Grant Will Fund Equipment for Energy Harvesting and Storage Research

Researchers in the Departments of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and Mechanical & Civil Engineering and Construction Management, have been awarded a $595,401 grant from the Department of Defense (DoD) to support renewable energy generation and storage research.

The DoD recently selected 98 researchers from 71 universities to receive awards under its Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority-Serving Institutions (HBCU/MI) Program for fiscal year 2024. These awards, totaling $50.1 million, aim to boost research and education initiatives through advanced equipment.

Alabama A&M’s winning proposal, titled “Acquisition of Thin Film Deposition System, Laser Marker, Optical and Chemical Characterization Systems,” focuses on using these tools to support energy harvesting and storage projects, enhancing STEM education. Investigators include Principal Investigator (PI) Drs. Satilmis Budak, Zhigang Xiao (Co-PI), Mebougna Drabo (Co-PI) and Aschalew Kassu (Co-PI).

New Equipment Will Expand Research Capabilities

The one-year grant will fund the purchase of a PVD 200 Open Frame PRO Line Thin Film Deposition System, a Cyclic Voltammetry System, a Phenom XL G2 desktop scanning electron microscope, and a laser marking machine.

“The Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science has a 1,000-class clean room that allows our STEM students to work closely with their mentors,” says Budak. “These instruments enable the deposition of materials on different substrates and provide electrochemical and optical analysis of materials for energy harvesting, storage, and even biological applications. They will expand capabilities not only in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, but also in the Mechanical & Civil Engineering and Construction Management Departments. Faculty and students across all STEM fields at the University will have access to these tools, benefiting students from undergraduate to Ph.D. levels.”

The grant will also support ongoing and future research in energy-related fields. Alabama A&M’s Departments of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering launched new Master of Science programs (MSEE and MSME) in 2021, graduating six students in May 2023. The new equipment will provide opportunities for students at various levels, including undergraduates, senior design project participants, and graduate students.

Cutting-Edge Research and Education Opportunities for Students and Faculty

Alabama A&M researchers and students will use these instruments to work on energy-harvesting materials, including piezoelectric, pyroelectric, ferroelectric, and thermoelectric materials for electricity generation, as well as on energy storage devices like thin-film solid-state batteries and carbon nanotube-based sensors.

These instruments will also support various courses within the Electrical and Mechanical Engineering departments, including senior design, semiconductor engineering, VLSI design and testing, integrated circuit fabrication, material science, renewable energy, and solar thermal engineering. The new equipment will also allow faculty and students to conduct research that aligns with the DoD’s mission and prepares graduates for future research roles.

“The goal is to foster interdisciplinary research in STEM, helping faculty collaborate across departments and equipping students with experience in high-level research projects,” adds Budak.  “This hands-on access to cutting-edge tools will prepare students for careers in advanced STEM fields.”

(Photo L-R) Drs. Zhigang Xiao, Mebougna Drabo, Satilmis Budak, Aschalew Kassu