NEXT IS ALL ABOUT YOUR INTERESTS AND PASSION. WE OFFER YOU ANYTHING YOU NEED FOR YOU TO SUCCEED. WE'LL HELP YOU LEARN SKILLS THROUGH HANDS-ON RESEARCH IN A FAST-FACED, GROUP-DRIVEN ENVIRONMENT.
OUR RESEARCH PROGRAMS ARE OPEN TO ANY UVA STUDENT. YOU ARE WELCOME TO JOIN AN ON-GOING RESEARCH PROJECT, OR START ONE OF YOUR OWN.
OUR RESEARCH PROGRAMS ARE OPEN TO ANY UVA STUDENT. YOU ARE WELCOME TO JOIN AN ON-GOING RESEARCH PROJECT, OR START ONE OF YOUR OWN.
Current Research Programs.
Carbon Nanotube Sensor Project
Principal Investigator: Pamela Norris and Keith Williams
Undergraduate Students: Suhaib Abu Radwan, Marybeth Grier, Rodney Davis, Andrew Coffee, Keithen Orson and Jair Valenzuela
When: January 2015 - Present
Where: University of Virginia
Funding: NanoSTAR grant, Air Force Funding
Abstract: Carbon Nanotubes have been hailed as the strongest material in the world with great capabilities; from their high conductivity to their great crystallinity. Our team has spent the past year and a half optimizing our CNT Chemical Vapor Deposition setup to yield high purity CNT arrays, we are now moving on to the implementation phase where we plan on using these arrays to build a CNT Carbon Dioxide sensor. In the past we have contributed to one publication, an award winning poster conference, and three other conferences. Not only do we do science, we also have a collaborative environment that pushes for scientific success within the group.
Equipment used: Raman, Hirox microscope, SEM, Sonication
Microfluidics, Neurotechnologies, Micro-bio Interface
Principal Investigator: Nathan Swami
Undergraduate Students: Sepehr Zomorodi
When: June 2015 - Present
Where: Swami Lab (Electrical Engineering, University of Virginia)
Funding: NanoSTAR
Abstract: Research revolves around developing platforms to better study and modulate neural systems for personalized medicine applications.
NExT Project | Shear Exfoliation of Graphene
Principal Investigator: Petra Reinke
Undergraduate Students: Keithen Orson and other NExT members
When: January 2014 - Present
Where: University of Virginia
Funding: Alcoa grant, NanoSTAR
Abstract: Graphene, the two dimensional allotrope of carbon, has a number of remarkable materials properties that would make it invaluable to the industrial community. However, graphene is currently too expensive to produce in the large quantities needed for applications ranging from transparent electrodes to material reinforcement. Shear exfoliation provides a path towards scalable production of high quality graphene, but the method is not well investigated. I present research into the affects of surfactant type on graphene yield and the affect of surfactant concentration around the critical micelle concentration. Also investigated is the efficacy of interface trapping as a fractionation method for shear exfoliation.
Equipment used: Raman, Hirox microscope, SEM, Sonication
Former Research Programs.
Environmental Barrier Coatings on CMC Turbine Blades Principal Investigator: Hayden Wadley Graduates Students: Jeroen Deijkers and Prabha Pathirana Undergraduate Student: Paul Burke When: August 2016 - May 2017 Where: University of Virginia Funding: Wadley Group Abstract: Current turbine engines are being phased out due to a need for higher efficiency turbine engines. For this reason, silicon based materials are used that can tolerate high temperatures. In order to protect the silicon based ceramics, coatings must be applied that are able to withstand the hostile environment of the next-generation combustion turbine engines. There has been previous research on this topic done at UVA by Brad Richards in the Wadley research group. It was proven that a coating system composed of a silicon and a rare-earth silicate layer withstands this hostile environment at long times. However, when exposing this system to high temperature creep, it easily fails. For this research, we will combine new materials based on a hafnia-silicon system to improve creep properties and to potential increase thermal, chemical, and oxidation properties. For this specific project, the focus will be on creep testing. We will test this first in an old, standardized creep testing machine by ASTM standards. We will then compare these results and obtain new results by testing the same kind of samples in the new Simulated Turbine Engine Facility, currently under construction in Wilsdorf Hall. Objectives of this research
Equipment used: Simulated turbine engine facility, creep testing apparatus |
"My research began as a NExT project. It was one of the first things I got involved in first year. I actually was the one who proposed this research, and so far the experience has been extremely rewarding for me. I've presented at student faculty mixers, built personal relationships with multiple professors, and now enjoy helping with other projects.” -Keithen Orson |
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