Physics Faculty Member Receives AFOSR Grant Award & Submits Patent

Dr. Mukti Rana, Associate Professor and Chairperson of the Department of Physics & Engineering, recently was awarded a $450,000 grant by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), entitled, “Sensors and Infra-red Photodetectors based on stacked Layers of 2-Dimensional Materials (2-D-SimPLE).” 

As part of this grant, the research team will do the large area synthesis of WxMo1-xS2 alloys stacked with layers of MoS2, WS2, and graphene (mono- and few-layer). They will also investigate the electronic, optical and structural properties to use these materials for photo detection which includes uncooled IR detection in particular. The proposed work on hetero-stacks of mono- and few-layers of WxMo1-xS2, MoS2, WS2, and graphene will contribute to advance discovery and understanding on 2D materials, while promoting teaching, training and learning. The proposed work will also yield exciting new phenomena applicable to adaptive flexible sensors, built-in body sensors, and micro-sensors. Because of their thickness and light weight, these sensors could be useful for wearable technologies, vehicles, and other applications for the Department of Defense and beyond.

Dr. Rana has also submitted a patent application to the US Patent and Trademark Office:  “Medium Wave Infrared (MWIR) and Long Wavelength Infrared (LWIR) Operating Microbolometer with Raised Strut Design”, Investigators-Mukti M Rana and Andrew B Voshell, Department of Physics and Engineering, Delaware State University, October, 2017, Status-Pending.