Stevens Institute of Technology: 2021 Edison Patent Award for Stevens-Developed Graphene Research

A Stevens faculty researcher and two former graduate students have received a 2021 Thomas Edison Patent Award from the Research & Development Council of New Jersey for leveraging Stevens-developed materials research to create healthcare products and innovations.

Chemistry and chemical biology professor and department chair Woo Lee, former doctoral student Linh Le and graduate alumnus De Kong M.S. ’11 received the award in Technology Transfer for their U.S. patent “Graphene-based Films in Sensor Applications.”

The patented technology, a novel environmental sensor fabricated from graphene film, is already used to manufacture wearable systems that monitor foot health for diabetic patients.

Le founded a startup venture, now known as Flextrapower, based on the technology. The company also manufactures graphene-based masks that may be effective in protecting from infectious disease. Kong participated in the research’s early stages.

Edison Patent Award winners are annually selected by a panel of R&D Council researchers who evaluate new patents for utility, social value, novelty and commercial impact, among other criteria. The awards were conferred during a November 18 ceremony at Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, New Jersey.