Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Central Florida Board of Trustees received a $450,000 Project Grant from the National Science Foundation's Division of Civil, Mechanical, and Manufacturing Innovation (CFDA 47.041) awarded July 1, 2026, with completion targeted for June 30, 2029. This GOALI (Grant Opportunity for Academic Liaison with Industry) award supports research and development of advanced manufacturing processes to eliminate oxygen contamination in calcium lanthanum sulfide (CLS) ceramics, a material critical for longwave infrared (LWIR) transparent applications. The core deliverable is the development of manufacturing innovations that improve optical transmission properties of CLS ceramics by addressing persistent dissolved oxygen introduced during powder production and sintering stages. The research employs a two-phase approach: pre-sintering treatment using sub-stoichiometric metal oxides as oxygen gettering agents applied to raw sulfide powder, and post-sintering processing techniques to further purify the ceramic material.

The research outcomes are intended to produce high-performance infrared optical components suitable for demanding operational environments, with applications spanning night vision systems, environmental monitoring, and space exploration technologies. By eliminating oxygen-induced optical degradation in CLS ceramics, this work enables enhanced infrared sensing and imaging capabilities for both defense and civilian end-use applications. The GOALI structure facilitates collaboration between UCF's academic research capabilities and industry partners to transition these manufacturing advances toward commercialization and practical deployment in infrared technology systems.