Materials science

Materials research in the Information AgeMIT, Lawrence Berkeley launch new tool to calculate properties of new materials

Exploring the inner workings of materialsFrom concrete to cancer cells, Van Vliet brings an engineer’s mindset to the study of biology and materials.

Highly efficient oxygen catalyst foundNew catalyst, made of inexpensive and abundant materials, could prove useful in rechargeable batteries and hydrogen-fuel production.

DOW-MIT Access Program shows reality and rewards of graduate schoolWeekend of activities introduces undergrads to opportunities in chemical engineering, chemistry and materials science.

Bristly particles could be boon for powerplantsMulti-scale material may have applications in heat transfer, potentially helping powerplants be more efficient.

Everybody’s a winnerAutomatic window-shading invention tops a strong field of entries in materials competition.

Ju Li: Atomic insights for new materials development

Schuh appointed head of the Department of Materials Science and EngineeringReplaces interim department head Carl Thompson.

Kord Smith brings 30 years of simulation insight to NSE

Printing off the paperMIT research continues to push the boundaries of the burgeoning technology of 3-D printing.

‘I speak MISTI’MIT program sends students abroad for experiences tailor-made for their academic and professional interests.

Improved buildings could make a big dent in climate changeNew MIT report on concrete buildings shows many areas for major reductions in their lifetime carbon footprint.

Paving the way to greenhouse gas reductionsNew MIT report on concrete roadways shows opportunities for significant carbon-footprint cuts.

A new approach to scratch resistanceAnalysis by MIT researchers could lead to improved coatings using polymer-based nanocomposite materials.

Forecasting pipe fracturesMIT simulation accurately reconstructs pipe fractures formed in the 2010 Deepwater Horizon accident.

A systematic way to find battery materialsNew understanding of high-performing cathode compound could facilitate rapid evaluation of improved alternatives.

Disease-causing tangle could spawn new materialsAmyloids, associated with Alzheimer’s and other diseases, could be inspiration for tough synthetic polymers.

Revealing water’s secretsExperiments support controversial theory about how water behaves in confined spaces, providing insights for biology and manufacturing.

Research update: Improving batteries’ energy storageNew method allows a dramatic boost in capacity for a given weight.

How to grow wires and tiny platesLiquid processing method developed at MIT can control the shapes of nanowires and produce complete electronic devices.

Research update: New way to store sun’s heatModified carbon nanotubes can store solar energy indefinitely, then be recharged by exposure to the sun.

While you’re up, print me a solar cellNew MIT-developed materials make it possible to produce photovoltaic cells on paper or fabric, nearly as simply as printing a document.

A new way to build nanostructuresCombining top-down and bottom-up approaches, new low-cost method could be a boon to research with a variety of applications.

A ‘sensing skin’ for concreteNew type of sensor could immediately detect tiny cracks in structures and relay their exact location.

Bilge Yildiz: New insights into material surfaces advance energy conversion technologies

Layer upon layerMethod holds promise for making two- or three-tier graphene films that could be used for new electronic devices.

CEE's Buyukozturk receives lifetime achievement award from Swiss Federal LabsAward honors his contributions to materials science and engineering in the domain of civil engineering.

Moving inventions to the marketplaceMIT/Harvard symposium seeks commercial opportunities for emerging technologies.

How to choose a catalystMIT researchers provide a simple principle to predict which materials will perform best in fuel cells and metal air batteries.