Ohio Board of Regents Awards $600,000 Grant to CSU for Ultraconductive Copper Wire Research and Development

Cutting-edge technology could dramatically improve electrical systems and devices

Cleveland State University has received a $600,000 grant from the Ohio Board of Regents to support ongoing research and development of ultraconductive copper wire that has the potential to dramatically improve electrical systems and devices.

A team led by Taysir Nayfeh, Ph.D, a professor of mechanical engineering at CSU’s Washkewicz College of Engineering, has created a nanocomposite copper wire that is more than twice as conductive as pure copper. With continuous improvement, ultraconductive wire could ultimately achieve more than 100 times the conductivity of copper. This wire promises to improve the performance of electric machines and dramatically reduce the size and weight of motors. It also will reduce losses in electrical power lines.

The International Copper Association (ICA), a trade organization representing the copper industry, is a partner in the project.

“We hope that industries around the world will benefit from our work at Cleveland State University,” Dr. Nayfeh said. “When this cost-effective technology is fully developed, it will have the disruptive potential to dramatically improve the performance of virtually all electrical systems and devices, in addition to reducing energy consumption.”

The OBOR grant will enable Dr. Nayfeh and his colleagues to develop manufacturing processes for ultraconductive wire and transfer their research into beta products. CSU is at the forefront of ultraconductive copper wire technology, according to the ICA.