The University of Cincinnati provides expertise in areas including Intelligent Propulsion Systems, Nondestructive Characterization of Macro- Micro- and Nano-Materials, Intelligent Maintenance Systems, an d Advanced Sensor Technology.
With 11 Ohio Eminent Scholars and $443 million in research funding, UC is truly an innovative leader in Ohio and beyond. From the organic form at the lab bench to the lines on a drafting table, research at UC assumes many shapes, sizes and even sounds. Discovery at UC is wide-ranging, from basic, clinical and translational research, to creative works and performance.
Emerging Energy Systems
- Fuel Cells
- Development of innovative electrodes, electrolyte, and sealing technologies/materials and their synthesis for a SOFC with efficient operation at lower temperatures of 500-650°C
- Novel electrode and membrane materials based on functionalized nanotubes and self-assembled proton exchange membranes for low temperature fuel cells
- Thermal and water management in fuel cells to control and enhance the heat, mass and volatile species transport utilizing micro-channel forced convective heat/mass transfer, two-phase flows, and interfacial phenomena
- Development of nanoparticle electrodes for the alkaline fuel cells and optimization of the metal for maximum power density
- Hydrogen Production and Storage
- Using biomass and organic waste derived carbohydrates and hydrocarbons using transition metal-loaded zeolite catalysts and regenerative SOFC
- Electrolytically split water using solar energy
- Use functionalized carbon and B-N nanofibers and nanotube arrays for hydrogen storage
- Chemically split water using electropositive metals
- Solar Energy Conversion or Direct Utilization
- Use of TiO2 arrays for photovoltaic energy conversion.
- Solar cells based on self-assembled quantum dots/polymer composites.
- Develop TiO2-based nanomaterials for photocatalytic treatment of water.
- Alternative Fuels
- Molecular design of catalysts for biomass conversion to fuels
- Synthesis and properties of the catalysts
- Develop novel catalysts for gasification and water-gas shift reaction
- Membranes for hydrogen separation and shift reaction
Multi-scale Material Characterization and Composite Structures Laboratory
- For more information concerning this research facility, please contact the director, Dr. Jandro Abot.
- Processing and Manufacturing Press Molding
- Press molding processing of polymeric composite materials.
- Processing and Manufacturing Resin Transfer Molding (RTM)
- Resin transfer molding (RTM) of polymeric composite materials.
- Processing and Manufacturing Resin Infusion
- Processing and Manufacturing Wet Lab Facilities
- Thermomechanical Characterization Loading Stage System
- Thermomechanical Characterization Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer
- Thermomechanical Characterization Polariscope
- Polariscope for mechanical characterization and calculation of residual stresses from prototypes made of birefringent materials.
Non-Destructive Evaluation Laboratory
- For more information concerning this research facility, please contact the director, Dr. Peter Nagy.
- Scanning ultrasonic microscope
- White light interference microscope
- Eddy current imager
- Magnetic scanner noncontacting thermoelectric imaging
- Laser interferometric detection and generation systems for non-contacting ultrasonic inspection
- Alternating current potential drop (ACPD) analyzer with LR-700 resistance meter
- Computerized ultrasonic data acquisition systems
High-power ultrasonic system for the inspection of strongly attenuating materials - Noncontacting electromagnetic acoustic transducers
- Eddy current inspection systems (Staveley Nortec, UniWest, Agilent)
- 100 kN MTS for fatigue cycling and electro-elastic and acousto-elastic measurements
Turbomachinery Erosion and Performance Deterioration Laboratory
- For more information concerning this research facility, please contact the director, Dr. Widen Tabakoff.
- Erosion wind tunnels (cold and high temperature)
- Two types of three-dimensional laser facilities
- High speed photographic array
- Microbalances
- Axial compressor (GE)
- Axial turbine (NASA)
Center for Intelligent Maintenance Systems
- Smart Structures and Nano-Technology Research Laboratory
- Carbon Nanotube Synthesis
- Chemical Vapor Deposition using advanced nano-furnace
- Identification and optimization of CNT growth parameters
- Substrate thickness and growth methods
- Characterization of CNT arrays (ESEM, EDS, TEM)
- Diffusion enhancement and improved catalyst
- Biosensors
- MWCNT tower sensors for generic chemical and biological sensing
- Electrochemical Methods – Cyclic Voltammetry and EIS
- Nanotube array immunosensor
- Wearable noninvasive chemical sensor
- Nanotube needle biosensor for in-vivo use
- Nanotube cell biosensor for cancer detection
- Preparation and Functionalization of electrodes
- Structural Health Monitoring
- Continuous Sensors
- Structural Neural System
- Active Fiber Composite Sensors
- Analytical modeling of wave propagation in composite/isotropic plates
- Carbon Nanotube Synthesis
- Structural Dynamics Research Laboratory
- Robotics Research Laboratory
- Computational Fluid Dynamics Research Laboratory
- Computer-Aided Engineering Research Laboratory
- Acoustic liners facility for cold & hot flow research
- Afterburner Simulation Test Bed
- Anechoic chamber for subsonic and supersonic aero-acoustic research
- Atmospheric, flameless, and high pressure combustor Facilities
- Fire Test Center
- Gas Turbine Simulation Lab
- Compressor research facility
- Simulation Lab for High-Speed Propulsion Integration
- Subsonic, transonic, and supersonic wind tunnels for flow research