Paul R. Ohodnicki Ph.D.
Materials Scientist and Technical Portfolio Lead
Functional Materials Team
Materials Engineering & Manufacturing Directorate o
National Energy Technology Laboratory
Title: Functional Sensor Material and Device Development for Energy-Related Sensing Applications
Abstract:
A need exists for new sensor instrumentation for in-situ monitoring of power generation systems, natural gas and electricity grid infrastructure monitoring, and subsurface sensing in carbon sequestration and oil and gas resource recovery. Optical and passive wireless sensor technology platforms show unique advantages due to the capability for (1) spatially distributed sensing modalities and (2) elimination of wires, electrical contacts, and active power sources at the sensing location. The National Energy Technology Laboratory Research and Innovation Center has established a portfolio of efforts from functional materials to optical fiber and passive wireless sensor device-level research with a goal of the eventual deployment of advanced sensing technologies across these energy-related applications. Functional materials being explored include high temperature ceramics and a range of nanocomposite based sensing layers. The presentation will overview research thrusts and highlight key successes to enable in-situ monitoring of energy systems in the research program to date.
Bio:
Dr. Paul R. Ohodnicki Jr. is a materials scientist and technical portfolio lead in the Functional Materials Team of the Materials Engineering & Manufacturing Directorate of the National Energy Technology Laboratory. He currently oversees projects spanning sensing and power electronics, with a particular emphasis on photonic and wireless sensing as well as power magnetics component and materials design. He has published more than 100 technical publications and holds more than 10 patents with 15 additional under review. He also has more than a decade of experience in magnetic materials and components for inductive applications and is the recipient of a number of awards and recognitions including the Presidential Early Career Award in Science and Engineering (2016), the Advanced Manufacturing and Materials Innovation Category Award for the Carnegie Science Center (2017, 2019), and a nominee for the Samuel J. Heyman service to America medal (2017).