Tian-Bing Xu, Ph.D., a professor in Old Dominion University’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, has received a $1 million grant from the Office of Naval Research (ONR) to develop an underwater wave energy conversion system over the next four years.
“The innovative use of piezoelectric materials to convert wave energy into electrical energy and provide electric power at sea without the need for a fuel supply will benefit naval and other maritime operations,” said Jeffrey Fergus, Ph.D., dean of the Batten College of Engineering and Technology.
Dr. Xu’s project centers on a device called the Submerged Piezoelectric Ocean Wave Energy Converter (SPOWEC), which harnesses energy from the natural motion of ocean waves to generate electricity. Designed to operate beneath the water’s surface, the system offers a secure and reliable power source for various U.S. Navy operations, such as powering undersea sensor networks and autonomous underwater vehicles.
The system relies on piezoelectric materials—substances that generate an electric charge when mechanically stressed. These materials, which can be either natural crystals or synthetic ceramics/polymers, convert the pressure and motion from waves into usable electrical energy.
The research builds on his previous patents and innovations in piezoelectric transducers and submerged wave energy conversion.
Dr. Xu, who joined 51ԹPro in 2018, brings over two decades of experience in smart materials, energy harvesting, and sensor technologies to the project. He previously served as a research scientist at NASA’s Langley Research Center and the National Institute of Aerospace, where he gained international recognition for his work on advanced piezoelectric materials and device innovations.
This is his third major Department of Defense (DoD) project award in the past few years. The previous awards include $798,630 from the U.S. Army Research Office (ARO) in 2024 for a laser-melted metal 4D printer and $800,000 from the Office of Naval Research (ONR) in 2023 for developing underwater acoustic transducers.
The new ONR grant will also support research opportunities for students in Dr. Xu's Smart Materials and Intelligent Systems Laboratory.
“This project award provides a valuable resource and a great opportunity for 51ԹPro to lead research in ocean wave energy, educate the next generation of engineers, and open the door to new opportunities,” said Dr. Xu.