materials science

Probing Question: What is the next big step in solar power?

11/29/12

Experts say it takes an estimated 13 trillion watts of energy to power our economies, and by 2050 expect that number to increase to 30 terawatts of power. Jeffrey Brownson, assistant professor of energy and mineral engineering at Penn State, notes that less than one-tenth of one percent of today’s electricity comes from solar photovoltaics. But the path to 30 terawatts, he adds, almost certainly goes through the Sun. Brownson, an expert in photovoltaics and sustainability, is one of a number of Penn State researchers pursuing solar-powered technologies.

historical photo of men manipulating glass in workshop

Heart of Glass

11/1/12

He earned worldwide fame as a founder of the modern science of glass. He was among the first Penn State faculty to take an interdisciplinary approach to studying materials science. And he was ahead of his time in advocating an alliance between private industry and academia in supporting basic research. He was Woldemar Weyl, who for 30 years was a teacher and researcher in what is today the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences.

graphene wafer on metal fork, with researcher in background

Green Light for Graphene

8/9/12

Graphene, a form of carbon made up of a single layer of carbon atoms in a tight hexagonal arrangement, is sometimes called "atomic-scale chicken wire." Since it was first isolated in the lab in 2004, the material has demonstrated remarkable electronic properties, including theoretical speeds 100 times greater than silicon. But putting graphene into a microchip that could outperform current silicon technology has proven difficult. The answer may lie in new nanoscale systems called two-dimensional layered materials.

Students use research opportunities to expand involvement in academics

4/23/12

One of the benefits students have at a major national research university like Penn State is not only learning from faculty in the classroom but also working alongside them -- in the laboratory or the library -- doing research. Undergraduate students like Christine Theberge and Josh Yeh, who are conducting their own undergraduate research, and those who hold research assistant positions have the opportunity to expand their knowledge in areas of academic interest while developing valuable research skills and relevant work experience.

exterior of Millennium Science Complex at night

Interdisciplinary Science Building Opens Doors to Researchers

2/8/12

When Penn State’s Millennium Science Complex (MSC) opened its doors to researchers last fall, it inaugurated a new era of scientific discovery at the intersection of materials science, engineering, nanoscience and the life sciences at Penn State.

DOE nuclear program awards $1.6 million to Penn State

9/2/11

Three Penn State-led projects have received more than $1.6 million in combined research and development grants from the U.S. Department of Energy's Nuclear Energy University Programs.

A new, improved absorbent should aid in oil spill clean-ups.

8/23/11

Last year’s oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was not the largest in history nor is it likely to be the last. But a patent-pending material developed by T.C. (Mike) Chung, professor of materials science and engineering at Penn State, could dramatically reduce the environmental damage of future spills.

Video: Obama visit highlights Penn State energy innovation

2/4/11

"What this University is going to lead will be more than a pioneering research center or an economic engine for Pennsylvania and America for years to come: what you're going to do is lead a modern-day incubator for what sets us apart -- the greatest force that the world has ever known," said President Barack Obama Feb. 3 at Penn State's University Park campus. Watch a brief video summarizing the president's visit and Penn State's research leadership at a new national Energy Innovation Hub.

Videos highlight Penn State's breadth of alternate energy research

2/3/11

In his policy speech today (Feb. 3) at Penn State, President Barack Obama advocated alternate energy research and increased energy efficiency. Penn State has more than 500 researchers working in the areas of energy and the environment, centered through the Penn State Institutes of Energy and the Environment, which are working to advance the energy and environmental missions of the University. Following are five videos from Penn State's Advancing Energy series that highlight a small sample of the variety of cutting-edge energy research at Penn State.

Penn State Impact videos share stories of critical involvement

11/22/10

Across the University, Penn State experts are working together to make significant changes in science and medicine. A new series of Penn State Impact videos highlights some of the collaborative research ongoing at Penn State. The newest video, "Advancing Surgery," shows how collaborative efforts among University researchers in engineering, materials science and medicine aim to improve endoscopic surgeries by shrinking surgeons' tools as well as patients' recovery time.

McFarlane gives $1 million to materials science and engineering

7/23/10

A $1 million commitment from the estate of Cathleen McFarlane-Ross, longtime friend of Penn State, will establish two endowments to benefit students and faculty in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. McFarlane-Ross's gift honors her late husband, industrialist Norris "Mac" McFarlane, who graduated from Penn State in 1934 with a bachelor of science degree in metallurgy.

Video: Contractors reach milestone in Millennium Science construction

4/8/10

In what is traditionally called a topping-off ceremony, contractors hoisted the final I-beam into its place Tuesday, April 6, on the Millennium Science Complex, now under construction at Penn State's University Park campus. By completing the complex skeletal frame, construction workers can begin finishing the envelope, or outer shell, and then finally the interior of the complex, which will house materials science and life science faculty together to encourage innovative research collaborations. Read on to watch video highlights of the ceremony.

Institute at the cutting edge of materials research

11/17/09

From ceramic materials for electronics to atomic-scale nanotechnology, physics and chemistry to electrical engineering, clean energy to biotechnology, Penn State's Materials Research Institute (MRI) is at the cutting edge of research and technology that is changing the way we live. In 2011 MRI will join with the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences to move into the Millennium Science Complex, an impressive new 275,000 square-foot facility under construction on Pollock Road at the University Park campus. While the new building will be breathtaking in size and architecture, what goes on behind its walls will be even more impressive.

Probing Question: Could your kitchen counters be radioactive?

9/29/08

Verde Butterfly. Black Galaxy. Kashmir Gold. If you've remodeled your kitchen in the last decade, chances are you encountered one of the 1600 varieties of granite imported into the United States from 64 different countries. According to recent market research, demand for natural stone countertops has increased five percent annually between 2001 and 2006, with granite being the most popular option. And why not?

Near-infrared nanoparticles shine a bright light on cancer

9/26/08

A new imaging method for breast cancer has been developed by a team of Penn State researchers. Their research, using encapsulated fluorescent molecules in calcium phosphate nanoparticles and non-toxic near infrared imaging (NIR), appears in the Sept. 19 online issue of ACS Nano. By combining NIR imaging with nanoparticles containing a NIR fluorescing dye, indocyanine green, the researchers were able to detect 5 millimeter diameter breast cancer tumors in a live mouse model over a period of four or more days.