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MEMS


Professor GrbovichProfessor Dragoslav Grbovic

Associate Professor of Physics
Phone: (831) 656-2276  | Email: dgrbovic@nps.edu

Professor Dragoslav Grbovic has extensive experience in microfabrication of MEMS bi-material infrared sensors and expertise in finite element modeling of MEMS devices. His research also includes metamaterials in the THz and Microwave regime for enhanced absorption for various applications as well as building novel materials and sensors using carbon and other nanotubes.

 

Current Research Programs


placeholderMicrowave Metamaterials and Metasurfaces

In this research, we utilize novel methods, such as printing with conductive inks or additive manufacturing (3D printing) to rapidly produce very effective, low cost metasurfaces. These surfaces are highly absorptive in the microwave regime and can be used  for electromagnetic shielding and other applications.

These metamaterials are very simple in structure, with layer of solid metal and layer of patterned metal separated by a dielectric, structural layer.

 

 

 

 

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THz Imaging

In this project, we design, microfabricate and test MEMS THz focal plane arrays. Using structurally similar metasurfaces as for microwave (except much smaller in size), we achieve almost perfect absorption in THz wavelenghts. THz imaging has many applications for security, medicine and industry.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

placeholderMEMS Microactuation

MEMS Microactuators are microscopically-sized devices that use electric actuation to achieve tiny displacements and actuate micro-size machinery. Our work involves optimization of such device to maximize their efficiency and decrease energy requirements while improving robustness and reliabiliity. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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MEMS Radiation Detectors

Building small, low-cost, disposable sensors for gamma and neutron radiation. This project uses MEMS microfabrication techniques as well as novel printed-electronics techniques and incorporates carbon and boron nitride nanotuves to produce sensors that are able to reliably detect neutron and gamma radiation while utilizing minimum energy and size footprint.

 

 

 

 

 

Research Team


placeholderLT Daniel Sloan | Email: daniel.sloan@nps.edu

LT Sloan works on harvesting energy from heat-generating objects, such as gasoline power generators. This process promisses to re-capture some of the heat that is otherwise wasted to the environment. Anotehr benefit of this energy capture is reduction of the heat signature of these generators.

 

LT Matthew Henricks | Email: matthew.henricks@nps.edu

LT Henricks works on characterization of metamaterials and assessing how employing printed metasurfaces decrease coupling of microwave radiation within cavities.

 

ENS Christian Stiker | Email: christian.stiker@nps.edu

ENS Stiker works on optimizing the process of deposition of piezoelectric films using spin-coating. Having this process available greatly enhances NPS capabilities to produce MEMS sensors and actuators.

 

ENS Sean Furgiuele | Email: sean.furgiuele@nps.edu

ENS Furgiuele works on testing feasibility of building hydrophones using thin carbon nanotube sheets.

 

Available Thesis Topics


  • Optimization of MEMS Microactuators for Fuzing Applications

  • Additive Manufacturing of Shielded UAV Components

  • Design and Characterization of MEMS Radiation Detectors