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Highlights

Highlights

Improving the Ambient Stability of Chemically Reactive 2D Materials
Improving the Ambient Stability of Chemically Reactive 2D Materials
May 6, 2019
Northwestern University

Improving the Ambient Stability of Chemically Reactive 2D Materials

S. A. Wells, A. Henning, J. T. Gish, V. K. Sangwan, L. J. Lauhon, and M. C. Hersam, “Suppressing ambient degradation of exfoliated InSe nanosheet devices via seeded atomic layer deposition encapsulation,” Nano Letters, 18, 7876-7882 (2018)
To enable ambient processing and study of indium selenide, NU-MRSEC IRG-1 has developed a mixed-dimensional organic/inorganic passivation scheme based on n-methyl-2-pyrrilodone (NMP) seeded atomic layer deposited (ALD) alumina that provides a pinhole-free encapsulation layer that preserves the intrinsic electronic properties of the underlying InSe.
Optically Reconfigurable Dielectrics in Ultra-Thin Transistors
Optically Reconfigurable Dielectrics in Ultra-Thin Transistors
May 6, 2019
Northwestern University

Optically Reconfigurable Dielectrics in Ultra-Thin Transistors

S. P. Senanayak, V. K. Sangwan, J. J. McMorrow, K. Everaerts, Z. Chen, A. Facchetti, M. C. Hersam, T. J. Marks, and K. S. Narayan, “Self-assembled photochromic molecular dipoles for high-performance polymer thin-film transistors,” ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 10, 21492 (2018)
In this work, molecular self-assembly of highly polarizable PAE molecules was used to create reconfigurable dielectric layers whose capacitance changes with illumination. Upon ultraviolet optical illumination, the PAE molecules undergo a photoisomerization from an extended trans geometry to a compact cis geometry, which can be reversed upon illumination at longer wavelengths.
Reaching Underserved Audiences by Bringing Science to a Local Food Pantry
Reaching Underserved Audiences by Bringing Science to a Local Food Pantry
May 6, 2019
University of Wisconsin - Madison

Reaching Underserved Audiences by Bringing Science to a Local Food Pantry

AnneLynn Gillian-Daniel, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Not all members of our community have the time or resources to attend science outreach events. To reach some of those people, the Wisconsin MRSEC conducts its engaging, hands-on science activities to a local food pantry. Customers can wait up to 90 minutes at the food pantry, providing ample time for educational activities for kids, their parents, and other curious adult visitors.
Nanoscale Control of Complex Oxide Crystallization
Nanoscale Control of Complex Oxide Crystallization
May 2, 2019
University of Wisconsin - Madison

Nanoscale Control of Complex Oxide Crystallization

Paul Evans, Thomas Kuech, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Dillon Fong, Martin Holt, Argonne National Laboratory
Small (nanometer-sized) crystals of multi-component, complex metal oxides have useful properties for applications in electronics, optics, sensors, and mechanical actuators. In order to realize this potential, engineers need to be able to put tiny crystals exactly where they are needed and to control the orientation of the crystal’s lattice.
Optical Excited States in a Moiré Crystal
Optical Excited States in a Moiré Crystal
May 2, 2019
University of Texas at Austin

Optical Excited States in a Moiré Crystal

X. Li, A. H. MacDonald: University of Texas at Austin
In transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDC) monolayers, there are two inequivalent valleys (energy extrema points in the band structure) related by time-reversal symmetry. Fundamental optical excitations, or excitons (bound electron-hole pairs) are formed at these valleys.
a) Photograph of highly transparent nanocrystal depletion gel under natural lighting against the University of Texas Tower, b) theoretical phase diagram obtained from our unified free energy model for polymer bridging and depletion effects. Np/NNC denotes the ratio of number of polymers per nanocrystal. For comparison, experimental results are overlaid on the phase diagram: open circles represent flowing dispersions and closed circles represent gels, and c) experimental optical properties (left panel) of charge stabilized tin-doped indium oxide nanocrystals (grey), bridging gel (blue), and depletion gel (red) compared to simulations (right panel) to support internanocrystal coupling effects in the gel.
a) Photograph of highly transparent nanocrystal depletion gel under natural lighting against the University of Texas Tower, b) theoretical phase diagram obtained from our unified free energy model for polymer bridging and depletion effects. Np/NNC denotes the ratio of number of polymers per nanocrystal. For comparison, experimental results are overlaid on the phase diagram: open circles represent flowing dispersions and closed circles represent gels, and c) experimental optical properties (left panel) of charge stabilized tin-doped indium oxide nanocrystals (grey), bridging gel (blue), and depletion gel (red) compared to simulations (right panel) to support internanocrystal coupling effects in the gel.
May 2, 2019
University of Texas at Austin

Gelation of Plasmonic Metal Oxide Nanocrystals by Polymer-Induced Depletion Attractions

Camila A. Saez Cabezas, Gary K. Ong, Ryan B. Jadrich, Beth A. Lindquist, Ankit Agrawal, Thomas M. Truskett, and Delia J. Milliron. GKO is affiliated to the department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of California Berkeley. All other authors are affiliated to the McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin.
Nanocrystal gelation is a strategy to translate exceptional properties inherent to nanoscale building blocks into multiscale architectures and devices. However, available gelation methods are not easily adaptable across broad classes of nanocrystal systems since assembly is strongly reliant on specific surface chemistries.
Fig. 1: a) I-MRSEC Director Mason introduces the MRSEC on the first day of the program; b) MRSEC grad student participates in “Destroy a Toy” lesson alongside several 8th graders; c) MRSEC faculty Huang leads the class in demos to teach about materials science; d) Two 8th graders record a song they wrote; e) MRSEC grad student Kang leads a VR activity during the field trip to MRL; f) a group of students and their teachers at the end of a cleanroom tour during the field trip to MRL. Image source: Photos c) – f) by B. Innes.
Fig. 1: a) I-MRSEC Director Mason introduces the MRSEC on the first day of the program; b) MRSEC grad student participates in “Destroy a Toy” lesson alongside several 8th graders; c) MRSEC faculty Huang leads the class in demos to teach about materials science; d) Two 8th graders record a song they wrote; e) MRSEC grad student Kang leads a VR activity during the field trip to MRL; f) a group of students and their teachers at the end of a cleanroom tour during the field trip to MRL. Image source: Photos c) – f) by B. Innes.
Apr 30, 2019
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Musical Magnetism: Engaging Middle School Students in Materials Science

The Illinois MRSEC developed and implemented an 8-week program called “Musical Magnetism” that engages middle school students in materials science using the popular platform of music. The program combines engaging lessons and demos, researching a topic, turning that research into lyrics, and recording a song. 35 8th graders at Franklin STEAM Academy participated.
Conductance vs carrier density for different graphene devices. Black curve is flat graphene; colored curves are all on nanospheres. The nanosphere devices all show kink at expected density for strain superlattice created by nanospheres
Conductance vs carrier density for different graphene devices. Black curve is flat graphene; colored curves are all on nanospheres. The nanosphere devices all show kink at expected density for strain superlattice created by nanospheres
Apr 30, 2019
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Strain Superlattice of Graphene on Nanospheres

N. Mason, N. Aluru, P. Huang, and M. Gilbert University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Strain engineering two-dimensional (2D) materials provides a new way to tailor electronic bandstructures and access novel electronic devices. A key route to strain 2D materials, such as graphene, is via underlying nanostructured substrates.
CDCM K-5 Research Experience for Teachers is Forging Direct Links between Elementary Classrooms & University Labs, Mentors, & Facilities
CDCM K-5 Research Experience for Teachers is Forging Direct Links between Elementary Classrooms & University Labs, Mentors, & Facilities
Apr 30, 2019
University of Texas at Austin

CDCM K-5 Research Experience for Teachers is Forging Direct Links between Elementary Classrooms & University Labs, Mentors, & Facilities

The CDCM RET program is unique in that it is designed specifically for K-5 teachers, with the intended purpose of engaging and sustaining student interest in STEM at a young age. In summer 2018, CDCM launched its inaugural program with 4 teachers participating, spanning grades 1st – 5th.
Switching of the Dirac nodal line state from degenerate to gapped (bottom panels) of by reorientation of the antiferromagnetic order parameter (indicated by arrows on the top panels).
Switching of the Dirac nodal line state from degenerate to gapped (bottom panels) of by reorientation of the antiferromagnetic order parameter (indicated by arrows on the top panels).
Apr 23, 2019
University of Nebraska - Lincoln

A Viable Material for Topological Antiferromagnetic Spintronics

Ding-Fu Shao, Gautam Gurung, and Evgeny Tsymbal (University of Nebraska-Lincoln)
Topological antiferromagnetic spintronics is an emerging field of research where topological properties of a material are coupled to the antiferromagnetic ordering. Topological properties involve non-trivial electronic states, such as Dirac nodal lines, which are protected by the structural and magnetic symmetry of the material.

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