Oklahoma State University - Tulsa
Oklahoma State University - Tulsa

Materials Science and Engineering Entrepreneurship
Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)
Projects

Students will have the opportunity to rank their interest in these programs on their program application.

 

Detecting trace amounts of chemical and biological substances

Faculty: Nirmal Govindaraju, Ph.D.

This project focuses on understanding the fabrication of nano diamond pillars (NDP) through clean room processes such as CVD and PVD.

Students will develop optimized processing conditions, characterize materials through SEM and learn how to operate equipment in a clean room environment.

 

Thermoplastic nano-composites

Faculty: Jay Hanan, Ph.D.

This project focuses on synthesis and characterization of thermoplastic nanocomposites with nano additives, blending of nanocomposites, mechanical testing and characterization.

Students will learn how to blend nanocomposites, conduct mechanical testing and use SEM and optical microscopy.

 

Processing of bulk amorphous alloys, composites and coatings using relatively novel spark plasma sintering processes

Faculty: Sandip Harimkar, Ph.D.

Amorphous alloys exhibit outstanding mechanical and electrochemical properties due to their disordered atomic structure. However, it is difficult to fabricate bulk useful shapes of these materials using conventional casting technologies. In this project, processing of bulk amorphous alloys, composites, and coatings will be investigated using relatively novel spark plasma sintering processes.

The undergraduate research student will work closely with the principal investigator and graduate students to characterize amorphous alloys, composites, and coatings after spark plasms sintering. The students will be trained on metallography, hardness testing, and microscopy to characterize the sintered specimens.

 

The effect of simultaneous application of ultrasonic vibrations during laser surface melting of materials on the development of microstructure and surface properties

Faculty: Sandip Harimkar, Ph.D.

Laser surface engineering of materials is widely used to modify the surface properties of materials. This project seeks to investigate the effect of simultaneous application of ultrasonic vibrations during laser surface melting of materials on the development of microstructure and surface properties.

The undergraduate research student will work closely with the principal investigator and graduate students to characterize the samples after laser surface processing. The students will be trained on metallography, hardness testing, surface profiler, and microscopy to characterize the laser processed specimens.

 

Synthesis and characterization of PbS nanocrystals for solar cells

Faculty: Do Young Kim, Ph.D.

This project involves characterization of electronic and optical structure-property relationships of solar cells, perovskites and OELD materials.

Students will learn characterization techniques including SEM and other material characterization techniques such as DSC, TGA and XRD.

 

Understanding proton conduction in the rare-earth niobates to determine in relation to composition and crystal structure

Faculty: Pankaj Sarin, Ph.D.

This project involves understanding of the atomic level synergy in key crystalline phases to facilitate proton conduction pathways in selected rare-earth niobate phases.

Students will learn about synthesis of ceramic powders with desired dopant concentrations using steric entrapment methods, their characterization using scanning electron microscopy, thermal analysis methods, pycnometry, and ionic conductivity.

 

Framework Structures for Rechargeable Battery Electrodes

Faculty: Pankaj Sarin, Ph.D.

This project will examine various types of framework structures for use as cathodes in rechargeable energy storage devices.

Students will explore novel synthesis and characterization of unique compositions of framework structure oxides for use as cathodes in Li-ion batteries Synthesis of powders with desired compositions using methods such as steric entrapment and hydrothermal synthesis. Elemental and phase composition will be studied. Students will construct and test button cells using electrochemical methods such as voltammetry.

 

Bioengineered Hydroxyapatite Scaffolds from Cuttlefish Bone

Faculty: Pankaj Sarin, Ph.D.

This project involves biotemplating of cuttlefish bones to process highly porous hydroxyapative scaffolds for bone regeneration and determination of precise hydrothermal conditions and procedures to convert cuttlefish bone to highly porous (>92% interconnected porosity) hydroxyapatite scaffolds

Students will work to understand wet chemistry and hydrothermal methods for materials processing, work on microstructure characterization using SEM/EDS, pycnometry, N2 adsorption, etc. and conduct quantitative analysis of elemental and crystalline phase composition and mechanical properties.

 

Thermal Transport in Diamond Thin Films: Roles of the Nanostructure and Interfaces

Faculty: Raj Singh, Sc.D.

This project seeks to understand the difference in processing of microcrystalline and nanocrystalline diamond thin films. REU students will be provided an opportunity to gain valuable hands-on research experience in several vital technological areas – thin film synthesis and processing.

REU scholars will learn about the CVD and PVD processes, characterization techniques such as SEM, thermal property measurements etc.

 

Design composite systems from different material combinations including nanofillers for aerospace and automotive applications

Faculty: Raman Singh, Ph.D.

This project will contribute to the understanding of low-cost composite processing techniques such as VARTM and correlation to characterization results.

Students will understand low cost processing techniques and characterization techniques such as composite resistance towards UV and moisture as well as mechanical testing, SEM and DMA/TGA/DSC etc.

 

3D printing of strong scaffold materials using “Robocasting"

Faculty: Jim Smay, Ph.D.

“Robocasting” is a 3D printing technique developed at Sandia and improved by Dr. Jim Smay. This project involves development of 3D printing techniques for new ceramic formulations, characterization of 3D printed structures using SEM and mechanical testing.

Students will learn new 3D manufacturing techniques, SEM and mechanical testing.

 

Fabrication, testing and characterization of composite materials for radiation shielding

Faculty: Ranji Vaidyanathan, Ph.D.

This project involves characterization of nano-particles blended with ultra high modulus polyethylene, the effect of nanoparticles on glass transition temp, radiation shielding capability etc.

Students will learn characterization techniques – SEM, DSC, DMA and DTA and correlate to mechanical and radiation shielding properties of polymer blends.

 

Fabrication and testing of all-composite tanks for natural gas storage

Faculty: Ranji Vaidyanathan, Ph.D.

This project involves composite fabrication and mechanical testing to determine composite interlaminar properties.

Students will learn characterization techniques – SEM, DMA and DSC, correlate to interlaminar properties of nano-additives in the interlaminar area of polymer composites and correlate materials and properties with needed industry standards.