Defects in the lattice structure of hexagonal boron nitride can be detected with photoluminescence. Researchers shine a light with a color or energy on the material and get a different color from the defect. In addition, the figure shows hydrogen bubbles being generated from these defects that contain catalyst atoms (gray and dark spheres attached to the vacancies).

Tiny defects hold key to turning inert materials into more useful chemically active ones

For years, researchers believed that the smaller the domain size in a ferroelectric crystal, the greater the piezoelectric properties of the material. However, recent findings by Penn State researchers have raised questions about this standard rule.

For years, researchers believed that the smaller the domain size in a ferroelectric crystal, the greater the piezoelectric properties…

A clearer understanding of how a type of brain cell known as astrocytes function and can be emulated in the physics of hardware devices…

Everyday items, like prescription drugs, gasoline and plastics, all undergo several rounds of catalytic processes during manufacturing…

AI model diagram

The person staring back from the computer screen may not actually exist, thanks to artificial intelligence (AI) capable of generating…

Chromatir: Lauren Zarzar

Founders use Penn State entrepreneurial ecosystem to work toward commercialization

Featured Winners

Three Penn State faculty and two graduate students have received the 2021 Rustum and Della Roy Innovation in Materials Research…

4th World Laureates Forum Speaker, Larry Cheng

Huanyu “Larry” Cheng has been selected to present at two invite-only scientific conferences.