The Air Force Office of Scientific Research will contribute a three-year $450,000 grant to Dr. Mukti Rana of Delaware State University for his research into the electronic properties of chemicals potentially useful in the development of memory chips.

The two chemicals include molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) and tungsten disulphide (WS2) as well as an alloyed mixture of the two materials called molybdenum tungsten disulphide.

“The materials we are investigating could also be used to fabricate new low power devices that will improve battery life in laptops and other handheld devices," said Dr. Rana, who chairs the Department of Physic and Engineering.

Multi-core microprocessors and solid-state hard drives could  also make use of the materials, according to Rana.

Dr. Rana and his team will work with researchers from Pennsylvania State University on the project.