IRGs

The interdisciplinary research group on Ferroelectric Photonic Materials seeks to combine the geometric opportunities to localize light in photonic crystals via microfabrication with the inherent material complexities of ferroelectric materials to obtain unprecedented ability to manipulate light. Through use of electromagnetic simulation-based optical design, state-of-the-art photonic crystal fabrication, microscale electromechanical modeling, and ferroelectric film synthesis, […]

The interdisciplinary research group on Patterns, Gradients and Signals in Soft Biomaterials seeks to develop macromolecular materials with predictable biological response by combining understanding of macromolecular synthesis, experimental and theoretical nanomechanics, and cell biology to move towards a comprehensive understanding of biological structure-function relationships in soft materials. Artificial extracellular matrix (aECM) proteins which enable […]

This IRG on Mechanics of Amorphous and NanoscaleShear band patterns Metal Composites and Foam Structures will focus on modeling and mechanical characterization of (i) monolithic amorphous metals with improved combinations of strength, ductility, and toughness, low cost, and processability, (ii) composite materials having an amorphous matrix combined with nanoscale or microscale dispersions of elastically “soft” […]

This Seed project on Methanol Generation and its Efficient Use in Fuel Cells focuses on catalytic materials for chemical storage of hydrogen via methanol production, and methanol use in nonpolymer fuel cells based on ’superprotonic’ solid acids.

This Seed project on Spin and Charge Quantum Transport in Organic/Magnetic Heterostructures for Spintronics and Optoelectronics center on optimizing the spintronic and optoelectronic properties of organic semiconductor/ ferromagnetic heterostructures focusses on fabricating macroscopic organic semiconductor/ferromagnetic heterostructures. This is complemented by microscopic heterostructure characterization by cryogenic scanning tunneling microscopy combined with near-field scanning optical microscopy.

Work in the area of Biological Synthesis and Assembly of Macromolecular Materials (Interdisciplinary Research Group I) explores the powerful control of self-organization that can be achieved in polymers of absolutely defined comonomer sequence — genetically engineered artificial proteins—and the control of spatial arrangement and size […]