Submitter
Kristopher Davis, Assistant Professor, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science
Amount Awarded (non-recurring)
$205,570
Project Summary
The requested funds will buy a particle analyzer system and a thermography system for use in observing and optimizing nanoparticles. Faculty members plan to apply the equipment to a wide range of research areas — most notably solar energy cell development and virology. In solar energy, there is a need for nanomaterial fabrication to improve the efficiency of cells’ electrical contacts, thus eliminating the price constraints currently limiting the technology’s spread. In medical research, engineered nanoparticles have shown a unique capability to tackle the complex mechanical properties of viruses like SARS-CoV-2. The professors who crafted this proposal each bring strong interdisciplinary track records to the table; between them, they have several multi-year projects with the Department of Energy and National Institute of Health, collaborations with many industrial partners and multiple National Science Foundation awards. Upon receipt, this funding will immediately increase UCF’s ability to compete for even more significant grants and will facilitate investigation in areas like electronics, dermatology and household product formulation—allowing UCF to broaden its research horizons as it furthers its recognized strengths in virology and solar energy.
Collaborators
- Kristopher Davis
- Ranganathan Kumar
- Aravinda Kar
- Manish Gupta
- Jayan Thomas
- Samik Bhattacharya
Matching Funds
$58,000