News

New measurements reveal evidence of elusive particles in a newly-discovered superconductor

Particle chasing—it’s a game that so many physicists play. Sometimes the hunt takes place inside large supercolliders, where spectacular collisions are necessary to find hidden particles and new physics. For physicists studying solids, the game occurs in a much different environment and the sought-after particles don’t come from furious collisions. Instead, particle-like entities, called quasiparticles, emerge from complicated electronic interactions that happen deep within a material.

Graduate student Ashish Kulkarni selected for Ross J. Martin Award

Mr. Kulkarni, who is part of Paul Braun’s group, was selected in a college-wide competition for outstanding research achievement by a graduate student.

“Ashish has been an incredible asset to my group, and this award is wonderful recognition of his intellectual leadership and hard work as a PhD student,” said Braun.

Nicola Perry receives NSF CAREER Award

The NSF’s Early Career Development Program’s CAREER Awards are prestigious, competitive awards given to young faculty who exemplify the role of teacher-scholar through outstanding research, excellent education, and the integration of education and research. The program will provide five years of support for the award. 

The project funded by the award is entitled "Dynamic point defect architectonics – uncovering crystal chemical design rules for tailored chemical expansion."

Researchers gain control over internal structure of self-assembled composite materials

Composites made from self-assembling inorganic materials are valued for their unique strength and thermal, optical and magnetic properties. However, because self-assembly can be difficult to control, the structures formed can be highly disordered, leading to defects during large-scale production. Researchers at the University of Illinois and the University of Michigan have developed a templating technique that instills greater order and gives rise to new 3D structures in a special class of materials, called eutectics, to form new, high-performance materials.

New polymer material may help batteries become self-healing, recyclable

Lithium-ion batteries are notorious for developing internal electrical shorts that can ignite a battery’s liquid electrolytes, leading to explosions and fires. Engineers at the University of Illinois have developed a solid polymer-based electrolyte that can self-heal after damage – and the material can also be recycled without the use of harsh chemicals or high temperatures.

The new study, which could help manufacturers produce recyclable, self-healing commercial batteries, is published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

David Cahill named 2019 AAAS Fellow

Cahill is a Willett Professor of Engineering and was the department head of materials science and engineering from 2010-18. He is an expert on the concept of minimum thermal conductivity and transient optical measurement techniques. His research program focuses on developing a microscopic understanding of thermal transport at the nanoscale; the discovery of materials with enhanced thermal function; the interactions between phonons, electrons, photons and spin; and advancing fundamental understanding of interfaces between materials and water.

Graphene: The more you bend it, the softer it gets

Graduate student Edmund Han, left, professor Elif Ertekin, graduate student Jaehyung Yu, professor Pinshane Y. Huang, front, and professor Arend M. van der Zande have determined how much energy it takes to bend multilayer graphene – a question that has long eluded scientists.

Nadya Mason receives 2020 Edward A. Bouchet Award of the American Physical Society

Nadya Mason, Professor of Physics and Director of Illinois MRSEC, has won the 2020 Edward A. Bouchet Award of the American Physical Society (APS). This award recognizes a distinguished underrepresented-minority physicist who has made significant contributions to physics research and the advancement of scientists from underrepresented groups.

High-energy battery project receives $2M, 2-year grant from Army Corps of Engineers

​The project, High Energy Density Anode Technologies (HEDATs), is focused on the basic science underpinning high-energy anodes, solid electrolytes, dense cathodes and the interfaces in such systems. Creating the next-generation of technologies to enable safe, reliable, and high-performance energy storage is the goal of this foundational research.