Materials science

Making droplets drop fasterNew nanopatterned surfaces could improve the efficiency of powerplants and desalination systems.

A new twist on nanowiresTechnology developed at MIT can control the composition and structure of these tiny wires as they grow.

Liquid batteries could level the loadMIT team makes progress toward goal of inexpensive grid-scale batteries that could help make intermittent renewable energy sources viable.

Revealing how a battery material worksMIT team uncovers a reason why the hottest new material for rechargeable batteries works so well.

New tool for analyzing solar-cell materialsWebsite offers a way of optimizing solar cell materials and production.

Turning heat into powerA new kind of high-temperature photonic crystal could someday power everything from smartphones to spacecraft.

How spider webs achieve their strengthIt’s not just the strength of the silk itself, a new study finds; the silk’s way of stretching and the structure of the whole web help it resist damage.

Solving energy problems, one molecule at a timeMaterials scientist explores new possibilities in topics from molecules to rooftop solar panels.

Emilio Baglietto: Better reactors grow from better simulations

Making her moveMIT senior overcame disabilities to study materials science, hoping to pave the way for other aspiring engineers.

Need a new material? New tool can helpExhaustive reference system and interactive toolkit could revolutionize materials research, potentially enabling new types of manufacturing.

Research update: Sharpening the linesNew advance could lead to even smaller features in the constant quest for more compact, faster microchips.

A glow of recognitionNew detectors developed at MIT could provide easy visual identification of toxins or pathogens.

Researchers link patterns seen in spider silk, melodiesAnalogy could help engineers develop materials that make use of repeating patterns.

Electronics takes on a new spinResearchers at MIT find a way to observe and control the way electrons spin on the surface of exotic new materials.

A novel way to concentrate sun’s heatMIT researchers find a way to generate power without the usual mirror arrays.

Chu: New materials could be transformativeCiting historical examples, U.S. secretary of energy argues that the nation can still regain its manufacturing leadership.

The new NSE strategyStrengthens core, opens boundaries; seeks better integration of technical and societal issues.

Important step toward computing with lightResearch at MIT produces long-sought component to allow complete optical circuits on silicon chips.

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.