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FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR
NOTE: The Solicitations and topics listed on this site are copies from the various SBIR agency solicitations and are not necessarily the latest and most up-to-date. For this reason, you should use the agency link listed below which will take you directly to the appropriate agency server where you can read the official version of this solicitation and download the appropriate forms and rules.
The official link for this solicitation is: http:--science.doe.gov-grants-pdf-SC_FOA_0000969.pdf
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Available Funding Topics
As a unique and increasingly utilized research tool, neutron scattering makes invaluable contributions to the physical, chemical, and nanostructured materials sciences. The Department of Energy supports neutron scattering and spectroscopy facilities at neutron sources where users conduct state-of-the-art materials research. Their experiments are enabled by the convergence of a range of instrumentation technologies. The Department of Energy is committed to enhancing the operation and instrumentation of its present and future neutron scattering facilities (References 1-3) so that their full potential is realized. This topic seeks to develop advanced instrumentation that will enhance materials research employing neutron scattering. Grant applications should define the instrumentation need and outline the research that will enable innovation beyond the current state-of-the-art. Applicants are strongly encouraged to demonstrate applicability and proper context through collaboration with a successful user of neutron sources. To this end, the STTR program would be an appropriate vehicle for proposal submission. Alternatively, applicants are encouraged to demonstrate applicability by providing a letter of support from a successful user. Priority will be given to those grant applications that include such collaborations or letters of support. A successful user is defined as someone at a research institution who has recently performed neutron scattering experiments and published results in peer reviewed archival journals. Such researchers are the early adopters of new instrumentation and are often involved in conceptualizing, fabricating, and testing new devices. A starting point for developing collaborations would be to examine the annual activity reports from neutron scattering facilities with links at: http:--www.ncnr.nist.gov-nsources.html and http:--www.ncnr.nist.gov-.
Develop novel or improved optical components for use in neutron scattering instruments (References 4-6). Such components include, neutron focusing optics, neutron guides, neutron lenses, neutron polarization devices including 3He polarizing filters, radio-frequency flippers, and Meissner shields for the current and future neutron scattering facilities using time-of-flight techniques.
Develop instrumentation and techniques for advanced sample environment (Reference 7, 8) for neutron scattering studies. These environments should simulate conditions relevant to energy-related materials and should provide a novel means of achieving controlled chemical and gaseous environment and extreme sample conditions of temperature, pressure, electric and magnetic fields (or combinations thereof).
In addition to the specific subtopics listed above, the Department invites grant applications in other areas that fall within the scope of the topic description above.