The annual awards honor innovation with practical impact across global industries. "We work on problems that matter as opposed to ones that just interest us," said Ohodnicki, RK Mellon Faculty Fellow in Energy. "We also work on problems that fuel relationships and facilitate technology transfer."
VulcanAlloy was designed with NASA Glenn Research Center, CorePower Magnetics, and Raytheon to withstand Venusian conditions. The nanocomposite alloy endures continuous temperatures near 500C, far beyond prior soft magnetic materials limited to about 250C. The alloy could enable inductors that function for up to 60 days in highly corrosive, high-pressure environments.
Ohodnicki noted that modifying the chemistry of previously developed nanocomposites allowed the material to stabilize and retain function in extreme conditions. The project, funded by NASA HOTTech, is advancing through technology scaling and aerospace validation. "Having all the right organizations at the table has been so important in creating the potential for commercial and real-world impact," said Ohodnicki.
The second award recognized the eMission Critical Sensor, a lightweight fiber-optic probe system that rapidly identifies rare earth elements (REEs) and other critical metals in waste streams. Traditional methods require costly laboratory analysis, while this system delivers real-time detection on-site.
Originally initiated at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), the work was expanded by Pitt PhD student Scott Crawford, now an NETL scientist. Using luminescent bio-metal organic frameworks pioneered at Pitt, the sensor can distinguish specific REEs in aqueous solutions. Crawford said, "When Paul brought me over to NETL for this exciting project, he asked me to develop a new sensing material that would work well in streams."
The system currently uses a fiber probe, LED source, detection unit, and laptop interface, with plans for an integrated commercial device. Beyond REEs, it is being adapted to identify metals like cobalt and lithium for battery technologies. According to Ohodnicki, the system is roughly ten times cheaper than lab-based analysis and provides higher sensitivity than portable alternatives.
The recognition also reflects the strong collaboration between Pitt and NETL. Last year, Pitt was honored for Ultrasonic Photonics, another joint sensing technology. VulcanAlloy and eMission Critical Sensor will be celebrated at the R and D World Awards in Scottsdale, Arizona, on November 20, 2025.
Related Links
Mechanical Engineering And Materials Science at Pittsburgh
Venus Express News and Venusian Science
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