Streamlining thin film processing saves time, energy

BY CHRISTIE DELFANIAN

Energy storage devices and computer screens may seem worlds apart, but they’re not.

When associate professor Qi Hua Fan of South Dakota State University’s electrical engineering and computer science department set out to make a less expensive supercapacitor for storing renewable energy, he developed a new plasma technology that will streamline the production of display screens. For his work on thin film and plasma technologies, Fan was named the 2014 researcher of the year for the Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering at SDSU. His research focuses on nanostructured materials used for photovoltaics, energy storage and displays.

Making electrodes for supercapacitors

Last spring Fan received a proof-of-concept grant from the U.S. Department of Energy through the North Central Regional Sun Grant Center to determine if biochar, a byproduct of the process that converts plant materials into biofuel, could be used in place of expensive activated carbon to make electrodes for supercapacitors.

The Sun Grant promotes collaboration among researchers from landgrant institutions, government agencies and the private sector to develop and commercialize renewable, bio-based energy technologies. The proofof-concept grants allow researchers to advance promising research to the next level of product development and commercialization.

“The amount of charge stored in a capacitor depends on the surface area, and the biochar nanoparticles can create an extremely large surface area which can then hold more charge,” Fan says.

He deposits the biochar on a substrate using a patent-pending electrochemical process he developed and licensed to Applied Nanofilms LLC, in Brookings, S.D. Applied Nanofilms and Wintek, a Taiwan-based company that makes flat panel displays for notebooks and touch screens in Ann Arbor, Mich., provided matching funds.

Through this project, Fan developed a faster way of treating the biochar particles using a new technology called plasma activation. “Treating means you use plasma to change the material surface, such as creating pores,” he says.

The plasma treatment activates the biochar in 5 minutes and at room temperature, Fan explains. Conventional chemical activation takes several hours to complete and must be done at high temperatures — approximately 1,760 degrees Fahrenheit.

“This saves energy and is much more efficient,” Fan says. In this project, he has been collaborating with assistant professor Zhengrong Gu in the agricultural and biosystems engineering department, whose research focuses on energy storage materials and devices. They plan to use these promising results to apply for federal funding.

Applying plasma process

The technique that treats biochar electrodes for supercapacitors can also be used in making displays, explains Fan, who was a research scientist at Wintek more than 10 years ago. Since fall 2013, Fan has been collaborating with Wintek on ways of producing more efficient, better performing materials, such as silicon and carbon thin films, for the company’s displays.

“Plasma processing is a very critical technology in modern optoelectronic materials and devices,” Fan explains. The high-energy plasma can deposit highly transparent and conductive thin films, create high quality semiconductors, and pattern micro- or nano-scale devices, thus making the display images brighter and clearer.

Fan will work with Wintek to develop a prototype plasma system. The activation method has the potential to improve production efficiency, saving time and energy. PB

Christie Delfanian Research writer South Dakota State University christie.delfanian@sdstate.edu

Twin Cities brokerage firm buys Thune Insurance

St. Paul, Minn.-based North Risk Partners has merged with Thief River Falls, Minn.-based Thune Insurance Network.

Insurance, St. Cloud-based Apollo, Rochester-based C.O. Brown, and St. Paul-based Johnson McCann.

150-employee insurance brokerage that is now comprised of four independently operated Minnesota-based

Thune Insurance was founded 40 years ago and employs 25 insurance professionals at offices in Thief River Falls, Roseau and Baudette, Minn.

Eide Bailly boosts tech resources

Regional certified public accounting and business advisory firm Eide Bailly LLP has acquired Accounting Systems Inc., a Fort Collins, Colo.-based business, accounting and enterprise resource planning solution provider. The acquisition adds 10 employees to Eide Bailly and will help establish the firm as a thought leader in ERP and business technology solutions, according to Scott Kost, Eide Bailly’s director of technology consulting.

Researchers make degradable plastic breakthrough

A multidisciplinary team of researchers at North Dakota State University have discovered a potential method of creating biomass-based plastic which could be degraded when desired by exposing the product to ultraviolet light. In a proof of concept experiment, the group used fructose to ultimately create plastic, which was then degraded back to its originating molecules after three hours of exposure to ultraviolet light.

The group will continue to examine the process over the next two years, focusing research efforts on durability and strength of plastics created through this process and how the process might be applied to plastics used in cars, electronics and other items.

Study ranks region high for ‘successful aging’

A study recently released by the Milken Institute ranked several northern Plains’ cities among the top 10 small metropolitan areas for older adults. Sioux Falls and Rapid City, S.D., ranked second and fifth on the list, respectively. Bismarck and Fargo, N.D., took the fourth and tenth place spots. Iowa City, Iowa, was named the best small metro for older adults in the country.

According to the Milken Institute, results were based on public data, as opposed to household surveys. The institute defines “successful aging” as living in a safe, affordable, engaging and connected community that offers quality health care and an active lifestyle with ready access to transportation, education, employment and recreation. While weather was indeed a consideration in the study, the institute noted that the strong economies, abundant health care options and low cost of care in many of the top-ranking cities overcame any downsides of inclement weather.

To view the complete results, visit http:// successfulaging.milkeninstitute.org/bcsa2014. html.

Altru, USDA partner to expand rural medical access

The USDA Rural Development agency has awarded Grand Forks, N.D.-based Altru Health System an approximately $196,000 grant through its Distance Learning and Telemedicine program to help expand health care to rural communities. Altru intends to use the grant to establish a video conferencing network so that medical professionals can diagnose and treat rural patients without requiring them to leave their communities.

NDPC creates online easement info center

The North Dakota Petroleum Center has launched an Easement Information Center on its website to provide informational resources to landowners and land agents. Resources available include the Land Agent Code of Conduct, pipeline company contact information, a pipeline incident report form, a summary of project scope form, answers to frequently asked easement and pipeline questions. To access the information, visit http://www.ndoil.org/ oil_can_2/easementinfocenter.

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Spherion gives back to American Red Cross

Spherion Staffing Services, a recruitment, staffing and workforce solutions provider with offices in Bismarck, Fargo and Minot, N.D., recently donated $5,500 to the Dakotas Region of the American Red Cross as part of the company’s national Community Giveback program.

Spherion owner Jill Berg said the donation helps the company further its commitment to its local community. “The more often we are involved with organizations like the American Red Cross, the better we understand the needs of North Dakota’s citizens,” she said in a news release. “Our priority is putting the people of North Dakota to work and contributing to the health of local community organizations and businesses.”

Midcontinent announces gigabit network plan

Midcontinent Communications has announced plans to deliver gigabit Internet speed to approximately 600,000 homes and 55,000 businesses in the upper Midwest through a 7,600-mile, high-capacity fiber network. The multi-year Gigabit Initiative will begin this year. The first cities targeted for gigabit service include Fargo, Bismarck and Grand Forks, N.D., and Sioux Falls and Rapid City, S.D. For more information, visit midcogig.com.

University of Mary adds year-round option

Bismarck, N.D.-based University of Mary has it will begin offering a year-round campus option this year, which will allow students to complete a bachelor’s degree in less than three years and a master’s degree in four years. The year-round campus offers the same course load as traditional full-time degree programs, but provides the education in eight consecutive semesters, which the university believes will help address the cost, time and debt challenges faced by students. The university indicated the shortened time span to obtain a degree could also help address North Dakota’s low unemployment and workforce demand.

Raven Industries buys Integra Plastics

Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Raven Industries Inc. recently announced that its engineered films division has acquired Madison, S.D.-based Integra Plastics Inc. for approximately $48 million in cash and stock. Integra specializes in the manufacture and conversion of high-quality plastic film and sheeting. It employs more than 100 people at locations Madison, Brandon, S.D., and Midland, Texas. The acquisition will expand Raven’s engineering film production capacity, broaden its product offerings and enhance current converting capabilities, the company said in a news release.

EERC Bakken program earns leadership award

The Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) at the University of North Dakota recently received the 2014 Chairman’s Stewardship Award in Environmental Partnership from the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission for its Bakken Production Optimization program, which is focused on improving Bakken system oil recovery while simultaneously reducing its environmental footprint. Project partners include Continental Resources, ConocoPhillips, Hess Corp., Hitachi Data Systems, Marathon Oil, Nuverra Environmental Solutions, Oasis Petroleum, SM Energy, Whiting and XTO Energy. The North Dakota Industrial Commission’s oil and gas research program is also involved in the three-year project.

Van Vlaenderen joins Western State Bank

Ed Van Vlaenderen recently joined West Fargo-based Western State Bank as a senior network engineer. His duties include supporting and maintaining IT systems for the company, focusing on various types of networks. He has more than 20 years of IT experience, most recently as a network engineer at Sanford Health.

Metz joins Arctic Cat as CEO

Christopher Metz has been named president and CEO of Arctic Cat. He replaces Christopher Twomey, who remains the company’s board chairman. Twomey temporarily served as CEO following the stepping down of Claude Jordan after disappointing financial results early in 2014.

Prior to joining Arctic Cat, Metz served as managing director of private investment firm Sun Capital Partners Inc. He previously served as president of Black & Decker.

Alvine joins Fredrikson & Byron

Fredrikson & Byron recently announced the addition of Elizabeth Alvine as an associate attorney in the firm’s litigation and employment and labor groups. Alvine litigates primarily business and employment disputes, including contract disputes, business torts, tax controversy claims and employment discrimination claims, focusing primarily on commercial litigation. She is based at the firm’s Fargo office.

Thiessen named ND Economic Developer of Year

The Economic Development Association of North Dakota awarded Klaus Thiessen as the 2014 Governor’s Choice for Economic Developer of the Year during the group’s fall meeting held in November in Grand Forks. Thiessen is the president and CEO of the Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corp.

“Klaus focuses on the fundamentals of economic development and consistently and collaboratively drives projects and initiatives,” says Al Anderson, North Dakota commerce commissioner.

“Under his leadership, the region has maintained a focus on new wealth creation that results from primary sector growth.”

Thiessen has led the Grand Forks Region EDC since 2004. Prior to that, he served as president and CEO of the Winnipeg Economic Development Corp. for 10 years.

StarMark Cabinetry adds staff

Sioux Falls, S.D.-based StarMark Cabinetry has hired Dennis Henson to serve as financial analyst and Jenny Weber as training and development specialist.

Henson has more than 15 years of accounting experience and most recently served as accounting manager for Sioux Steel Co. in Sioux Falls.

Weber has eight years of training and employee development experience. She worked most recently as the new hire and training manager at Lawrence & Schiller Teleservices in Sioux Falls.

Regional Health names new CEO

Brent Phillips has been named president/ CEO of Rapid City, S.D.-based Regional Health. He succeeds Dr. Charles Hart, who announced his intent to retire last year after serving in the role for a decade.

Prior to joining Regional Health, Phillips served as president of the greater Milwaukee (Wis.) south region for Aurora Health Care, where he oversaw four hospitals. Previously roles included senior vice president of medical group operations for Aurora Health Care and senior leadership at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

Pete Cappa, chairman of Regional Health’s search committee, said in a news release that Phillips was selected from more than 100 applicants based on his experience with larger health care systems and vision for building a culture of teamwork and respect among Regional Health employees.

Ackerman-Estvold hires senior civil engineer

John Schumacher has joined the AckermanEstvold Williston, N.D. office as a senior civil engineer in the municipal divison. He has nearly 40 years of civil engineering experience throughout the U.S. and the Middle East and holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Texas.

Fargo Moorhead West Fargo 2015 State of the Cities

Thursday, January 15 | 8 a.m.

Ramada Plaza & Suites and Conference Center Breakfast is included.

Register at www.fmwfchamber.com or call 218.233.1100.

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