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Materials science and engineering

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In a new concept for battery cathodes, nanometer-scale particles made of lithium and oxygen compounds (depicted in red and white) are embedded in a sponge-like lattice (yellow) of cobalt oxide, which keeps them stable. The researchers propose that the material could be packaged in batteries that are very similar to conventional sealed batteries yet provide much more energy for their weight.

New lithium-oxygen battery greatly improves energy efficiency, longevity

New chemistry could overcome key drawbacks of lithium-air batteries.

July 25, 2016

Left to right: Roland Pellenq of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), Katerina Ioannidou of the MIT Energy Initiative, and Franz-Josef Ulm of CEE have developed a detailed understanding of the nanoscale forces at work as cement hardens — a critical step toward developing stronger, longer-lasting, less carbon-intensive concrete for “greener” construction in the future.

Designing climate-friendly concrete, from the nanoscale up

New understanding of concrete’s properties could increase lifetime of the building material, decrease emissions.

July 21, 2016

The process of making a stack of parallel sheets of graphene starts with a chemical vapor deposition process (I) to make a graphene sheet with a polymer coating; these layers are then stacked (II), folded and cut (III) and stacked again and pressed, multiplying the number of layers. The team used a related method the team to produce scroll-shaped fibers.

Borrowing from pastry chefs, engineers create nanolayered composites

Method to stack hundreds of nanoscale layers could open new vistas in materials science.

July 21, 2016

At left: A single crystal compound of gadolinium, platinum, and bismuth made with naturally occurring elements. At right, a single crystal of this material made with isotopically enriched gadolinium for neutron scattering experiments. Both crystals are approximately 1 mm in size.

Mixing topology and spin

MIT-led team demonstrates paired topology and intrinsic magnetism in compound combining gadolinium, platinum, and bismuth.

July 19, 2016

MIT postdoc Junwei Liu and collaborators are proposing a new random access memory (RAM) device architecture using ferroelectric tunneling RAM.

Charging up random access memory

Researchers demonstrate room-temperature ferroelectric states in ultra-thin films of tin and tellurium.

July 14, 2016

Professional rider and founder of Mirai EV of Japan Yosihiro Kishimoto rides the electric bike designed by the KOMMIT Electric Vehicle Team.

Team led by MIT engineers places second at Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

Motorcycle completes 12.5 miles, 156 turns for a second-place finish in the race's Electric Bike Division.

July 11, 2016

Unfolding a locked letter

Unlocking the past with the future of imaging

New grants help MIT Libraries, DMSE, and CSAIL push the boundaries of examining artifacts.

July 7, 2016

$The method combines optical microscopy techniques (left, in pink) with electron backscatter diffraction (right, in green) to measure characteristics of the boundaries between crystal grains, which help determine the material’s overall properties.$

New technique provides detailed views of metals’ crystal structure

Method uses readily available tools to quickly determine materials’ properties.

July 6, 2016

This image shows microneedles, which are mostly used for the delivery of drugs and vaccines across the skin, and the silicone mold used to make them.

Seeing science

Workshop led by scientist and photographer Felice Frankel teaches researchers how to translate experiments into captivating images.

July 1, 2016

These fluorescent gels were synthesized by mixing a polymer (polyethylene glycol) and a ligand (terpyridine) with two lanthanides — europium and terbium — in varying ratios.

The promise of fluorescent polymer gels

Color-changing materials could be used to detect structural failure in energy-related equipment.

July 1, 2016

MIT researchers have developed low-cost chemical sensors, made from chemically altered carbon nanotubes, that enable a smartphone or other wireless devices to detect trace amounts of toxic gases.

Wireless, wearable toxic-gas detector

Inexpensive sensors could be worn by soldiers to detect hazardous chemical agents.

June 30, 2016

Pictured on the left is a spleen; on the right are red blood cells. ““We have presented results showing that the spleen is the main organ that defines the shape of the circulating red blood cells” says Ming Dao, a principal research scientist in MIT’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering.

How the spleen filters blood

Computer model finds slits in the spleen impose a “physical fitness test” on red blood cells.

June 27, 2016

Engineers at MIT have devised a method to bind two stretchy materials: gelatin-like polymer materials called hydrogels, and elastomers, which are impervious to water and can thus seal in the hydrogel’s water.

Tough new hydrogel hybrid doesn’t dry out

Water-based material could be used to make artificial skin, longer-lasting contact lenses.

June 27, 2016

A scanning electron micrograph shows a free-standing Bombyx mori silk nanofibril membrane.

Silk-based filtration material breaks barriers

Engineers find nanosized building blocks of silk hold the secrets to improved filtration membranes.

June 23, 2016

Professor Chris Terman (center) developed digital tools to better teach students computational structures. He is flanked by Dean for Graduate Education Christine Ortiz (left) and Dean for Undergraduate Education Dennis M. Freeman.

First annual MIT Teaching with Digital Technology Awards presented

Awards honor faculty and instructors who have effectively leveraged digital technology to improve teaching and learning at MIT.

June 13, 2016