Materials Science and Engineering

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

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

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

Supercharging undergraduate research

Now open to the entire School of Engineering, SuperUROP is creating an interdisciplinary community of scholars.

June 21, 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

This diagram depicts the way a new surface treatment can improve the efficiency and longevity of perovskite materials for use in applications such as fuel-cell electrodes. Within the bulk of the material (bottom left) oxygen vacancies shown as “holes” are distributed throughout the material, and cause intense chemical reactivity. But on the surface, many of those vacancies get filled by oxygen...

Researchers find a way to extend life and improve performance of fuel cell electrodes

Surface treatment greatly reduces degradation of catalyst material.

June 13, 2016

Left to right: School of Engineering Dean Ian A. Waitz, graduate student Zachary Sherman, and Alan Oppenheim '59, '64 ScD, sponsor of the School of Engineering Graduate Student Award for Extraordinary Teaching and Mentoring.

School of Engineering awards for 2016

Awards were given to outstanding faculty, undergraduates, and graduate students.

June 10, 2016

These micrographs show the fibers embedded in polymer and demonstrate how the fibers break apart into segments when they are stretched out in the cold-drawing process.

New method snips complex fibers into uniform particles

Stretching process can produce nanoscale rods or strips made of many material combinations.

June 6, 2016

DOD seal. Center contains an eagle against a blue background. Perimeter says "Department of Defense; United States of America."

Thirteen MIT students awarded National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowships

Honor recognizes individuals who have demonstrated ability and special aptitude for advanced training in science and engineering.

May 26, 2016

A new concept for a flow battery functions like an old hourglass or egg timer, with particles (in this case carried as a slurry) flowing through a narrow opening from one tank to another. The flow can then be reversed by turning the device over.

New concept turns battery technology upside-down

Pump-free design for flow battery could offer advantages in cost and simplicity.

May 25, 2016

Lino Tagliapietra and his team work on a large multi-colored vessel in the MIT Glass Lab.

Master glassmaker finds design inspiration at MIT

Italian artist Lino Tagliapietra begins a new series of large-scale abstract glass vessels during a weeklong residency at the MIT Glass Lab.

May 20, 2016

A Massachusetts General Hospital surgeon demonstrates the Lincoln Laboratory’s near-infrared fluorescence imaging (NIRF) system.

Glowing tumors light a path to cancer treatment

Mechanism developed at MIT and Massachusetts General Hospital shows promising results for improved ovarian cancer detection and removal.

May 20, 2016

C. Cem Tasan, the Thomas B. King Career Development Professor of Metallurgy in the MIT Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Metals aficionado

A new faculty member in materials science and engineering is creating healable metals.

May 18, 2016

These images show the crystal configurations, or phases, within samples of metal alloys: a single-phase stable alloy (left) and a dual-phase alloy (right), which is metastable (has more than one stable configuration). The dual-phase material turns out to have better strength and ductility than the singe-phase material, the researchers found.

New metal alloys overcome strength-ductility tradeoff

Promising new approach overturns widespead metallurgical assumption.