This award is for international cooperative research in carbon nanotechnology entitled US-India Cooperative Research: Microstructural Studies on Carbon Nanomaterial-Modified Carbon-Carbon Composites. Clemson University's team consists of Professors Amod Ogale, Danny Edie, Mark Thies, and Daniel Sweeney (PhD student); the Indian collaborators are Professors L. M. Manocha and S. Manocha, Sardar Patel University, India. The proposed research is directed towards advanced carbon-carbon composites modified with carbon nanotubes. The objectives are to study the evolution of graphitic microstructure due to the addition of carbon nanotubes and to characterize the transport properties of the multi-scale carbon/carbon composite materials. Among various nanomaterials developed in the last decade, carbon nanotubes have drawn maximum attention from scientific and industrial researchers because of their extraordinary properties. These materials have potential applications in sensors, energy storage devices, electrodes for lithium ion batteries, microelectronic and communication devices, and in conventional polymeric composites.
Scope: The US team, which has significant expertise in carbon fibers, has chosen to collaborate with Indian scientists, who have significant experience in carbon matrix composites. Thus, complementary research skills of US and Indian scientists will generate synergy that will advance the field of carbon composites. This collaborative effort will provide international research experience to both students and faculty.
