Fundamental Study on ‘Nanoscale Energy Dissipation’ Carried Out at
Masdar Institute Chosen as One of the Best in 2011 by Esteemed Scientific
Publication Nanotechnology
Abu Dhabi-UAE: 19 December, 2011 – Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, an
independent, research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and
sustainable technologies, today announced that a fundamental study on nanoscale energy
dissipation carried out at the Masdar Institute has been chosen by the esteemed scientific
publication Nanotechnology as one of the best in 2011.
The scientists group led by Matteo Chiesa, Associate Professor, Laboratory of Energy and
Nano-Science (LENS) at Masdar Institute, include Sergio Santos of LENS, the leading author of
the manuscript, and a group of collaborators including Dr. Victor Barcons, Joseph Font, Albert
Verdaguer and Neil H. Thomson from Spanish and British universities.
The article titled ‘How localized are energy dissipation processes in nanoscale interactions’ is
one of 21 accepted for publication within the nanotechnology domain developed by the Masdar
Institute’s LENS in 2011. This article has been chosen for its impact by the editorial board of the
Nanotechnology journal to be part of a special edition that collects the highest relevant articles
from 2011. To underline the significance of the results presented in the study, one of the figure
from the article was picked as the main cover for this special edition.
The article focuses on the degree or level of localization in nanoscale dissipative interactions.
Written by the scientists, it presents a fundamental explanation of the area of interaction
between a sphere of a radius of few nanometers and a surface of different material. This has
implication for the study of energy dissipation at the nanoscale and thus on the quantification of
properties of surfaces. For the nanotechnology community, this is a great achievement since it
allows controlling or manipulating of the process at the nanoscale.
The Nanotechnology magazine is part of the not-for-profit society Institute of Physics (IOP)
Publishing, which publishes a range of journals, websites and magazines. It has more than 60
journals that reflect the growth and interdisciplinary nature of scientific research and application,
from topics as varied as nanotechnology, astronomy, mathematics, the biosciences and
physics.
Dr Fred Moavenzadeh, President of Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, said: “The
recognition from one of the most respected magazine indicates the significance of the
advanced-level research work that is being conducted at LENS in Masdar Institute. We offer
our heartfelt congratulations to our scientists and believe such recognitions will further motivate
them to move forward with their pioneering work. We thank the country’s leadership for their
support and will remain committed to further expanding our capacity building and human
development efforts in the UAE.”
Dr. Matteo Chiesa, Associate Professor, LENS, Masdar Institute, said: “The work is of
fundamental origin and by itself cannot be commercialized. However, there are other published
works for which we have filed invention disclosures. Our research work on the area of
interaction for each of the elementary dissipative processes can be pivotal in the development
of advanced materials for various industries such as defense or energy. We are extremely
honored that our paper has been chosen by the Editor of the Nanotechnology magazine as one
of the best among all of those published in 2011.”
The research work calculates the effective area of interaction for each of the elementary
dissipative processes. It then uses a figure of merit defined as M to quantify both the density
of the energy dissipated and the level of localization of each dissipative interaction. Each
process is shown to present a different pattern in M with decreasing separation between the
colliding bodies from tens of nanometers to angstroms. Though the work is theoretical, it uses
parameters that can be readily measured with an atomic force microscope.
The UAE-based scientists at Masdar Institute have been prominently featured in industry and
scientific publications respected worldwide and avidly read by scientists and researchers. Prof
Matteo Chiesa has already published his works in other scientific journals such as Nature
Materials, Journal of Physics D and Solar Energy. Earlier, the prestigious 'Science' journal
published for the first time a paper co-authored by a UAE-based scientist – Dr. Iyad Rahwan,
Assistant Professor - Computing and Information Science, Masdar Institute.
Established as an on-going collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(MIT), Masdar Institute integrates theory and practice to incubate a culture of innovation and
entrepreneurship, working to develop the critical thinkers and leaders of tomorrow. With its
world-class faculty and top-tier students, the Institute is committed to finding solutions to the
challenges of clean energy and climate change.
ENDS
About Masdar Institute
Masdar Institute of Science and Technology (Masdar Institute) was established by the government of Abu Dhabi as
a not-for-profit, private graduate university to develop indigenous R&D capacity in Abu Dhabi addressing issues of
importance to the region.
In collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Masdar Institute has developed an academic
and research platform that articulates its mission and vision according to critical energy and sustainability challenges.
An important characteristic of Masdar Institute is its focus on complex real-world problems that require a
multidisciplinary approach for the development of solutions from an integrated technology, systems and policy
perspective. This multi-interdisciplinary and integrated approach is supported by the structure of its academic
programs and by the emphasis placed on engaging external partners from industry, government, and other academic
institutions in collaborative activities.
Masdar Institute offers degrees in:
• MSc Engineering Systems and Management
• MSc Computing and Information Science
• MSc Materials Science and Engineering
• MSc Mechanical Engineering
• MSc Water and Environmental Engineering
• MSc Microsystems Engineering
• MSc Electrical Power Engineering
• MSc Chemical Engineering
For more information please visit our website
http://www.masdar.ac.ae/.
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