materials science and engineering

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.

illustration lays out the design of the RoboMapper device and how each component works (see article below for details)

Jul 25, 2023

New Robot Boosts Solar Energy Research

The robot conducts experiments more efficiently and sustainably to develop a range of new semiconductor materials.

Jun 23, 2023

Quantum Computing Could Get Boost From Discovery of Q-Silicon

NC State researchers discover a distinct form of silicon that is ferromagnetic at room temperature.

Mar 14, 2023

Technique Offers New Insight into How Materials Respond to Stresses

The work can be used to inform the development of everything from new electronic devices to high-performance textiles.

diagram shows how electrons travel along grain boundaries

Feb 27, 2023

Corralling Ions Improves Viability of Next Generation Solar Cells

The finding paves the way for a new generation of lighter, more flexible, and more efficient solar cell technologies suitable for practical use.

Feb 9, 2023

Make Them Thin Enough, and Antiferroelectric Materials Become Ferroelectric

Researchers have now discovered a size threshold beyond which antiferroelectrics lose their properties, becoming ferroelectric.

Feb 8, 2023

Microstructure and Defect Engineering Improves Performance of Lithium-Ion Batteries

Laser-induced anode graphite defects - in the right amount - increase current capacity in widely used batteries.