Lithium ion batteries are energy-storage devices that deliver power on demand. In this talk I will introduce new strategies to use the electrochemical cells within lithium ion batteries to harvest mechanical energies, thereby filling the gap of highly efficient mechanical energy harvesters at the low-frequency paradigm.
What makes some people more creative than others? I will explore this question from a neuroscience perspective, presenting findings from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) research that uses machine learning of brain data to predict a person's ability to come up with original ideas. The findings indicate that creative ability is characterized by cooperation between brain networks that do not typically cooperate, providing insight into the wiring of the creative brain with potential implications for creativity in the arts, sciences, and everyday life.
Lignin is a polymer produced by terrestrial plants that can be converted into chemicals and products by biorefining. Although many researchers have tried and failed to “make money from lignin” over the past century, its heterogenous structure presumably makes it ill-suited as a platform for new materials. My presentation will showcase our group’s successes using it in 3D printing, and I will highlight our path towards 100% renewable feedstocks for additive manufacturing.
Can we develop a platform in which printing a working device requiring a range of material functions (conductivity, insulation, elastic compliance, etc.) is no more expensive than printing for a single function? Consider, for example, printing an electric motor versus printing a shelf bracket. I will discuss work in our lab, along with the lab of Dr. Ounaies, that has developed a technological pathway that points toward such a platform. The talk will illustrate how coupled – electric and magnetic field processing techniques applied to polymer matrix composites sit at the heart of our quest for a universal printer.
Microstructure characterization is often relegated to techniques that require extensive sample sectioning and surface preparation. Furthermore, these methods are limited to a small portion of the bulk material. In this presentation, I will show how elastic wave propagation methods (ultrasound) combined with physics-based models can be used to extract microstructural parameters in polycrystals over large areas. I will close with a broader outlook for applications of these techniques in various fields.
Lauren McPhillips | Civil & Environmental Engineering
Traditionally, stormwater has been managed with 'grey' solutions like sewer pipes and underground detention, but increasingly there's interest in implementing more nature-based or ecological approaches. I'll give a quick overview on what 'green infrastructure' means and talk about efforts to ensure the most effective designs for managing flooding, water quality, and providing other benefits- including a new 'living lab' for green stormwater infrastructure here on campus.