Solution found to problem bedeviling semiconductor researchers

Sapphire substrates

By Jamie Oberdick

Researchers from the National Science Foundation-sponsored Two-Dimensional Crystal Consortium (2DCC-MIP) - Materials Innovation Platform may have come up with a solution for a bottleneck that has confounded researchers trying to develop high-quality 2D semiconductors for next generation electronics such as Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence.  

Photo of Michael Jabco

Michael Jabco

Marketing and Science Communication Internship - Research

New high-power thermoelectric device may provide cooling in next-gen electronics

next generation of high-power electronics

By Matthew Carroll

Next-generation electronics will feature smaller and more powerful components that require new solutions for cooling. A new thermoelectric cooler developed by Penn State scientists greatly improves the cooling power and efficiency compared to current commercial thermoelectric units and may help control heat in future high-power electronics, the researchers said.

Soft tissue restoration, blood vessel formation focus of $3M grant

Soft tissue restoration, blood vessel formation

By Mariah R. Lucas

The ability to regenerate and pattern blood vessels, the literal lifelines extending deep into soft tissues, remains an elusive milestone in regenerative medicine. Known as tissue revascularization, stimulating blood vessel growth and pattern formation in damaged or diseased tissues could accelerate the field of regenerative medicine, according to Penn State researchers. 

New glass cuts carbon footprint by nearly half and is 10x more damage resistant

LionGlass

By Adrienne Berard

Worldwide, glass manufacturing produces at least 86 million tons of carbon dioxide every year. A new type of glass promises to cut this carbon footprint in half. The invention, called LionGlass and engineered by researchers at Penn State, requires significantly less energy to produce and is much more damage resistant than standard soda lime silicate glass. The research team recently filed a patent application as a first step toward bringing the product to market.

New ferroelectric material could give robots muscles

Image showing actuation of ferroelectric polymers driven by Joule heating

By Jamie Oberdick

UNVERSITY PARK, Pa. — A new type of ferroelectric polymer that is exceptionally good at converting electrical energy into mechanical strain holds promise as a high-performance motion controller or “actuator” with great potential for applications in medical devices, advanced robotics, and precision positioning systems, according to a team of international researchers led by Penn State.