MSE Faculty Members Awarded Grant by Office of Naval Research (ONR)
(Left panel) A 2D ‘fuzzy interface’ structural model of a particle-matrix composite, with red and blue phases having different electrical and thermal transport properties. Simulated electrical (Central panel) and thermal (Right panel) current flow through the composite under applied voltage.
By Francesca Rameau, Written Communications Assistant
Professor Serge Nakhmanson, MSE
The Office of Naval Research (ONR) has awarded an exceeding $400k grant to Professor Serge Nakhmanson, Professor David Drabold (Nakhmanson’s Ph.D. advisor, Ohio University Physics), and Professor Mark Aindow, UConn MSE, in collaboration with Dr. Boris Feygelson, a researcher at Naval Research Laboratory, for their research on thermoelectric materials. The research project, title “Structural Optimization of Transport Properties in Artificial Interfacial Solids for High ZT Thermoelectrics” focuses on developing novel materials and composites with enhanced capabilities for converting heat into electricity and vice versa.
This award follows two prior ONR grants supporting graduate students in Professor Nakhmanson’s group for preliminary work on the same topic. The initial grant in 2020 included $50k, while another $120k was provided for 2021-2023. These studies, conducted by then Ph.D. student Mr. Dharma Basaula (Ph.D. Physics, 2023), produced sufficiently promising results that ONR expanded the project substantially this year to also include experiments and additional modelling.
Dharma Basaula, (Ph.D. Physics, ’23), conducted previous ONR-funded studies in 2020 and from 2021 to 2023
Professor Nakhmanson comments, “Prior to this project, we have never worked on thermoelectric materials. However, during this effort, we have learned that the most important characteristics governing thermoelectric behavior of microstructurally complex materials are tied to their interfaces. Such properties are not easy to measure or evaluate computationally, but their knowledge is necessary to predict and improve thermoelectric performance – which is the main goal of the new ONR grant. We are very grateful to Dr. Feygelson for originating this collaboration and to ONR for the continuing support.”
Dr. Boris Feygelson, collaborator from Naval Research Laboratory
Dr. Boris Feygelson, the collaborator from Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), oversees the development of the material synthesis for the project. New synthesis methods involve atomic layer deposition (ALD) on nanoparticles and nanoporous structures followed by nano-sintering to produce solids with preserved nanostructure of initial constituents. He specializes in creating and manipulating novel materials under high-pressed and high-temperature conditions. Professor Nakhmanson along with an MSE graduate student, Minhaz Morshed, will continue to collaborate with Professor David Drabold and his graduate students for theoretical and computational research. Their specific goal is to gain a deeper understanding of coupled thermal and electrical transport properties in interfacial materials, and then utilize this knowledge to make predictions on how these properties could be improved.
Additionally, Professor Mark Aindow, along with a graduate student, Ovijit Dad, and postdoc Sarshad Rommel, leads the complementary effort in transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to visualize the nano-sized elements and interfaces in solid materials synthesized at NRL. This technique involves the transmission of electron beams through thin specimen to capture detailed images down to the atomic scale.
Department Head Bryan Huey notes, “This effort is a great example of several core strengths in UConn MSE coming together for the common good. It teams Serge Nakhmanson’s extraordinary modeling capabilities with Mark Aindow’s expertise in electron microscopy and microstructure, partners with outstanding external collaborators, and is focused on improving a critical technology for society: efficient conversion of heat and electricity.”
Published: February 14, 2024
Categories: awards, faculty, news, research
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