2015 UCB-HBCU Program Participants and Projects
Undergraduate Researcher: Anthony Brandon
Major: Electrical Engineering
Home Institution: Howard University
Research Project: Atomically Precise Graphene Nanoribbons
HBCU Faculty Advisor: Prof. Tina Brower-Thomas
UC Berkeley Faculty Advisor: Prof. Jeffrey Bokor
UC Berkeley Graduate Student Mentor: Juan Pablo Llinás
Hosting Organization: Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences Department, UC Berkeley
Project Abstract: According to Moore’s law, the density of transistors in a computer chip should double every two years. With current silicon-based transistors, the probability of keeping this law factual is on a downward slope unless an alternative is found. Atomically precise graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) have the potential to become the replacement for silicon transistors due to their predicted superior electrical qualities and ultrathin body. We fabricated GNR field effect transistors (FETs) using atomically precise GNRs with 20 nm channel lengths and an Ion/Ioff ratio in which the Ion was 1000 times higher than the Ioff current. The GNRs are environmentally sensitive when characterized due to adsorbed oxygen at the contact.
Project poster
Undergraduate Researcher: Elisha Frazier
Major: Electrical Engineering
Home Institution: Jackson State University
Research Project: Printed Paper Actuators for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
HBCU Faculty Advisor: Prof. M. Ashraf Khan
UC Berkeley Faculty Advisor: Prof. Vivek Subramanian
UC Berkeley Graduate Student Mentor: Gerd Grau
Hosting Organization: Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences Department, UC Berkeley
Project Abstract: Printed electronics is a promising technology for fabricating electronic devices. Printed electronics is advantageous due to its high-throughput, low-cost fabrication, compatibility with large areas, and possibility to be fabricated on flexible, lightweight substrates such as plastic and paper. A specific application that can be used to fully leverage the benefits of electronics is a paper-based unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The steering actuators are vital components for the operation of a UAV. They promise significant weight reduction when printed into paper to replace conventional components. Electroactive polymer (EAP) actuators are printed into the paper. They are actuated to bend and deflect by an applied voltage. This project focuses on the optimization of paper-based EAP actuators. A number of variables were studied. Paper type, EAP amount, and immersion time in ionic liquid prove to be essential in creating high-performance EAP actuators.
Project poster
Undergraduate Researcher: Imani-Kai Horton
Major: Electrical Engineering
Home Institution: Hampton University
Research Project: Wireless Charging of Flexible Lithium-Ion Batteries for Wearable Applications
HBCU Faculty Advisor: Prof. Otsebele Nare
UC Berkeley Faculty Advisor: Prof. Ana Claudia Arias
UC Berkeley Graduate Student Mentor: Yasser Khan
Hosting Organization: Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences Department, UC Berkeley
Project Abstract: This project explores wireless charging of flexible, lithium-ion batteries with applications to wearable medical devices. Preliminary testing on a 48 mAh flexible, lithium-ion battery used with Wireless Power Consortium (WPC or Qi) v1.1 specification was shown to have a 15% wall-plug efficiency, thereby illustrating that near-field inductive power transfer is a promising alternative to traditional charging.
Undergraduate Researcher: Edward Opeyemi Meadows
Major: Electrical/Electronics Engineering
Home Institution: Norfolk State University
Research Project: PEDOT Silver Nanowires Printable Conductive Electrode
HBCU Faculty Advisor: Prof. Makarand Deo
UC Berkeley Faculty Advisor: Prof. Ana Claudia Arias
UC Berkeley Graduate Student Mentor: Igal Deckman
Hosting Organization: Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences Department, UC Berkeley
Project Abstract: The number of touchscreen devices being produced in the world is exponentially increasing. 1.3 billion units of touchscreen panels were traded in 2012. This statistic is projected to increase to 3 billion by 2016. A majority of touchscreen devices are very dependent on the expensive, rare, and transparent conductive material, indium tin oxide (ITO), which has a very limited supply. A printable low cost alternative is necessary to sustain the production of high quality touchscreen products. A combination of printable conductive electrodes, Clevios HY-E & F-CE, are a promising solution to fabricate ITO free devices.
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