Volume 15, Issue 19

  In this issue:



ULVAC Technologies Inc.
Magnetic Coupling Rotary Vane Pumps



SPI Supplies
Sample Preparation Equipment and Consumables



Ted Pella, Inc.
Microscopy Supplies and
Specimen Preparation Tool



National
Electrostatics Corp.

Ion Beams, RBS, PIXE,
AMS, MeV Implant



JEOL USA, Inc.
CFEG S/TEM--
Unrivalled Raw Data



American Elements
Now Invent.™



CRAIC Technologies
Raman, UV-vis-NIR, Fluorescence, Polarization Microspectroscopy



Minus K Technology
Best Low-Frequency
Vibration Isolation



HORIBA Scientific
Most Advanced
Ellipsometry Solutions



Rigaku
Bulk Sample
Measurement: Tablet



Angstrom Engineering
Thin Film Deposition Equipment and Material



MTI Corporation
Find Equipment
by Application



AdValue Technology, LLC
Crucibles, Tubes, Plates, Custom Parts



Thermo Fisher Scientific
Advancing Materials Science Research Worldwide



Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
Scanning Atomic and
Electron Microscopy




IN FOCUS

2015 MRS Fall Meeting
Call for Papers—2017 MRS Spring Meeting & Exhibit     

The abstract submission site for the 2017 MRS Spring Meeting & Exhibit is now open. Don’t delay; submit your best work today!
               
Abstract Submission Deadline—October 13, 2016

FREE WEBINARS—Focus on Sustainability Webinar Series
Sponsored by the National Science Foundation

Teaching the Role of Materials in Sustainable Development: Crossing Disciplines and Student Engagement
Tuesday, October 4, 2016 • 12:00-2:00 pm ET

Incorporating Sustainability Principles into Your Research

Tuesday, October 11, 2016 • 12:00-1:30 pm ET

Attendance for these two MRS OnDemand Webinars is FREE,
but advanced registration is required.


CALL FOR PAPERS—JMR Focus Issue

May 2017 Issue
Microstructural Characterization for Emerging Photovoltaic Materials

GUEST EDITORS:

Moritz Riede, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
Chris Nicklin, Diamond Light Source, United Kingdom
Dean M. DeLongchamp, National Institute of Standards and Technology, USA

Submission Deadline—
October 1, 2016

MATERIALS NEWS

Keep up with materials research news through MRS!
MRS Bulletin  |  Twitter feed

Materials in Focus


Research Highlights: Perovskites
Research on perovskites has progressed rapidly, with solar-cell efficiencies now at 22%, five times higher than first cells reported in 2009. MRS Bulletin presents the impact of a selection of recent advances in this burgeoning field.

Microfluidic device replicates connection between muscles and nerves
Using mouse cells, the device allows scientists to observe and quantitatively measure responses of the muscle cells to the stimulation of the neurons.

Geometric lattice engineering provides a way to build new topological materials
Atomically thin sheets of materials, such as layered metal oxides, have interesting electronic and magnetic properties that could make them appealing for quantum computing and new generations of electronics. Geometric lattice engineering makes it possible to build unnatural versions of these atomically thin materials to investigate them for new properties.

Polymer smart electrolyte protects supercapacitor from overheating
When Li-ion batteries and supercapacitors quickly charge and discharge, the internal temperature of the devices can spike and possibly cause them to overheat and catch fire. A new polymer electrolyte solution that becomes a gel over a wide range of temperatures has been used to almost completely shut down a coin cell supercapacitor. This is a crucial mechanism to prevent thermal runaway in the devices.

Energy Focus: New process enables ultrathin, ultraflexible GaAs photovoltaics
Fabricated through a modified technique for printing solar cells on flexible materials, this PV cell is so flexible that it can bend around a pencil.


Industry Focus

Why we still don’t have better batteries

Startups with novel chemistries tend to falter before they reach full production.

Energy storage: How an abandoned goldmine will be converted into a world first
Australia has no plan for managing disused mines but a company has a novel solution for producing renewable energy.


Policy Focus

US Senate releases possible successor to America COMPETES
The American Innovation and Competitiveness Act is drafted as a successor to the America COMPETES Act to govern US investment in basic sciences.

Draft of 2016 NNI Strategic Plan open for public comment
The National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI), established in 2001, is a collaboration of 20 Federal agencies and Cabinet-level departments with shared interests in nanotechnology research, development, and commercialization. A draft of its latest Strategic Plan is now available online for public comment prior to publication. Comments are due by September 23, 2016.

For more science policy news, follow @MaterialsSciPol

CORPORATE PARTNER NEWS
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Goodfellow: High-quality CVD graphene films for innovative applications
Through state-of-the-art chemical vapor deposition (CVD) methods, Goodfellow is able to offer exceptionally high quality graphene film for use as transparent conductors and in other innovative applications. Standard graphene films include:
CVD graphene on copper foil – Copper foil thickness: 0.035mm; Monolayer thickness: 2-3nm; Film morphology: continuous monolayer >95%
Ultra-clean graphene on SiO2/Si Wafers – Transfer by pressure-sensitive adhesive films
Graphene on PET (shown in photo) – For maximum flexibility
Graphene on quartz glass – Transfer by hot pressing
In addition to standard and non-standard samples, Goodfellow can assist customers with the transfer of graphene film onto their own substrate.
Visit MRS Fall Meeting Booth 1012.


Lake Shore Cryotronics: Terahertz-frequency on-wafer probing option for Lake Shore cryogenic probe stations
Lake Shore Cryotronics is now offering for pre-order a unique terahertz-frequency probe arm option for their CPX, CPX-VF, CRX-4K and CRX-VF cryogenic probe stations. This arm enables precise probing and measurement of millimeter-wave devices at 75 to 110 GHz (WR10) or 140 to 220 GHz (WR5.1) frequencies within a tightly controlled cryogenic test environment.

When used with compatible probes, frequency extenders, and signal analyzers, the THz probe arm allows users to perform calibrated S-parameter and other high-frequency measurements as a function of low temperature and in high field. The solution offers particular value to researchers developing MMIC, MEMS, LNA, and THz detector devices, and components for radio astronomy and 5G wireless applications.

One or two of the probe arms can be installed on a Lake Shore probe station while the station’s other arm positions can be used for DC, RF, or microwave probing, for up to six simultaneous contact probes. Visit MRS Fall Meeting Booth 501.

The Corporate Partner Program supports the Materials Research Society Foundation®.


OF INTEREST TO THE MATERIALS COMMUNITY


Will the Li-ion battery industry follow solar photovoltaic’s lead?

The photovoltaic solar industry has grown 58% every year since 2010, as prices for solar panels have dropped 70% in the past decade, mostly due to increased manufacturing. The battery industry seems to be following a similar trajectory. 

Hagamos con-Ciencia: Eddie López Honorato takes the lab to the children
Eddie López Honorato of Cinvestav in Satillo, Mexico, has dedicated many of his efforts to improving what he perceives to be a systemic problem in his home country. “In Mexico,” Eddie says, “we don’t have a culture of science outreach. There are very few schools that have the laboratories or resources to organize such activities.”

What’s your materials quotient?
While you are all familiar with the intelligence quotient (IQ) designed by Alfred Binet in 1905, and some of you may be aware of the emotional quotient (EQ) first reported by Michael Beldoch in 1964 and popularized in a book by Daniel Goleman in 1995, few are probably aware of the materials quotient (MQ), no doubt because I just made it up last week.



MEETINGS UPDATE

Critical Meeting Deadlines

International Workshop on Nitride Semiconductors
(IWN 2016)

October 2-7, 2016
Orlando, Florida

exhibit opportunities available
PREREGISTRATION OPEN
Preregistration Deadline
—September 16, 2016
2016 MRS Fall Meeting & Exhibit
November 27-December 2, 2016
Boston, Massachusetts

exhibit opportunities available
PREREGISTRATION OPENS MID-SEPTEMBER
2017 MRS Spring Meeting & Exhibit
April 17-21. 2017
Phoenix, Arizona

exhibit opportunities available
CALL FOR PAPERS NOW OPEN
Abstract Submission Deadline
—October 13, 2016
International Conference on Silicon Carbide and Related Materials (ICSCRM 2017)
September 17-22, 2017
Washington, DC

exhibit opportunities available
SAVE THE DATE


PUBLICATIONS UPDATE


Critical Publications Deadlines

May 2017 Focus Issue – Journal of Materials Research 32(9)
Microstructural Characterization for Emerging Photovoltaic Materials
Submission deadline:
10/1/2016
MRS Advances
2016 MRS Fall Meeting
Submission opens:
10/31/2016


JUST PUBLISHED

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Capillary Forces Described by Effective Contact Angle Distributions via Simulations of the Centrifuge Technique
  Myles Thomasa, Elizabeth Krenek and Stephen Beaudoin, MRS Advances

Development of a Carbon Fiber Knitted Capacitive Touch Sensor
  Richard Vallett, Ryan Young, Chelsea Knittel, Youngmoo Kim, Genevieve Dion, MRS Advances

Hierarchical machining materials and their performance
  Daria Sidorenko, Pavel Loginov, Evgeny Levashov, and Leon Mishnaevsky, MRS Bulletin

Hierarchical materials: Background perspectives
  Leon Mishnaevsky and Michael Tsapatsis, MRS Bulletin

Phase field modeling of intercalation kinetics: a finite interface dissipation approach
  Nega A. Zerihun and Ingo Steinbach, MRS Communications

Ultraviolet optoelectronic devices based on AlGaN alloys grown by molecular beam epitaxy
  Theodore D. Moustakas, MRS Communications

Bio Focus

Inorganic Dissolvable Electronics: Materials and Devices for Biomedicine and Environment
  Huanyu Cheng, Journal of Materials Research

Solving conflicting functional requirements by hierarchical structuring—Examples from biological materials
  Richard Weinkamer and Peter Fratzl, MRS Bulletin

Energy Focus

Calligraphic Solar Cells: Acknowledging Paper and Pencil
  Mallika Dasari, Pradeep Ramiah Rajasekaran, Ratnasabapathy Iyer, and Punit Kohli, Journal of Materials Research
Neutron Scattering Studies of Lithium-Ion Diffusion in Ternary Phosphate Glasses
  Gavin Hester, Tom Heitmann, Madhusudan Tyagi, Munesh Rathore, Anshuman Dalvi and Saibal Mitra, MRS Advances


Nano Focus

A multi-indent approach for surface detection of soft materials during instrumented indentation
  Jie Wei, Barbara L. McFarlin, and Amy J. Wagoner Johnson, Journal of Materials Research


SCIENCE AS ART


Sea anemones colored by a clownfish
Susete N. Fernandes
Campus da Caparica, Portugal

Cellulose-based nano filaments, obtained from a diluted solution of a thermotropic liquid crystal, the acetoxypropylcellulose, observed by SEM. Image acquired by S.Fernandes et al. and colored by Nuno Monge

See more from the Science as Art competition at the 2016 MRS Spring Meeting.

Copyright for all Science as Art images belongs to the Materials Research Society. To request permission to re-use the images, please contact Anita Miller.


EDITOR'S CHOICE VIDEO

Shielding Technology
KBS News

Global attention is high on technologies that block electromagnetic waves. Now a joint Korean and US research team has introduced a material with electromagnetic-wave shielding technology that is light, cheap and easily processed.


NEW PRODUCTS FOCUS

Scalable Protocol to Differentiate Skeletal Muscle Cells from Stem Cells

AMSBIO announces the availability of the world's first kit to differentiate human pluripotent stem cells into functional myotubes. The new kit utilizes a highly efficient media based protocol to produce skeletal muscle cells from stem cells in a simple, scalable manner that offers researchers a unique tool to rapidly differentiate donor stems into functional myotubes in a reproducible fashion.

Contact: [email protected] or 617-945-5033
 
New Air Chiller System

TA Instruments announces the introduction of the ACS-2 Air Chiller System. Following on the tremendous popularity of the ACS-3, the ACS-2 is a mechanical refrigeration system that provides subambient temperature control for mechanical and rheological testing. Paired with a Q800 DMA, Discovery Hybrid Rheometer, ARES-G2 Rheometer, or RSA-G2 Solids Analyzer, the ACS-2 provides reliable temperature control as low as -55°C without the use of liquid nitrogen.

Contact: [email protected] or 302-427-1033

To suggest items for inclusion in Industry News and New Products Focus,
please contact Mary Kaufold at 724-779-
2755.

ABOUT MATERIALS360®

Materials360 is edited by Judy Meiksin, News Editor, and produced by Joe Yzquierdo, Electronic Communications Assistant, Materials Research Society.

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