PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (June 21, 2023) — A team of researchers at Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) have been awarded a grant of $275,545 by Sandia National Laboratories in support of a project focused on “Ultra-High Magnetic Saturation and Power Density for Pulse Transformers.”
The project, led by PVAMU Associate Professor of Physics Kevin Storr, Ph.D., aims to advance the science and engineering of minnealloy, a soft magnetic material and compound of iron, nitrogen, and carbon with the potential to enhance the efficiency of energy converters, such as transformers.
Kevin Storr, Ph.D.
“This grant will propel our physics-related research to new heights, opening doors to groundbreaking discoveries and fostering a culture of scientific excellence. The impact of this collaboration will resonate across our University, empowering our students to engage in cutting-edge research, gain invaluable hands-on experience, and prepare for promising careers in the field,” said PVAMU Vice President of Research & Innovation Magesh Rajan, Ph.D., P.E., MBA.
Dr. Storr and Co-Principal Investigators (Co-PIs) Richard Wilkins, Ph.D. (associate professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering), and Merlyn Pulikkathara, Ph.D. (assistant professor of Physics), will collaborate with investigators at Sandia National Labs on the synthesis and characterization of minnealloy samples to gain a better understanding of their magnetic structure. Analysis of the samples will be performed at PVAMU.
This collaborative project will explore the correlation and difference between the performance of the material, magnetism, and chemical/mechanical change, which will help inform material selection, interface effects, and geometric modification to yield the best candidate.
The project will foster new avenues of collaborative research and synthesis between PVAMU researchers and investigators at Sandia National Laboratories, and investigators will also help guide undergraduate and graduate student research related to the project.