materials science and engineering

left image is titled support and shows a black polymer sheet lifting four stacked petri dishes that are loaded with spheres. right image is title manipulates and shows a black polymer sheet undulating in a way that rotates the multicolored spheres in a petri dish in a counterclockwise direction

Dec 6, 2024

Magnetically Controlled Kirigami Surfaces Move Objects: No Grasping Needed

The new technology is useful for lifting and moving items that cannot be easily grasped, such as fragile objects, gels or liquids.

micrograph image shows detailed microscale structure that looks like branches. some are colored red or blue to provide contrast.

Dec 2, 2024

Researchers Demonstrate Self-Assembling Electronics

The proof-of-concept work was used to create diodes and transistors, and paves the way for self-assembling more complex electronic devices.

illustration shows a digital screen displaying data related to groundwater quality

Nov 12, 2024

Machine Learning Predicts Highest-Risk Groundwater Sites to Improve Water Quality Monitoring

The new tool allows regulators and public health authorities to prioritize specific aquifers for water quality testing.

nc state university belltower silhouetted against a sunset

Oct 30, 2024

Linking Energy Loss to Interfaces in Organic Solar Cells Could Make Them Much More Efficient

A new study provides a deeper understanding of what is happening in organic solar cells when light is converted into electricity.

an array of green lights that look like LEDs

Oct 11, 2024

Engineering Perovskite Materials at the Atomic Level Paves Way for New Lasers, LEDs

New technique dictates precisely how layered hybrid perovskite materials convert electrical charge into light.

Sep 18, 2024

NC State Joins National Energy Innovation Hub, Boosting Battery Research

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a $62.5 million grant supporting a new energy research hub involving 15 research institutions, including North Carolina State University, to advance sustainable and economical electrochemical energy storage for electric grids.

image on left is labeled 'expanded' and shows 3D grid of pink polymer; image on left is labeled 'contracted' and shows a much smaller grid of the pink polymer, with much smaller gaps between the polymer strands

Jul 22, 2024

3D Printing of Light-Activated Hydrogel Actuators

3D-printed hydrogels create structures that contract when exposed to light and expand when the light is removed, meaning they can serve as remotely controlled actuators.

diagram shows infrared light passing through an oxide membrane

Jun 10, 2024

Researchers Demonstrate New Way to ‘Squeeze’ Infrared Light

The thin-film membranes confine infrared light far better than bulk crystals, which are the established technology for infrared light confinement.

photo includes two images. The first shows a bunch of black wires sticking up from a white substrate and leaning right. The second shows the wires leaning left.

Apr 24, 2024

Researchers Show It’s Possible to Teach Old Magnetic Cilia New Tricks

Researchers have demonstrated a technique for creating magnetic cilia that can be “reprogrammed” to change the motion of the cilia as needed.

Feb 9, 2024

George Martell: A Journey of Service, Safety and Seamless IT

In the world of IT and safety, George Martell is a seasoned professional who brings a unique blend of perspective and experience to his role as the IT Manager and Safety Officer at NC State’s Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) department. Martell’s journey, both before and during his time at NC State, reveals a story of dedication, resilience, and a commitment to creating a seamless and secure environment for the university’s research community.

Feb 7, 2024

Prof. Yin Liu Wins NSF CAREER Award for Research in Materials Science

North Carolina State University’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering is excited to announce Assistant Professor Yin Liu has been awarded the esteemed National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award. This recognition comes as a testament to his innovative research in electronic and photonic materials and has far-reaching implications for the rapidly evolving fields of optics and nanotechnology.

neon lights show the outline of the human body overlayed with an outline of the brain

Jan 16, 2024

Modified Soft Material Promises Better Bioelectronics

The advance is an order-of-magnitude improvement in the ability of soft bioelectronic materials to function efficiently in biological environments.

photo shows a large window into the stairwell of a building. the glass of the window reflects some light, but allows you to see some of the stairwell.

Sep 21, 2023

Material Would Allow Users to ‘Tune’ Windows to Block Targeted Wavelengths of Light

Users could switch windows to a mode that blocks infrared light, helping keep a building cool while leaving the windows transparent to visible light.

photo shows flames in front of a black backdrop

Aug 14, 2023

Nanoscale Material Offers New Way to Control Fire

A molecule-thin protective layer controls how flame’s heat interacts with the underlying material.

NC State metal gateway sculpture silhouetted against the sky

Jul 27, 2023

Researchers Grow High Quality Superconductor, Find Resilience Against Magnetic Fields

Researchers have demonstrated the ability to grow high-quality thin films of a recently discovered superconductor called potassium tantalate.