Threading high-performance, self-morphing building blocks across scales toward a sustainable future

Inspired by biological structural materials, Yang, Liang Feng (Penn Engineering, MSE) and Masoud Akbarzadeh (PennDesign, Architecture) have received $4.6M grant from National Science Foundation (NSF) in collaboration with researchers at Princeton University (Andrej Košmrlj and Pierre-Thomas Brun), Rowan University (Xiao Hu) and Rutgers University Camden (David Salas-de la Cruz) to drive eco-future manufacturing of highly efficient structures and components that are … Read more

Open Medical (Our action to combat with COVID-19)

Doctor & nurse wearing origami maks

A team of medical device developers have come together to create a new respirator design to address the shortage of PPE in hospitals. This design is based on Origami – it does not require any sewing or other special equipment – just scissors, a zip tie, and an elastic band. Sterilization wrap (widely available in … Read more

Drops of liquid crystal molecules branch out into strange structures

multiple molecules graphic

Researchers made a variety of shapes, including flowers (center) and corals. By changing the ratio of long- to short- rod-like mesogens in the droplet, the researchers could control what shapes the droplets changed into when the temperature was decreased. A new study in Nature details the “weird” finding by showing how droplets containing short chain liquid … Read more

Reducing Energy Use with Building Skins

Yang on Reducing Energy Use with Building Skins

In the heavily regulated building sector, innovative materials face a major disadvantage: building codes. For this reason, and because climate change can’t wait, Shu Yang is using approved materials in new ways to bring her self-cooling building skins to market. Yang is motivated by having an impact. Originally focused on studying nanomaterials, she recalls attending … Read more

Superstrong, Reversible Adhesive That Works Like Snail Slime

Snail on tree trunk

A new study demonstrates a strong, reversible adhesive that uses the same mechanisms of adhesion as snails. When wet, the material conforms to the grooves on a surface and when dry, the material hardens and fastens itself securely to the surface. “When it’s conformal and rigid, it’s like super glue. You can’t pull it off. … Read more

Powering the Future with Giant Clams

Powering the Future with Giant Clams graphic

In 2014, Shu Yang, of the Materials Science and Engineering, joined School of Arts and Sciences’ biophysicist Alison Sweeney on an unusual quest. Backed by a NSF INSPIRE grant for bold, interdisciplinary research, the duo aimed to unlock the solar-powered secrets of the giant clam. Read more. Continue reading at The Atlantic. and related reading at Mimicking Giant Clams to Enhance the Production … Read more

Making Complex 3-D Surfaces with 2-D Sheets

Making Faces (red) graphic

Jiffy pop, an aluminum foil pan full of popcorn kernels and oil, is a staple of camping trips. Because of the way the pan is designed, when placed above an open campfire the kernels expand the aluminum top as they heat and pop, ultimately resulting in a bag of popcorn. The aluminum is lined with … Read more

Making Atomic thin sheets stand up for better energy storage

Making Atomic Thin Sheets Stand up for Better Energy Storage graphic

When it comes to cell phones, there are fewer things more frustrating than a short battery life. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University reported a novel and scalable approach to prepare electrodes from atomic thin 2D nanosheets in the vertical orientation via self-assembly (see publication in Nature). The method marries soft matter assembly and functional hard nanomaterials … Read more

Mimicking Giant Clams to Enhance the Production of Biofuel

Mimicking Giant Clams to Enhance the Production of Biofuel graphic

Alison Sweeney of the University of Pennsylvania has been studying giant clams. She refer to the clams as “solar transformers” because they are capable of absorbing bright sunlight at a very high rate and scattering it over a large surface area. When the light is distributed evenly among the thick layer of algae living inside the clam, … Read more