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Two Argonne researchers honored with Federal Laboratory Consortium award
Two Argonne researchers were honored recently with an Excellence in Technology Transfer Award from the Federal Laboratory Consortium’s (FLC’s) Midwest Region.
2016 FLC award
An Argonne researcher works with a new magnetic nanofiber. Argonne researchers were honored recently for their work with Qorvo, Inc., to integrate the nanofibers into the company’s microwave devices.

Applications Scientist Xing Chen (Energy Systems) and Andreas Roelofs, director of Nano Design Works (NDW), were recognized for their efforts to work with Qorvo, Inc., to utilize magnetic nanomaterials in microwave devices.

NDW helped to establish a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) to help Qorvo integrate Argonne-developed magnetic nanofiber composite material and device designs into a new generation of monolithic microwave integrated circuit technologies. The nanofiber technology will allow Qorvo to create radio frequency (RF) devices that are much smaller than comparable products and will have faster communications capabilities.

“This was an excellent demonstration of how NDW can help to facilitate the transfer to industry of novel discoveries made by Argonne’s outstanding researchers,” Roelofs said. ​“We are honored to be recognized by FLC and excited to see what the future holds for commercialization at the laboratory.”

Chen and his team developed a process to produce the magnetic nanofibers that are as small as 10 nanometers in diameter and a few micrometers long. The magnetic properties of the nanofibers allow them to be manipulated and deposited precisely to form materials with novel properties.

The materials hold promise for improved magnets for electric motors and better antennas for cellular phones, as well as water filtration and medical applications.

“It was great to work with Qorvo to see our research integrated into new products,” Chen said. ​“We are excited to explore all the ways these new materials can be used by industry.”

Qorvo, headquartered in Greensboro, NC, is a provider of RF solutions used in wireless devices, wired and wireless networks and defense radar and communications.

Argonne National Laboratory seeks solutions to pressing national problems in science and technology. The nation’s first national laboratory, Argonne conducts leading-edge basic and applied scientific research in virtually every scientific discipline. Argonne researchers work closely with researchers from hundreds of companies, universities, and federal, state and municipal agencies to help them solve their specific problems, advance America’s scientific leadership and prepare the nation for a better future. With employees from more than 60 nations, Argonne is managed by UChicago Argonne, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit the Office of Science website.