2D-materials center ready to move to new phase, add industry partners
The Center for Atomically Thin Multifunctional Coatings (ATOMIC), a center focused on the study and development of 2D materials that is part of the National Science Foundation’s Industry/University Cooperative Research Center project, is preparing to move from Phase I to Phase II of the program.
Research lays groundwork for ultra-thin, energy efficient photodetector on glass
Though we may not always realize it, photodetectors contribute greatly to the convenience of modern life. Also known as photosensors, photodetectors convert light energy into electrical signals to complete tasks such as opening automatic sliding doors and automatically adjusting a cell phone’s screen brightness in different lighting conditions.
Penn State, University of Freiburg to deepen ties at Virtual Materials Day
Penn State and the University of Freiburg will showcase their close collaboration in the field of living materials during the upcoming Materials Day on Nov. 10-11. Materials Day is an annual event organized by the Materials Research Institute to highlight materials-related interdisciplinary science and engineering research at Penn State.
Nanojackets accepted into NCL Assay Cascade characterization and testing program
The Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory (NCL) announced that it has accepted calcium phosphosilicate hydrate nanoparticles, or NanoJackets (NJs), which are a new material system invented in the Jim Adair Penn State Lab for diagnostic and drug delivery to human cancer into its Assay Cascade characterization and testing program.
Generating renewable hydrogen fuel from the sea
The power of the sun, wind and sea may soon combine to produce clean-burning hydrogen fuel, according to a team of Penn State researchers. The team integrated water purification technology into a new proof-of-concept design for a sea water electrolyzer, which uses an electric current to split apart the hydrogen and oxygen in water molecules.
Engineers investigate additive manufacturing quality control with grant from 3M
An interdisciplinary team of researchers in Penn State’s College of Earth and Mineral Sciences and College of Engineering was awarded a $180,000 grant to investigate comprehensive quality control methods for additive manufacturing (AM), or 3D printing, of metals.
New College’s faculty-student collaborations lead to publications (and patents)
The best education demands a joint search for learning between exciting instructors and able students. That self-evident principle lies at the core of a New College education.
Center for Nanoscale Science renewed at $18 million for six years
The Center for Nanoscale Science, a National Science Foundation Materials Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC), has again successfully renewed its NSF support in the highly competitive MRSEC program. The new iteration of the center encompasses two of NSF’s Big Ideas — "Quantum Leap" and "Harnessing the Data Revolution."
Penn State's research expenditures top $1 billion mark
Penn State’s research expenditures exceeded the $1 billion mark in fiscal year 2019-20. The total figure, $1.01 billion, places Penn State among a select group of research universities nationally, and reflects the interdisciplinary strength built over three decades. It represents a $40 million increase over last year’s number, and includes a record $633 million in federal funding, as well as $375 million from a combination of private funders, the commonwealth of Pennsylvania and University sources.
To make a better sensor, just add noise
Adding noise to enhance a weak signal is a sensing phenomenon common in the animal world but unusual in manmade sensors. Now Penn State researchers have added a small amount of background noise to enhance very weak signals in a light source too dim to sense.