Highlights
Aug 31, 2011
University of Pennsylvania
Engineering a virus-like particle via protein design
Marija Drndic, Jay Kikkawa, Bill DeGrado, and Mike Klein (Temple University)
We have designed specialized protein molecules that organize around
carbon nanotubes into an atomistically-predefined pattern. Targeted
design of such self-organization is a powerful tool for engineering at
the nano scale. For example, we have shown that our protein/nanotube
hybrid can be used to generate a regularly-spaced array of gold
nano-particle. Shown here is an exciting new concept we are currently
pursuing. We believe that our nanotube/protein complexes can be used to
Aug 31, 2011
University of Pennsylvania
Patterning within Amphiphilic Self-Assemblies using Charge, Curvature, and Crystallinity
Dennis Discher, Randy Kamien, Michael Klein, Paul Janmey and Andrea Liu
Design & engineering of modern devices increasingly requires
complex nano- and micro-structures. One area of research now showing
promise for creating such structures through simple solution techniques
Aug 31, 2011
University of Pennsylvania
Colloidal Networks & Lattices at Threshold of Mechanical Stability
Tom Lubensky, Andrea Liu, Arjun Yodh, Shu Yang and Ju Li
An isostatic lattice is one at the threshold of mechanical stability.
The square and kagome lattices (see Figure 1a-b) in two dimensions are
examples of isostatic lattices. A 2D kagome lattice of N sites has of
order N1/2 zero-energy bulk modes under periodic boundary conditions.
Theoretical study shows that when neighboring triangles are counter
rotated through an arbitrary angle α shown in Figure 1c, the bulk
modulus vanishes, making the Poisson's ratio equal to -1, and all of the
Aug 30, 2011
Johns Hopkins University
High School Student Research Internships at The Johns Hopkins University
Background: The
JHU MRSEC conducts extensive K-12 educational outreach programs aimed at
promoting interest in and awareness of the importance of modern materials
research. High school students from the greater Baltimore area receive
four-week internships each July to conduct research in the laboratories of the
JHU MRSEC. The students are mentored by Center faculty, and also work closely
Aug 30, 2011
Johns Hopkins University
Dynamics of Magnetic Charges in Spin Ice
P. Mellado, O. Petrova, Y. C. Shen, and O. Tchernyshyov
Background: A bar magnet has two poles, denoted as +1
and -1 magnetic charges. Patterned
structures consist of many magnets (Fig. 1), where the square array (Fig. 1a)
does not, whereas the honeycomb (Fig. 1b) has, net magnetic charges (or magnetic
monopoles). Under a magnetic field these
local magnetic monopoles will move (Fig. 1c).
This latter structure is called “spin ice”, because it has a large
number of nearly degenerate configurations.
Aug 30, 2011
Johns Hopkins University
Control of Tetrahedral Coordination in FeSe Superconductors
S. X. Huang, C. L. Chien, V. Thampy, and C. Broholm
Background: The tetrahedral coordination of Fe
surrounded by 4 Se(Te) atoms is of crucial importance for the new high TC
Fe pnictides superconductors with lattice parameters c and a. To
reveal the essential aspects of the tetrahedron, one needs to vary the lattice
parameter c and a in opposite manner, without altering the electronic
Aug 25, 2011
New York University
The Material World
MRSEC faculty investigators: Grier, Kahr, Ward, Chaikin, Kirshenbaum, Braunschweig, and Weck.
A weeklong materials science workshop series with
morning lectures followed by hands-on lab exercises to reinforce concepts for
introduction of materials-related content into core science curricula at the
home institution
Organized and taught by MRSEC faculty investigators
Partnership with the Faculty Resource Network at NYU,
held during the FRN Network Summer program
Content
Holographic
Video Microscopy
Crystals
and Light
How
Stuff Packs
Color
Aug 11, 2011
Effective Defects: Strength in Numbers. The surprising strength of highly defective graphene
R. Grantab, V.B. Shenoy and R.S. RuoffBrown University, School of Engineering
Graphene in its pristine form is one of the strongest materials, but defects influence its strenth. Using atomistic calculations, we find that, counter to standard reasoning, graphene sheets with large-angle tilt boundaries that have a high density of defects are as strong as the pristine material and unexpectedly are much stronger than those with low-angle boundaries having fewer defects. We show that this trend is not explained by continuum fracture models but can be understood by considering the critical bonds in the strained seven-membered carbon rings that lead to failure; the large-
Aug 11, 2011
Computer-aided design of lightweight allows for future vehicles
William Curtin and Allan Bower, School of Engineering
Replacing steel with lightweight Aluminum alloys could significantly improve fuel economy of vehicles. Existing lightweight alloys are difficult to use, because they have poor ductility, and tend to tear while they are stamped to form a complex part. Adding small quantities of additional allying elements to lightweight alloys could improve their ductility. But at present the only way to identify the correct elements is to make, and test, many possible combinations - an impossible task.
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