UA Little Rock Senior Wins SURF Grant for Sustainable Graphite Research
Zach Frank, a mechanical engineering student at UA Little Rock, has been awarded a $4,000 Student Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) grant from the Arkansas Department of Higher Education to support his research on developing a low-friction coating using recycled graphite from lithium-ion batteries.
Working under the mentorship of Dr. Sujan Ghosh, a materials science expert and assistant professor of engineering, Frank is focused on creating an eco-friendly alternative to traditional lubricative coatings, which are widely used in the aerospace and automotive industries to reduce friction and enhance wear resistance.
“This grant is very exciting because I know how competitive it is,” Frank said. “It gives me the opportunity to gain hands-on research experience and work with Dr. Ghosh, who has one of the most impressive research portfolios I’ve ever seen.”
Frank’s project seeks to repurpose graphite rods from used batteries, purifying and optimizing them for use as a dry lubricant. This sustainable approach offers a promising alternative to conventional coatings without sacrificing performance.
“The demand for high-performance, environmentally friendly lubrication solutions is growing, especially in industries where reducing friction is critical,” Frank and Ghosh said in their project abstract. “By recycling graphite, we’re providing a more sustainable option while maintaining excellent tribological properties.”
The research involves purifying the recycled graphite and optimizing its particle size before combining it with a binder system to enhance adhesion, durability, and mechanical integrity. The coating will be applied to stainless-steel substrates and analyzed using surface morphology studies, tribological testing, and thermal stability evaluations.
Initial findings indicate that the recycled graphite-based coating performs comparably or even better than conventional graphite coatings, making it a strong candidate for future industrial applications.
After graduating in May, Frank is now pursuing a master’s degree in mechanical engineering at UA Little Rock, with a particular interest in energy and sustainability engineering.
Outside of research, Frank is actively involved on campus as a member of Tau Alpha Pi, an engineering technology honor society, the Little Rock Robotics Team, as well as a musician, playing trumpet in the UA Little Rock Wind Ensemble and Little Rock Pep Band.
“This project is a great opportunity to explore research and development, and it will be a strong addition to my resume,” Frank said. “I’m excited to see where this work can go in the future.”