materials

Mar 10, 2023

Some Stirring Required: Fluid Mixing Enables Scalable Manufacturing of Soft Polymer Structures

A new, scalable technique allows users to manufacture soft polymer materials in a dozen different structures, or morphologies. 

Nov 1, 2021

Where Textiles Meets STEM

In the Department of Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science, STEM majors can discover surprising opportunities and exceptional career preparation. 

Oct 25, 2021

New Synthesis Process Paves Way for More Efficient Lasers, LEDs

A new process uses existing techniques to make more efficient LEDs and lasers. 

Jun 18, 2018

Using Gold Nanoparticles to Trigger Sequential Unfolding of 3-D Structures

NC State researchers have developed a new technique that takes advantage of gold nanoparticles to trigger the sequential unfolding of three-dimensional structures using different wavelengths of light. 

May 24, 2018

Microscopy Advance Reveals Unexpected Role for Water in Energy Storage Material

A material with atomically thin layers of water holds promise for energy storage technologies, and researchers have now discovered that the water is performing a different role than anyone anticipated. 

Feb 20, 2018

Atomic Structure of Ultrasound Material Not What Anyone Expected

Researchers have gotten a glimpse at how atoms are arranged in a widely-used material – and it’s not what anyone expected. 

Jan 22, 2018

Persistent Photoconductivity Used to Stimulate Neurotypic Cells

Researchers have, for the first time, used a material’s persistent photoconductivity to stimulate neurotype cells. 

Dec 11, 2017

Researchers Find Simpler Way to Deposit Magnetic Iron Oxide onto Gold Nanorods

Researchers have found a simpler way to deposit magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles onto silica-coated gold nanorods, creating multifunctional nanoparticles with useful magnetic and optical properties. 

Nov 28, 2017

Researchers Inadvertently Boost Surface Area of Nickel Nanoparticles for Catalysis

A technique designed to coat nickel nanoparticles with silica shells actually fragments the material – creating a small core of oxidized nickel surrounded by smaller satellites. 

May 3, 2017

‘Persistent Photoconductivity’ Offers New Tool for Bioelectronics

NC State researchers have developed a new approach for manipulating the behavior of cells on semiconductor materials, using light to alter the conductivity of the material itself. 

Apr 28, 2017

Thin Layers of Water Hold Promise for the Energy Storage of the Future

Researchers have found that incorporating atomically thin layers of water into a material makes it able to store and deliver energy much more quickly. 

Apr 25, 2017

From Atoms to Batteries to the Workforce of the Future: Why Research Matters

If you want to build a cell-phone battery as thin as paper that powers your phone for a week, or have an electric vehicle like the Tesla go 500 miles on a single charge and recharge in just 10 minutes, you will have to start thinking small. 

Apr 20, 2017

Finding Order and Structure in the Atomic Chaos Where Materials Meet

Researchers have developed a model that accounts for irregularities in how atoms arrange themselves at the interface where two materials meet. 

Dec 1, 2016

New Findings Boost Promise of Molybdenum Sulfide for Hydrogen Catalysis

Researchers have found that molybdenum sulfide (MoS2) holds more promise than previously thought as a catalyst for producing hydrogen to use as a clean energy source. Specifically, the researchers found that the entire surface of MoS2 can be used as a catalyst, not just the edges of the material. 

Nov 2, 2016

New Technique for Creating NV-Doped Nanodiamonds May Be Boost for Quantum Computing

NC State researchers have developed a new technique for creating NV-doped single-crystal nanodiamonds, which could serve as components in quantum computing technologies.