip coating, it is our further wish to be world renowned for creating and mass manufacturing a humidifying regulator system with an air-tight chamber encapsulation, for means of nano-fabricating (and patterning) organic, inorganic and metallic nanoparticles homogenously and efficiently (for analytical signal feedback) on to any size and material composite base substrate. Complementary to such knowledge gathering is our long-term mission to innovatively develop a worldwide renowned DNA diagnostics kit for early diagnosis of breast cancer. We are looking for medium-long term academic collaborations and business partnerships within Singapore. Contact Ketal Patel at ketceo@dcncorp.com

Anasim Corp.'s founders Raj Nair and Donald Bennett co-author a book "Power Integrity Analysis and Management for Integrated Circuits" published by Pearson Education / Prentice Hall in May 2010. This book, a world first in this field for nanoscale chips and systems, introduces fundamentals and advanced aspects relating to power integrity, a critical aspect of low-power/low-energy design in nanoscale chips. For more information, contact Dr. Raj Nair at raj@anasim.com  

Superhydrophilic and water-capturing nanomaterial
The wettability of surfaces by water holds significant importance in both nature and technological developments. Superhydrophobicity and superhydrophilicity are the two extreme properties corresponding to completely non-wettable and perfectly wettable surface conditions. While superhydrophobicity can be achieved by many different approaches, methods to obtain superhydrophilicity are very limited and costly. At present, superhydrophilicity is mainly based on the UV-irradiation of oxide semiconductor films such as TiO₂ (titanium oxide) and ZnO (zinc oxide). In this case, the superhydrophilicity is induced by photon-generated short-lived charges, and which will gradually disappear without UV illumination.

Recently, Dr. Xianning Xie from NUS Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Initiative (NUSNNI) invented a simple, economical and massively scalable method for the production of a new nanomaterial composed of polymer blend. The nanomaterial is superhydrophilic with a minimum water contact angle of less than 10 degrees. Most importantly, the nanomaterial exhibits strong water-capturing behavior (see Figure), which has not been observed for existing superhydrophilic materials including TiO₂. The nanomaterial is stable in water and common organic solvent, and can convert various substrates into superhydrophilic surfaces. Potential applications of the nanomaterial include water treatment, water harvesting, anti-fogging, self-cleaning, microfluidics, lab-on-chip, and biotechnology. For more information, please contact Dr. Xianning Xie at nnixxn@nus.edu.sg

High performance Li-ion battery materials

Li-ion batteries are widely used as a convenient power source for various portable electronic devices. However, there are continuous demands for batteries with higher power and energy density to power newly emerging electronic devices, advanced communication facilities, and in particular, electric or hybrid vehicles. For different application fields, there are different requirements for batteries. For example, the rechargeable batteries for electric or hybrid vehicles should have the ability to be charged sufficiently fast and the current available from the batteries should be high enough to produce a desirable power. Prof. Li Lu from NUS have developed 2 new cathode materials that will improve cycle performance, charge rate, and power density.

Ru doped cathode materials for improved cycle performance of lithium battery

The first material is a Ruthenium (Ru) doped, spinel structured fine powder of a combination of lithium (Li), nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn) and oxygen (O) as the cathode material. The spinel structure incorporates 3-dimensional channels when manganese oxide is lithiated. This structure offers advantages over conventional cobalt counterpart materials while allowing lithium diffusion. With Ru doping, low capacity and low stability issues due to large volume contraction and Jahna Teller distortion is reduced leading to good electrochemical properties. At a very high charge rate (6 min to achieve full charge), Ru-doped material shows almost double discharge capacity as the traditional one; over 90% capacity retention can be retained after 500 cycles.

Modified cathode LiFePO4 with ultrafast charge rate and ultrahigh power density for high performance batteries

The second material is a modified doped olivinen structured lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO₄) fine powder as an active cathode material where the electrochemical performance at high current density for high performance of Li rechargeable batteries is enhanced. It has a discharge capacity as high as 96 mAh/g at a high discharge rate of 20C, which is much higher that of the pure LiFePO₄. Furthermore, it is durable, with negligible capacity fading after 1000 cycles at room temperature.

For more information, please contact Tricia Chong at triciachong@nus.edu.sg

Singapore Productivity Drive and its Impact on Singapore's Nanotech EcoSystem             - An update
The key theme for Singapore's Budget 2010 was to increase the productivity of Singapore by 2-3% over the next decade. To achieve this the Government has set up the National Productivity and Continuing Education Council (NPCEC)  and introduced an all-embracing broad-based tax concession scheme called the Productivity and Innovation Credit which provides tax deductions for 250% of the qualified expenditure incurred subject to a cap of S$300K each for R&D, acquisition of IP, registration of IP, automation and training of employees.

A new RDA scheme for SMEs that allows them to earn upto 50% of their chargeable income for the year they engaged in R&D or S$300K anytime before 2016. To encourage startups to perform R&D, a new scheme called RISE was introduced whereby loss making startups can convert their R&D expenditure of atleast S$150K  can convert their adjusted tax losses (150% of the R&D expenditure) into cash at the rate of 9%.

In addition, SMEs will enjoy a subsidy of 70% of the training costs instead of the 50% available to larger companies. The NPCEC also developed an SME Productivity roadmap to help the SMEs on their way to increasing their productivity. SPRING Singapore - an agency chartered to grow innovative SMEs in Singapore - opened a new portal called Productivity@Work - to assist SMEs workout their productivity and cost competitiveness.

With most of the nanotech companies in Singapore being SMEs or Startups with heavy investment in R&D,  these incentives and support structures will make them more cost competitive in the long run.

NanoConsulting provides market intelligence, strategic assistance, fund raising, business development and match making services to nanotechnology based companies.

The company provides strategic and fund raising support to commercialize promising technologies from around the world in Singapore.

The company also works with governments and universities to consolidate their nanotechnology capability and provide analysis services to identify and package their key strengths.