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Highlights

Highlights

Figure 1. The viscoelastic mechanical properties of a hydrogel network can be programmed using bioinspired metal-coordinate crosslinks sensitive to UV light. Depending on the metal ion used to crosslink the hydrogel, the stiffness can be increased by 1000x, decreased by 100x, or remain unchanged by UV-irradiation.
Figure 1. The viscoelastic mechanical properties of a hydrogel network can be programmed using bioinspired metal-coordinate crosslinks sensitive to UV light. Depending on the metal ion used to crosslink the hydrogel, the stiffness can be increased by 1000x, decreased by 100x, or remain unchanged by UV-irradiation.
Jun 16, 2017
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Using Light to Control the Viscoelastic Mechanical Properties of Gel-Like Materials

Profs. Bradley Olsen and Niels Holten-Andersen
MIT MRSEC researchers have developed stimuli-responsive hydrogel materials that can change their mechanical properties upon exposure to light. Insights generated from these studies will aid in the development of programmable hydrogels with specific stress-relaxing or energy-dissipating properties.
Figures a,b.c. Visualization of a spin density isosurface shown in yellow of (a) a free electron, (b) a small polaron, and (c) calculated self-trapping Gibbs free energy of a small polaron in SrTiO3 as a model system. Blue (large), gray (medium), and magenta (small) balls represent Sr, Ti, and O, respectively. Figure a. Predominance map of electronic defects as a function of temperature and pressure in cubic SrTiO3 based on self-trapping Gibbs free energy calculated by using the quasiharmonic approximation and density functional theory. The green and red indicate small polaron and free electron predominance zones, respectively. The black dashed line represents the experimental boundary between the cubic and tetragonal phases of SrTiO3. Cubic SrTiO3 is stable above the boundary. Image source: Profs. Caroline Ross and Krystyn Van Vliet
Figures a,b.c. Visualization of a spin density isosurface shown in yellow of (a) a free electron, (b) a small polaron, and (c) calculated self-trapping Gibbs free energy of a small polaron in SrTiO3 as a model system. Blue (large), gray (medium), and magenta (small) balls represent Sr, Ti, and O, respectively. Figure a. Predominance map of electronic defects as a function of temperature and pressure in cubic SrTiO3 based on self-trapping Gibbs free energy calculated by using the quasiharmonic approximation and density functional theory. The green and red indicate small polaron and free electron predominance zones, respectively. The black dashed line represents the experimental boundary between the cubic and tetragonal phases of SrTiO3. Cubic SrTiO3 is stable above the boundary. Image source: Profs. Caroline Ross and Krystyn Van Vliet
Jun 16, 2017
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Tuning the Stability of Electronic Defects in Semiconducting Oxides

Profs. Caroline Ross and Krystyn Van Vliet
MIT MRSEC researchers have demonstrated that the combined action of temperature and mechanical stress can tune the relative stability of electronic defects in semiconducting oxides.
The image shows a researcher stretching and bending the fiber-based probe between fingers. Blue light at a wavelength of 473 nm is coupled into the fiber core and no decay of intensity is observed. The ability of the fiber-based probes to function under extreme deformation is essential to their utility for probing of spinal cord neural activity because spinal cord experiences strains up to 12% during normal movement.
The image shows a researcher stretching and bending the fiber-based probe between fingers. Blue light at a wavelength of 473 nm is coupled into the fiber core and no decay of intensity is observed. The ability of the fiber-based probes to function under extreme deformation is essential to their utility for probing of spinal cord neural activity because spinal cord experiences strains up to 12% during normal movement.
Jun 16, 2017
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Stretchable Spinal Cord Probes Offer New Tools to Study the Nervous System

Profs. Polina Anikeeva and Yoel Fink
Intellectual Merit: Currently neurological and neuromuscular disorders such as spinal cord injuries and Parkinson’s disease are poorly understood.  A impediment to advances in this area is a lack of materials and devices that would allow for precise long-term two-way communication with groups of neurons (nerve cells) in the body.
Utilization and hourly cost for USTAR – MRSEC equipment from the time of purchase
Utilization and hourly cost for USTAR – MRSEC equipment from the time of purchase
Jun 16, 2017
University of Utah

Leveraging MRSEC Equipment Purchases

Ian Harvey; University of Utah
Leveraged upgrades to Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope (S/TEM) and Focused Ion Beam System (FIB) include Gas-phase Environmental TEM, 3D EDS tomography (S/TEM), and others. 
Synthesis of a Family of 2D Coordination Polymers using Hexaaminobenzene as the Building Block
Synthesis of a Family of 2D Coordination Polymers using Hexaaminobenzene as the Building Block
Jun 16, 2017
University of Utah

Synthesis of a Family of 2D Coordination Polymers using Hexaaminobenzene as the Building Block

Nabajit Lahiri, Neda Lotfizadeh, Ryuichi Tsuchikawa, Vikram Deshpande and Janis Louie; University of Utah
Since the discovery of Graphene, there has been a significant interest in the search of new 2D materials which would show similar interesting properties such as electrical and thermal conductivity, superconductivity, and topological gap.
A thermal gradient is applied to the permalloy (Ni81Fe19) ferromagnetic thin film, while the Sagnac interferometer microscope watches for subtle changes in magnetization due to spin currents in the film. This non-contact optical technique allows the magnetization and/or thermal gradient to be in-plane or out-of-plane for studying the underlying spin-Seebeck physics.
A thermal gradient is applied to the permalloy (Ni81Fe19) ferromagnetic thin film, while the Sagnac interferometer microscope watches for subtle changes in magnetization due to spin currents in the film. This non-contact optical technique allows the magnetization and/or thermal gradient to be in-plane or out-of-plane for studying the underlying spin-Seebeck physics.
Jun 16, 2017
University of Utah

“Optical Detection of Transverse Spin-Seebeck Effect in Permalloy Films using Sagnac Interferometer Microscopy”

R. McLauglin, D. Sun, and Z.V. Vardeny; University of Utah
The field of spintronics, which involves the design of novel electronic devices that utilize the spin of electrons, requires researchers to develop a robust source of spin-polarized currents to fuel future technology. 
(a) Performance of Ca3Co4O9 based thermoelectric material over two decades and the performance achieved in our present work. (b) Schematic of thermo
(a) Performance of Ca3Co4O9 based thermoelectric material over two decades and the performance achieved in our present work. (b) Schematic of thermo
Jun 16, 2017
University of Utah

Terbium Ion Doping in Ca3Co4O9: A Step Towards High-Performance Thermoelectric Materials

Shrikant Saini, Yinong Yin, Ashutosh Tiwari; University of Utah
We have achieved the enhanced thermoelectric response in polycrystalline Ca3Co4O9 on doping Tb ions in the material. Specifically, a high figure of merit (ZT) of 0.74 at 800 K was observed for Ca2.5Tb0.5Co4O9.
Surface-Enhanced Fluorescence of Pyrene on Nanostructured Aluminum
Surface-Enhanced Fluorescence of Pyrene on Nanostructured Aluminum
Jun 16, 2017
University of Utah

Surface-Enhanced Fluorescence of Pyrene on Nanostructured Aluminum

Danielle Montanari, Joel Harris, Steve Blair; University of Utah
Both the absorption and emission of ultraviolet light by pyrene (PAH compound) are enhanced by more than 30-fold on nanostructured aluminum, compared to an equivalent control sample on sapphire (aluminum oxide). 
Using Shape Memory Alloys for Active Terahertz Plasmonic Devices
Using Shape Memory Alloys for Active Terahertz Plasmonic Devices
Jun 16, 2017
University of Utah

Using Shape Memory Alloys for Active Terahertz Plasmonic Devices

Barun Gupta, Shashank Pandey, Anjali Nahata, Ting Zhang, Sivaraman Guruswamy and Ajay Nahata; University of Utah
We show the first demonstration of shape memory alloys being used for active THz devices. The metal foil was found to reproducibly cycle between the two geometries over 100 times. 
Students exploring changing characteristics of household materials with chemical reactions at a local STEM festival organized by Utah MRSEC.
Students exploring changing characteristics of household materials with chemical reactions at a local STEM festival organized by Utah MRSEC.
Jun 16, 2017
University of Utah

Hands-on Science After School

Chelsey Short, University of Utah
Utah MRSEC establishes science and engineering afterschool clubs at community centers and schools serving predominately underrepresented minority (URM) students in those fields. The Education and Outreach team then hires and trains University of Utah undergraduates to lead the clubs and deliver hands-on activities each week.

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