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Highlights

Highlights

The updated Materials Science Exhibit is currently housed at the Harold Washington Library in downtown Chicago, which is the primary resource for the socioeconomically diverse Chicago Public Schools.
The updated Materials Science Exhibit is currently housed at the Harold Washington Library in downtown Chicago, which is the primary resource for the socioeconomically diverse Chicago Public Schools.
May 7, 2019
Northwestern University

Materials Science Exhibit at the Chicago Public Library

In collaboration with the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry and the Chicago Public Library, the NU-MRSEC launched the Materials Science Exhibit at the Harold Washington Library in downtown Chicago.
Designing Biomaterials Using High-Throughput Directed Evolution
Designing Biomaterials Using High-Throughput Directed Evolution
May 7, 2019
Northwestern University

Designing Biomaterials Using High-Throughput Directed Evolution

Traditional design approaches are insufficient for exploring the vast phase space available to protein-based biomaterials. This NU-MRSEC seed-funded project is developing a platform for biomaterials design using directed evolution, which combines genetic mutation and protein synthesis with high-throughput materials characterization.
Processing 2D Porous Polymers into Membranes via Exfoliation
Processing 2D Porous Polymers into Membranes via Exfoliation
May 7, 2019
Northwestern University

Processing 2D Porous Polymers into Membranes via Exfoliation

The NU-MRSEC Super-Seed team has developed a method to process imine-linked 2D COF powders into thin films via reversible exfoliation. The COF powder is treated with strong acids, which causes each layer to become positively charged. This charged form is exfoliated in solvents with gentle sonication, which provides a suspension of nanosheets.
Photoluminescence and Antiferromagnetism in the New Heteroanionic Material BaFMn0.5Te
Photoluminescence and Antiferromagnetism in the New Heteroanionic Material BaFMn0.5Te
May 7, 2019
Northwestern University

Photoluminescence and Antiferromagnetism in the New Heteroanionic Material BaFMn0.5Te

Semiconductors with both magnetic and optoelectronic properties are relevant for novel spintronic devices. With the aim of discovering new magnetic semiconductors, NU-MRSEC IRG-2 performed synthesis investigations on mixed halide-chalcogenides, resulting in the discovery of the new compound BaFMn0.5Te.
Prof. Moeketsi Mpholo (National U. of Lesotho), and his graduate student, Teboho Nchaba (U. of Cape Town) worked with Prof. Bau (MEAM). Palesa Phooko worked with Prof. Thomson (and now Prof. Anna in 2019). Dr. Tebello Mahamo (National U. of Lesotho) worked with Prof. Berry (and now Prof. Tomson in 2019).
Prof. Moeketsi Mpholo (National U. of Lesotho), and his graduate student, Teboho Nchaba (U. of Cape Town) worked with Prof. Bau (MEAM). Palesa Phooko worked with Prof. Thomson (and now Prof. Anna in 2019). Dr. Tebello Mahamo (National U. of Lesotho) worked with Prof. Berry (and now Prof. Tomson in 2019).
May 6, 2019
University of Pennsylvania

UPenn Program with Southern Africa

Mark Licurse & Ashley Wallace. University of Pennsylvania
Since 2003 we have successfully partnered with universities in Southern Africa, specifically the National University of Lesotho and the University of Pretoria, to bring faculty members to the LRSM every summer to participate in collaborative research projects with our faculty. Often the students of faculty members are invited to join as well to gain research experience. This was the case with Mopeli Fabiane (top picture), who originally came as a lecturer, then a graduate student, and now continues to visit as a researcher with his Ph.D. The program started with 2-3 faculty/students visiting each summer and now this summer, 2019, will support 7 visitors (6 faculty and 1 student).
Figure. A. Formation of synthetic membraneless organelle-like materials via self-assembly of an intrinsically disordered protein (IDP). B. Protease triggered assembly in cell-like compartments. C. Dual cargo recruitment to protein droplets in vitro. D. Expression of RGG scaffold to form membraneless organelles in living cells.
Figure. A. Formation of synthetic membraneless organelle-like materials via self-assembly of an intrinsically disordered protein (IDP). B. Protease triggered assembly in cell-like compartments. C. Dual cargo recruitment to protein droplets in vitro. D. Expression of RGG scaffold to form membraneless organelles in living cells.
May 6, 2019
University of Pennsylvania

Membraneless Organelles Build from Engineered Assemblies of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins

Matthew Good, Daniel Hammer & Elizabeth Rhoades, University of Pennsylvania
Our team designed a protein-based RGG material capable of self-assembly into micron size condensates that can be genetically encoded and expressed to form membranelles organelles in living cells. RGG is an intrinsically disordered peptide that coacervates to form a dynamic protein phase through weak, multivalent interactions. We leveraged this principle to designed RGG variants whose assembly could be enzymatically regulated through protease-mediated control of valency and solubility.
Liquid crystal fingerprint patterns transferred to fluorescently-labeled surfactants. The surfactants follow the cholesteric stripes.
Liquid crystal fingerprint patterns transferred to fluorescently-labeled surfactants. The surfactants follow the cholesteric stripes.
May 6, 2019
University of Pennsylvania

Shaping Nanoparticle Fingerprints at the Interface of Cholesteric Droplets

Shu Yang, Kathleen Stebe & Randall Kamien, University of Pennsylvania
This work reports the first experimental realization of nanoparticles templated at the interface of liquid crystals into reconfigurable, periodic structures. We establish that nanoparticles can segregate into highly ordered stripes, with tunable organization and thickness, forming the basis for the assembly of patchy colloids and nanowires. Our technique is advantageous over other methods, as the resultant assemblies can dynamically respond to changes within the underlying liquid crystal.
(L) stretched fiber network models exhibit large contractions in the transverse direction. This effect is accompanied by the buckling of thin fibers oriented transverse to the direction of loading. (R) Apparent Poisson’s ratio increases with stretch and decreasing collagen concentration. Concentrations of 1, 2, and 3 mg/mL were tested.
(L) stretched fiber network models exhibit large contractions in the transverse direction. This effect is accompanied by the buckling of thin fibers oriented transverse to the direction of loading. (R) Apparent Poisson’s ratio increases with stretch and decreasing collagen concentration. Concentrations of 1, 2, and 3 mg/mL were tested.
May 6, 2019
University of Pennsylvania

Structural Chemo-Mechanics of Fibrous Networks

Ehsan Ban, Paul Janmey, Vivek Shenoy, University of Pennsylvania
Shenoy group in the IRG led a study on the multiaxial behavior of collagen networks. When stretched, the network models exhibited drastic contractions transverse to the direction of loading (yellow arrows in the top left image). The networks exhibited an anomalous Poisson effect, with apparent Poisson’s ratios larger than 1. Experiments validated this result and showed increases of apparent Poisson’s ratio with decreasing collagen concentration (top right image).
Figure shows an analysis of a polycrystalline material (created via Molecular Dynamic simulations) using ML and the concept of softness.
Figure shows an analysis of a polycrystalline material (created via Molecular Dynamic simulations) using ML and the concept of softness.
May 6, 2019
University of Pennsylvania

Machine Learning & Softness: Characterizing local structure and rearrangements in disordered solids

Paulo E. Arratia & Douglas J. Durian, University of Pennsylvania
This IRG focuses on the mechanical behavior of disordered materials, particularly beyond the onset of yield. The Figure shows recent advances in using Machine Learning (ML) methods to characterize the local structural environment of disordered materials with respect to susceptibility for particulate rearrangements using a quantity called softness. (A-D) shows an analysis of a polycrystalline material (created via Molecular Dynamic simulations) using ML and the concept of softness [1]. The Figure shows that softness (bright spots in D) is able to capture rearrangements measured as shown by colored particles in (C). This approach correctly identifies crystalline and grain boundary regions as having low values and high variability of softness, respectively. We also extended the concept of softness to anisotropic particles [2] (E). Similar predictive performance to isotropic particles is observed and a recursive feature elimination (RFE) method is introduced to better understand how softness arises from particular structural aspects that can be systematically tuned e.g. by particle aspect ratio.  Indeed, longer particles lead to different global flow patterns for a pillar under compression (F).
Network Analysis of Synthesizable Materials Discovery
Network Analysis of Synthesizable Materials Discovery
May 6, 2019
Northwestern University

Network Analysis of Synthesizable Materials Discovery

Aykol et al. arXiv:1806.05772 (2018).
Materials synthesis is a complex process that depends not only on thermodynamic stability, but also on kinetic factors, advances in synthesis techniques, and the availability of precursors. This complexity makes the development of a general theory for predicting synthesizability extremely difficult.

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