Clemson University Ph.D. student Kanak Kanti Bhowmik received a $25,000 fellowship from Hitachi High-Tech America Inc. to advance research on optoelectronic materials that could be used in LEDs, sensors, computer chips and other electronics.
Hitachi High-Tech America established the fellowship in 2014 to support a graduate student using the Clemson University Electron Microscopy Facility to conduct research as part of their doctoral studies. The fellowship has supported graduate student research in health care, sustainable packaging, materials science, environmental protection, battery technology, quantum computing and other fields. A list of past recipients and their research areas is available online.
Bhowmik’s research is focused on perovskite optoelectronics, which can convert light into electricity, or vice versa. These properties make them promising for LEDs, lasers, sensors and other technologies. Perovskites can be manufactured as thin films at low cost using relatively low-temperature processes. However, their performance can decline over time, limiting their practical use. Bhowmik will use advanced electron microscopes to examine changes in the materials’ structure and chemical makeup at scales far too small to see with ordinary microscopes. His goal is to better understand why these materials degrade and how they might be made more stable and reliable. Bhowmik’s faculty advisor is Lianfeng Zhao, assistant professor in the Holcombe Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
“I am deeply honored to receive this fellowship and grateful to Hitachi High-Tech America for supporting my research,” Bhowmik said. “My heartfelt thanks go to my advisor, Dr. Zhao, for his continuous guidance and encouragement, as well as to everyone who has supported me along the way. This recognition motivates me to keep exploring new ideas and advancing research that could contribute to next-generation optoelectronic technologies.”
Bhowmik is a fourth-year Ph.D. student who has authored eight peer-reviewed journal papers – six as first author.
“Kanak approaches his research with curiosity, creativity and persistence, and it has been rewarding to see him grow as a scientist,” Zhao said. “He is tackling an important challenge: understanding why promising materials lose performance over time and how to make them more reliable. This fellowship recognizes his hard work and will support the next stage of his research.”
Hitachi has been instrumental in both the development of the Clemson University Electron Microscopy Facility in the mid-1990s, as well as its steady growth over the past three decades. The facility added several new Hitachi electron microscopes in recent years that are among the global company’s most advanced machines. Additionally, Hitachi has a staff member on site to ensure the advanced equipment is operating in top condition.
“With Hitachi’s support, Clemson has established one of the nation’s premier academic electron microscopy facilities,” said Tanju Karanfil, senior vice president for research, scholarship and creative endeavors. “Here, Clemson faculty, students and local industry advance discoveries in materials science that benefit manufacturing, energy, health care, national security and numerous other sectors right here in South Carolina and throughout the Southeast.”
