Nanovation

Nanovation comes to an end. In a fitting farewell, Charlie Bennett returns to interview Mike. They talk about what Mike originally set out to do, what worked, what didn't work, what surprised him along the way, and what may be on the horizon. Thank you to the show’s listeners for their curiosity and kindness. Thank you to the show’s guests for their selflessness and passion for science and engineering. And a special thank you to the show’s editor, Andrew Cannon, without whom the podcast would not have been possible. Until next time …

Show details:
• Hosted by Michael Filler (@michaelfiller)
• Edited by Charlie Bennett (@bennettradio) and Michael Filler
• Recorded on October 26, 2020
• Show notes are available at http://www.fillerlab.com/nanovation/archive/60
• Submit feedback at http://www.fillerlab.com/nanovation/feedback

The ability to coat large quantities of small particles — powders — via atomic layer deposition (ALD) has opened new vistas for battery materials, chemical catalysis, 3-D printing, and more. On this episode of the Nanovation podcast, Ruud van Ommen from TU Delft talks everything powder ALD. In this context, Ruud and Mike focus on the why and how of process scale-up. Listeners of the show won’t be surprised to learn that there’s much more to scale-up than increasing the size of the tank! Ruud also shares the motivation behind founding the company Delft IMP and how, in the early days, he was told that powder ALD was impossible.

Show details:
• Hosted by Michael Filler (@michaelfiller)
• Edited by Andrew Cannon (@andrewhcannon)
• Recorded on January 23, 2020
• Show notes are available at http://www.fillerlab.com/nanovation/archive/59
• Submit feedback at http://www.fillerlab.com/nanovation/feedback

Malancha Gupta from the University of Southern California gives a primer on initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD). iCVD is a relatively new processing technique for the deposition of functional polymer thin films. Because polymer properties are readily tunable, iCVD can impart a nearly limitless number of surface functionalities. Perhaps most importantly, the mild nature of iCVD makes it compatible with delicate substrates such as paper, cells, and even liquids! In addition to talking shop, Malancha recounts her journey from curious undergrad to professor. She also shares several of the life hacks that helped her along the way.

Show details:
• Hosted by Michael Filler (@michaelfiller)
• Edited by Andrew Cannon (@andrewhcannon)
• Recorded on January 16, 2020
• Show notes are available at http://www.fillerlab.com/nanovation/archive/58
• Submit feedback at http://www.fillerlab.com/nanovation/feedback

Sang Han from the University of New Mexico has spent his career developing advanced electronic and photonic materials. In this episode of the Nanovation podcast, Sang and Mike discuss radiative cooling technology, which promises to cool surfaces, such as the exteriors of homes and buildings, even in direct sunlight. They talk about the physics of radiative cooling, different methods for its implementation, and the challenge of developing a manufacturing process suitable for coating entire cities. A potpourri of related topics come up along the way, including the ups and downs of global technology competition, how to incentivize innovation in manufacturing, and the excitement and challenge of starting a company.

Show details:
• Hosted by Michael Filler (@michaelfiller)
• Edited by Andrew Cannon (@andrewhcannon)
• Recorded on December 19, 2019
• Show notes are available at http://www.fillerlab.com/nanovation/archive/57
• Submit feedback at http://www.fillerlab.com/nanovation/feedback

Nazanin Bassiri-Gharb, a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Tech, joins Mike to talk about complex oxides. Complex oxides are multi-component materials that yield a bevy of exotic properties. Much of the podcast centers on ferroelectricity, the ability of certain materials to exhibit an internal polarization that can be switched with an external electric field. Nazanin and Mike talk about the current use of ferroelectrics in technologies from ultrasound imaging to data storage, as well as their potential future use in brain-like or neuromorphic computers. Throughout the episode, Nazanin's love of and excitement for science and engineering shines through. Be careful, it's infectious!

Show details:
• Hosted by Michael Filler (@michaelfiller)
• Edited by Andrew Cannon (@andrewhcannon)
• Recorded on November 14, 2019
• Show notes are available at http://www.fillerlab.com/nanovation/archive/56
• Submit feedback at http://www.fillerlab.com/nanovation/feedback

What if every seed you planted could include a sensor to monitor moisture and nutrients? What if every tissue had nanoscale electronics to check for viruses when you blew your nose? In this bonus episode from the Sustainable Nano podcast (an outstanding production of the Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology at the University of Wisconsin - Madison), Mike talks with host Miriam Krause about his lab's push toward ‘hyper-scalable’ electronics and what technologies might be enabled by such a manufacturing capability.

Show details:
• Hosted/edited by Miriam Krause (@mirk47)
• Sustainable Nano episode: https://sustainablenano.simplecast.com/episodes/mikefiller
• Recorded on March 21, 2019

• Edited for Nanovation by Andrew Cannon (@andrewhcannon)
• Additional show notes are available at http://www.fillerlab.com/nanovation/archive/55
• Submit feedback at http://www.fillerlab.com/nanovation/feedback

If you’ve ever thought about starting a nanotech company, this is the episode for you! Andrew Hunt tells the story of Engi-Mat (formerly nGimat), the nanomaterials company he founded in 1993. Andrew and Mike discuss Engi-Mat’s core manufacturing technology, what motivated Andrew to start the company, the pros and cons of the U.S. patent system, and how the nanotechnology landscape has changed in the past two and half decades. Andrew has seen it all: from the early optimism to the stock market drops that sunk many of his rivals to the increasing prevalence of nanomaterials in everyday life. He has a lot of teach us.

Show details:
• Hosted by Michael Filler (@michaelfiller)
• Edited by Andrew Cannon (@andrewhcannon)
• Recorded on October 28, 2019
• Show notes are available at http://www.fillerlab.com/nanovation/archive/54
• Submit feedback at http://www.fillerlab.com/nanovation/feedback

What do you get when you combine politics and nanotechnology? NanoBama, a carbon nanotube based picture of the 44th President of the United States. John Hart, the leader of the Mechanosynthesis Group at MIT, joins the podcast to talk about his love of nanomanufacturing and science communication. We talk about the challenge of developing “code” for nanomanufacturing processes and how nanomanufacturing is in a (sometimes frustrating) adolescent phase. John also shares his experience preparing for and presenting a TEDx talk.

Show details:
• Hosted by Michael Filler (@michaelfiller)
• Edited by Andrew Cannon (@andrewhcannon)
• Recorded on June 17, 2016
• Show notes are available at http://www.fillerlab.com/nanovation/archive/53
• Submit feedback at http://www.fillerlab.com/nanovation/feedback

Bob Sutor, the Vice President of IBM Q Strategy and Ecosystem, talks about IBM's unique approach to quantum computing. With the IBM Q Experience, they allow anyone on the Internet to access and program a quantum computer. Bob and Mike also discuss how to build a quantum computer, when quantum computers might be better than classical computers, where nanotechnology plays a role, and what we can expect further in the future. Bob is very clear about two things: quantum computers are coming and you should take one out for a spin.

Show details:
• Hosted by Michael Filler (@michaelfiller)
• Edited by Andrew Cannon (@andrewhcannon)
• Recorded on July 11, 2019
• Show notes are available at http://www.fillerlab.com/nanovation/archive/52
• Submit feedback at http://www.fillerlab.com/nanovation/feedback

The modern story of technological innovation is usually told as a story of scientific discovery followed by translation and commercialization. What if there is a broad class of technological innovations that do not follow this narrative? What if, despite being frequently overlooked or misunderstood, these innovations have revolutionized society in domains as diverse as materials, energy, electronics, and healthcare? On this episode of the Nanovation podcast, Matthew Realff returns to the show to talk with Mike about ‘fundamental process innovations’ -- technological innovations that emerge from rethinking the strategy by which a series of manufacturing steps are organized and executed. They discuss why process innovation often goes unrecognized, present a framework to understand it, explain how new areas of science emerge from it, and offer suggestions for nurturing it in the future. (Recorded on June 13, 2019. Edited by Andrew Cannon)

Show details:
• Hosted by Michael Filler (@michaelfiller)
• Edited by Andrew Cannon (@andrewhcannon)
• Recorded on June 13, 2019
• Show notes are available at http://www.fillerlab.com/nanovation/archive/51
• Submit feedback at http://www.fillerlab.com/nanovation/feedback