Advanced Materials Laboratory

 Research Facility

The Advanced Materials Lab consists of computational and experimental research groups. We utilize computer clusters, and rigorous computational logarithms to predict and obtain the desired material properties and functionality through design. We discover what nanomaterials can convert heat, solar, and wind energy into electricity more efficiently. Additionally, we use this data to predict new materials, including ultra-high temperature materials for nuclear reactions (Reactors) as well for combustion engines.

 

Our lab has the facilities to synthesize various materials, and is focused on low dimensional materials ranging from extremely tiny particles (nanoparticles), nanowires, to atomically thick sheets. Because the physical dimension of these materials is 1000 times smaller than a human hair, the materials are called nanomaterials and have novel and unique properties which potentially lead to many breakthrough technological applications.

 

The team have heavily invested our efforts to address one of the engineering’s most pressing problems – energy conversion and efficiency. The materials that we synthesize will be used to fabricate the devices to harvest energy from the natural resources such as, the sun, ocean waves, wind, rain and the heat, and the ways to store electrical energy. We are currently working on a number of funded research projects from NSF, DOE, Air Force, Navy, and the State of Tennessee.

Research Instrumentation