Advances in polymer synthesis have enabled access to a vast array of multiblock polymer architectures, with rich opportunities for designing multiple functionalities into a single self-assembled material.

Physicists have predicted that graphene, a single atomic sheet of carbon, could be turned magnetic simply by attaching a hydrogen atom (or removing a carbon atom). However, detecting this magnetism has been elusive due to many pitfalls that arise using traditional methods. Kawakami has developed a new method to detect magnetism in graphene. Pure spin currents are injected into graphene, which then depolarize in a particular and recognizable way if magnetic moments

MRSEC scientists from Brandeis visited the Discovery Museum in Acton for a full day of Microscope-themed activities on March 30th.  We led hands-on activities that allowed students to see and build their own mutant Drosophila, assemble their own polymer chain and explore freezing techniques like dry ice and liquid nitrogen.  We had over 150 museum guests participate in our activities.

Detection of long-wavelength light is central to security and military applications, and widely used in chemical analysis. Available detectors, based upon inorganic materials, have limited sensitivity and working speeds. Graphene is a unique material with strong, nearly wavelength-independent interaction with light. 

Nanomaterials offer innovative approaches to problems from energy  production to information storage. A major challenge for nanomaterial use is limited knowledge of their local electrical properties. The electric potential sets the charge-transport pathway through a material. Maryland researchers have profiled this potential for  nanostructured films found in organic transistors and solar cells.

April 27-29, 2012: The University of Maryland MRSEC collaborated with partners to present a fun, science-packed three days at the Convention Center in Washington, DC.

The Materials Research Facilities Network hosted a Shared Facilities Workshop, held at Northwestern University, Nov 1-2, 2011.  The event brought together technical staff from 24 MRSEC and PREM institutions for 1.5 days to discuss day-to-day operations of Shared Experimental Facilities.