Skip to main content

Highlights

May 15, 2008
Harvard University

Shear Transformation Zones in Colloidal Glasses

F. Spaepen (Rowland Inst., SEAS) and D.A. Weitz (Physics, SEAS)

Direct, real-space 3-D observation of shear transformation zones in a glass. A colloidal glass is used to mimic the behavior of atomic and molecular glasses.
May 15, 2008
University of Washington

NUE-UNIQUE

Nanotechnology Undergraduate Education- using Nanoscience Instrumentation for Quality Undergraduate Education
May 15, 2008
University of Washington

Molecular Biomimetics

Molecular Biomimetics is an emerging multidisciplinary research area in which genetically selected and designed inorganic-binding peptides are utilized as building blocks, i.e., molecular synthesizers, erectors, and assemblers, in forming functional nanomaterials for implementation in technology and medicine.
May 15, 2008
Northwestern University

Plasmonic Properties of Aluminum Nanoparticles Fabricated by Nanosphere Lithography

George H. Chan, Jing Zhao, George C. Schatz, and Richard P. Van Duyne. Northwestern University Materials Research Science & Engineering Center DMR-0520513

A plasmon is the result of light interacting with the surface electrons in materials that meet specific dielectric requirements. Noble metals have long been used as plasmonic materials, yet other materials are capable of supporting surface plasmons. Recent work in the Van Duyne lab has shown that aluminum nanoparticles fabricated using a process known as nanosphere lithography (NSL) display plasmons throughout the UV-vis region.
May 15, 2008
Northwestern University

Detection of Single Gold Atoms in Silicon Nanowires

Jonathan E. Allen, Eric R. Hemesath, Daniel E. Perea, Jessica L. Lensch-Falk, and Lincoln J. Lauhon Northwestern University Materials Research Science & Engineering Center DMR-0520513

Semiconductor nanowires grown with metal nanocatalysts are new materials that provide a basis for transformative improvements in diverse technologies including thermoelectrics and photovoltaics. Nanowire electronic properties depend strongly on incorporated impurity atoms, which have not been previously observed.
May 2, 2008
University of Massachusetts Amherst

Chip Breakthrough Technology

A collaboration between researcher supported by the DOE and NSF-MRSEC's at UC Santa Barbara and UMASS Amherst, and IBM has led to a revolutionary chip breakthrough that promises to be used in every future microelectronic device.
Apr 21, 2008
University of California, Santa Barbara

Squid Beaks use Novel Materials Trick to keep from Tearing Off

Craig Hawker

Researchers have figured out how a jumbo squid's hard, razor-sharp beak can slice through the soft tissue of its prey--without tearing off from the stress. The work solves a longstanding mystery over a problem akin to anchoring a knife blade in Jell-O, according to the authors of the new study. using Seed support from the MRL at UCSB, Herb Waite and Frank Zok were able to show that the beak exhibited an overall stiffness gradient that differs a hundredfold from beak tip to base.
Apr 21, 2008
University of California, Santa Barbara

Traveling Display Booth for Promotion of the Materials Research Facilities Network

Craig Hawker

For the first time, a traveling exhibit promoting the MRSEC program and the Materials Research Facilities Network was presented at the 2008 NOBCChE (National Organization of Chemists and Chemical Engineers) meeting in Philadelphia.