Art Institute of Chicago - Northwestern University Program in Conservation Science* Professor Katherine Faber, Northwestern Liaison Dr. Francesca Casadio, Mellon Conservation Scientist

This  is  the  first  demonstration  of  living ring  opening  metathesis  polymerization (ROMP) from a biological substrate.

The DNP-NMR technique in the MRSEC Shared Experimental Facilities allows the selective measurement of surface species, in addition to enabling large sensitivity enhancements. The biradicals serve only to act as an antenna for the microwaves. Very small quantities of biradicals are introduced into the sample, which do not change the surface chemistry that results from hydration.

IRG1 has developed a computational framework for understanding how nanoparticles (NPs) assemble at the  interface  between  two  immiscible  fluids.

IRG1 has developed a toolkit for carrying out simulated X-ray   adsorption   spectroscopy   (XAS).   XAS   is   a powerful technique for understanding the surface local structure  and  chemistry  of  complex  interfaces  at  the nanoscale.

Plant/polymer composite materials have been fabricated. These  composite  materials  are  stimuli responsive  and  can  undergo  shape-shifting   behavior   in   response   to temperature or light. 

Organic semiconductor materials have shown promise in recent years for use in low-cost electronics applications such as photovoltaics, chemical sensors, and flat-panel displays. In particular, pentacene thin films have been shown to exhibit high a large field-effect mobility on the order of 1 cm2/Vs, which is sufficient for organic thin-film transistors (TFTs) for displays.

Rules for the creation of alloys within the family of Heusler compounds, which are ordered compounds formed between metals, have been broadly formulated. Heusler compounds are important functional materials, used for their magnetic and thermoelectric properties. These rules will help in designing new materials with optimized functionality. The results directly support the goals of IRG-1 Magnetic Intermetallic Mesostructures since the controlled formation of single-phase and mesostructured magnetic Heusler materials is central to the project.

New lithium-ion transporting polymers, suitable for use as solid electrolytes in lithium ion batteries have been developed based on controlling the dielectric properties of polymers and details of the polymer architecture. Many lithium-transporting polymers, which could play a central role in the future of solid-state lithium batteries, suffer from poor lithium conductivity, even if the total conductivity could be high due to the counterions moving. MRSEC IRG-2 researchers have devised strategies to ensure that it is the lithium that moves, making these materials useful. 

The key protein that helps bloodworms form copper-based mineral composites to make very strong jaws has been identified along with the several functions that it serves.