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The long-standing goal of increasing material toughness and decreasing brittle failure is elusive in part due to lack of model experimental systems in which ductility can be tuned while observing both macro- and micro-scale response of the constituent “atoms”.  We have now created such a system, as illustrated, wher

A recent study explored the design of coiled coils made up of amino acids, finding that a minimum of three heptads (21 amino acids) is essential for stable formation. A specific 22-residue sequence, BNDL22, showed promising stability and melting temperature for creating nanostructured materials. Incorporating BNDL22 in hydrogels allowed for innovative properties like thermoresponsiveness, making it useful for 3D printing and injections. This research lays the groundwork for developing advanced materials and molecular machines.

In 2012, Princeton University’s NSF-funded research center Princeton Center for Complex Materials (PCCM) and its partners the Princeton Public Library and  the New Jersey State Museum were awarded the NSF funded NISEnet Nano! Mini-Exhibit. Nano! is a new engaging exhibition for family audiences about nanoscale science, technology, and engineering. The Nano! Mini-Exhibit is open to the public at the Princeton Public Library for one year.  1000’s have already enjoyed the exhibit. The exhibit allows the public to

Postdoctoral research associate Li Yao (Hillmyer) has been exploring the self-assembly of oligomeric block copolymer coatings for use in lithographic and nanopatterning applications that push the current resolution limits.

On March 13, 2013, students from Philadelphia's Latin School visited the Princeton Center for Complex Materials. The 9th and 10th graders came to PCCM from the largely African American all boys charter school in Philadelphia. Their teacher, Christine Galib, a Princeton University alum, has been teaching her students about nanotechnology. She saw a talk by PCCM's Professor Michael McAlpine and wanted to inspire her students about nanomaterials. The students toured the Imaging and

The electronic properties of thin films with thicknesses of only a single molecular layer have in the past typically been far worse than thicker films of the same material.

This work represents the first unambiguous confirmation that very large charge densities can be achieved on the surface of organic crystals by using electrolyte gates. 

Researchers explore approaches to increase the toughness of disordered materials that are otherwise prone to fail in a catastrophic, brittle fashion.

Addition of rubber particles to epoxy thermosets has been successful for toughening these brittle materials.

  The term “defect” suggests something to be avoided.  However, our team has developed an extensive toolkit to control the locations, shapes, and detailed geometry of so-called topological defects in liquid crystals, the same sorts of materials used in the $100bn/year display industry.  Our goal is to harness these defects to use them as cues for further directed- and self-assembly, as lenses and optical elements, and as building blocks for hierarchical materials.