Kent State University was awarded a $438,605 project grant from the National Science Foundation Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems to support research titled "ELECTRO-OPTICAL PHASE RETARDERS BASED ON NEWLY DISCOVERED NEMATICS." The grant period runs from September 15, 2021 through August 31, 2024.
The funding will support research under the NSF's Engineering program (CFDA 47.041), which aims to improve quality of life and economic strength through innovation and excellence in engineering research and education. Specifically, the grant will enable Kent State University researchers to develop new electro-optical phase retarders using recently discovered liquid crystal materials called nematogens. The research is expected to lead to advances in display and imaging technologies.