2DCC-MIP User Success Story

January 2026 Newsletter: 2DCC
Group of researchers in the 2DCC labs

Frank Peiris, professor of physics at Kenyon College, is leveraging the capabilities of the 2D Crystal Consortium–Materials Innovation Platform (2DCC-MIP) at Penn State to engage undergraduates in cutting-edge studies of thin-film growth and electronic structure. Since 2018, Peiris and his undergraduate researchers—many of whom present at national conferences and pursue graduate study—have collaborated closely with 2DCC-MIP scientists.

Reaction kinetics with modulated TGA

January 2026 Newsletter: MCL
TGA equipment

Modulated TGA can be used to determine kinetic information for decomposition and volatilization reactions, including activation energies and predictive plots such as lifetime plots.

The main benefit of modulated TGA is the ability to obtain kinetic information for decomposition or volatilization reaction with a single experiment. 
This method uses sinusoidal temperature oscillation to directly obtain activation energy for the decomposition reaction, while several experiments with varying heating rates have to be run when using standard TGA to produce an Arrhenius plot.

New fab expansion will aim to speed breakthroughs to market

January 2026 Newsletter: Nanofab
Nanofab rendering of planned expansion

The Penn State Board of Trustees approved an expansion of the Materials Research Institute’s (MRI) Nanofabrication Laboratory in the Millennium Science Complex, advancing Penn State’s efforts in next-generation electronics and microsystems integration with a goal of speeding their transition from lab to real-world use.  

LEO streamlines core billing for researchers

November 2025 Newsletter: LEO
Laboratory Equipment Operations LEO wordmark

Managing research core expenses is easy with LEO’s simplified billing system. By consolidating charges into a single monthly invoice, LEO reduces administrative overhead and improves financial transparency across all research cores.

Invoices are emailed to Principal Investigators (PIs) and designated Billing Contacts around the 25th of each month. Charges are limited to pre-authorized cost collectors, ensuring proper oversight and accountability.

Nanofab teams up with Fabublox for better process documentation

November 2025 Newsletter: Nanofab
Nanofab teams up with Fabublox for better process documentation

We’ve partnered with Fabublox, a design and data management platform for micro- and nanofabrication, to streamline process documentation and enhance knowledge sharing. Developed at MIT, Fabublox now serves 1,500 users at 100 facilities worldwide. Its integrated system lets researchers record multi-step semiconductor processes and manage shared or private repositories using open data standards—advancing consistency and interoperability in research.

Create an account at Fabublox to get started. Nanofab users can get a customized invitation link in the knowledge base.

New Microsystems Integration Lab will aim to speed breakthroughs to market

November 2025 Newsletter: Nanofab
Nanofab rendering of planned expansion

At a recent meeting, the Penn State Board of Trustees approved an expansion of the Materials Research Institute’s (MRI) Nanofabrication Laboratory in the Millennium Science Complex, for advancing Penn State’s efforts to lead innovation in next-generation electronics and microsystems integration with a goal of speeding their transition from lab to real-world use. The investment comes from a variety of sources, including Penn State central strategic funds, the College of Engineering, and the Office of the Senior Vice President for Research.

Characterization courses available for Spring 2026

November 2025 Newsletter: MCL
MRI Core Newsletter header graphic

Three hands-on and applications-focused 1-credit (7-week) courses available

Introduction to Raman Spectroscopy 
MATSE 597 Class # 28949 Section 007, Topic: Raman Spectroscopy    

Practical Applications of XRD  
MATSE 597 Class # 28673, Section 006, Topic: Powder XRD - Practical Apps. 

Introduction to Scanning Electron Microscopy 
MATSE 597 Class # 28672 Section 005, Topic: Scanning Electron Microscopy