Funded and Active Projects

Radiation detection and discrimination (DTRA-NSERC)

Past Projects

• Milli-scale robots using diamagnetic levitation for biomedical applications

• Magnetic micro-structured materials for miniaturization and signal amplification and magnetocaloric materials for contrast labels in nuclear magnetic resonance systems

• Interdigitated capacitors using aerosol jet printing

• Characterizing mutliferroic coupling and intrinsic materials characteristics in ferroelectric single crystals and heterostructured systems

• Development of nanomagnetic Fe-Pd biocomposites

• Magneto-thermal theoretical and experimental studies on low anisotropy polycrystalline materials

• Nanomaterials in biopolymer composites using ionic liquid based methods

• Optical sensing using novel materials and techniques for laser irradiation detection

• Effect of laser irradiation on thermoelectric generators

• Impact of manufacturing process variability and material variation on the magnetic properties of high-strength steel

• Multidimensional modeling of the magnetic properties of ferromagnetic materials

• Adaptive controllers for microrobot autonomous manipulation and assembly

• Additively manufactured lenses for RF applications

• Non-invasive techniques to enhance the security on various storage and novel memory devices

Research Facilities

Aerosol Jet Printer

AJP FLEX 5X by Optomec

Highlights

• 5 axis 200 x 300 x 200 mm (XYZ) Print Area

• Printed features as small as 10 microns

• Layer heights as thin as 100 nanometers, as thick as 10+ microns

• Print at up to 5 millimeters from the part on complex topology

• Print conductors, dielectrics, conformal overcoats, photo/etch resists and more

• Advanced vision tools for Process monitoring, Alignment & Inspection

Maskless Aligner - Direct-Write Lithography

μMLA by Heidelberg Instruments

Highlights:

• Raster scan mode with 365nm LED illumination and variable resolution

• Draw mode and advanced field alignment modules

• Vector scan mode with 375 and 405nm laser irradiation

• Optical autofocus

Specifications:

• Maximum substrate size: 6” x 6”

• Minimum substrate size: 5 x 5 mm2

• Maximum write area: 150 x 150 mm2

• Substrate thickness: 0.1 to 12 mm

Physical Property Measurement System (PPMS)

VersaLab Opix by Quantum Design

Options:

• Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM)

• First Order Reversal Curves (FORC) measurements

• AC Measurement System - Susceptibility (ACMS II)

• DC Resistivity

• Electrical Transport

• Horizontal Sample Rotator

• Heat Capacity

• Thermal Transport

• Optical multi-function probe with Raman & luminescence spectroscopy system

Specifications:

• Field Range: ±3 Tesla

• Temperature Range: 50K-1000K

2024/2025

Y. Fu: Fabrication of wearable capacitive sensors using aerosol jet printing

T. J. Boland: Additive Manufacturing of Stretchable Frequency-Reconfigurable Frequency Selective Surfaces with Split-Ring Resonators

O. Beran: Neutron Damage Effects Study on AlGaN High Electron Mobility Transistors

J. Arana: Integration of Data Acquisition and Real Time Processing for Radiation Detection and Discrimination

A. Artman: Discrimination of Neutron and Gamma Radiation in Plastic Scintillators using Machine Learning Techniques

2023/2024

C. Eldridge: Aerosol Jet Printing of Dielectric Elastomer Actuators Using Flexible Dielectric and Conductive Inks

M. Hall: Vitrovac/PZT Magnetoelectric Laminate Composites for Wireless Power Transfer for In-Vivo Biomedical Devices

H. Davis: Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Neutron Irration on AlGaN High Electron Mobility Transistors

2022/2023

N. Schatz: Optimizing Ultrasonic Atomization Parameters for Aerosol Jet® Printing

A. Faber: Aerosol Jet® Printing RF Components on Flexible Substrates for Wearable Applications

K. Bandasak: Development of a Portable Real-time Radiation Detector and Discriminator

J. Wizgird: Development of a Portable Real-time Radiation Detector and Discriminator

A. Goode (HS intern)

2021/2022

G. Stevens (Bowman Scholar): Fabrication and characterization of 3D-printed scintillators for portable radiation detection

J. Copley: Additively manufactured RF lenses for highly directive, low power transmitters

J. Potticary: A novel approach to thermoelectric material fabrication using additive manufacturing

D. Barua (HS intern)

2020/2021

L. Usadi (Trident and Bowman Scholar): Manipulation of microrobots using Chladni plates and multimode membrane resonators

M. Beauchamp (Bowman Scholar): Optically powered multi-robot system based on diamagnetic levitation

M. Alese (Bowman Scholar): Discrimination of radiation and characterization of 3D-printed scintillators for portable dosimetry

M. Seymour: Effect of laser irradiation on thermoelectric generators

B. Horn: Developing a mobile device lens case for 5G antenna gain

A. Viswanathan: Microrobots fabrication and shape-memory alloy implementation

K. Smith (HS intern)

2019/2020

J. Young (Bowman Scholar): Optical control and manipulation of diamagnetically levitated pyrolytic graphite

T. Beck: Reproducing the rowhammer exploit on novel memory devices

R. White: Microrobot fabrication using additive manufacturing

E. Hong: Microrobot fabrication using additive manufacturing

L. Oney: Optical actuation of pyrolytic graphite diamagnetically levitating over smart magnets

J. Merkel: Effect of laser irradiation on thermoelectric generators

H. Biggs (HS intern)

S. Makkapati (HS intern)

2018/2019

M. Ewall-Wice (Bowman Scholar): : Optomechanical actuator and iradiation sensor using the diamagnetism of pyrolytic graphite

K. Delawder (HS intern)

2017/2018

K. Ryall: Preparation of magnetic yarns via ionic liquid based natural fiber welding

K. Delawder (HS intern)

2016/2017

J. Ampolini: Magneto-optic Kerr effect (MOKE) setup

A. Jevitt: Electrical characteristics of lightweight composite materials for microstrip transmission line application

T. Anderson: Fluid properties for uncalibrated microrobot control

2015/2016

F. Cooke (Trident Scholar): Uncalibrated three-dimensional microrobot control