Project Consultation
June 2025 Newsletter: MCL
Are you looking for solutions to your characterization challenges?
Set up a project consultation meeting with MCL: Click to get started
Collaboration with Ghana
June 2025 Newsletter: MCL
The MCL and the University of Cape Coast (UCC) in Ghana have a collaboration enabled by the International Centre for Diffraction Data's (ICDD) generous donation of 2 years of access to the PDF-5+ database - the world’s most comprehensive powder diffraction database. The collaboration aims to advance education and research at all three organizations (UCC, PSU, ICDD) and publish research results in Powder Diffraction.
Did You Know?
August 2025 Newsletter: 2DCC
The 2DCC also has a user facility for theory and simulation of 2D materials
It includes Adri van Duin's group, who are experts in atomistic scale simulations based on reactive force-field (ReaxFF) interatomic potentials. ReaxFF can be used to describe dynamic processes relevant to materials synthesis and has been widely applied to the growth of TMD materials, graphene, MXenes, Group III and IV elements, and their nitrides.
Need High Quality 2D Materials Samples?
July 2025 Newsletter: 2DCC
The Two-Dimensional Crystal Consortium Materials Innovation Platform (2DCC-MIP) can supply them free of charge!
List of samples available include: WS2, MoS2, WSe2, InSe, FeSe, epitaxial graphene, GaSe, Bi2Se3, Fe-doped Bi2Se3, MnBi2Te4, SnSe2, InSe... and, more!
2DCC Resident Scholar Visitor Program (RSVP)
July 2025 Newsletter: 2DCC
The Two-Dimensional Crystal Consortium Materials Innovation Platform (2DCC-MIP) Resident Scholar Visitor Program (RSVP) is a training and professional development opportunity for graduate students and early career researchers from outside Penn State to receive hands-on training at the 2DCC-MIP facility for extended periods.
Air Force award supports research on electronics that can survive extremes
Betul Akkopru-Akgun, assistant research professor in Penn State's Department of Materials Science and Engineering and the Materials Research Institute, has received an Air Force Office of Scientific Research Young Investigator Program award to investigate how electricity and heat move through materials used in extreme environments.
GAP funding awarded to 12 Penn State research commercialization projects
Twelve research projects have been selected for the 2026 Penn State Commercialization GAP Fund. Awarded projects receive $75,000 in funding and other support to develop promising proof-of-concept research into commercial ready technology.
Toyota award to support lithium-ion battery fire prevention research
Chao-Yang Wang, William E. Diefenderfer Chair in Mechanical Engineering and professor of mechanical engineering, of chemical engineering and of materials science and engineering at Penn State, has received a three-year award from the Toyota Research Institute (TRI) through the institute’s University Research Program (URP). The award will support Wang’s research on redesigning liquid electrolytes to prevent lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries from catching fire.
Yinming Shao named Downsbrough Early Career Professor of Physics
Yinming Shao, assistant professor of physics at Penn State, has been honored with the Downsbrough Early Career Professorship in Physics in recognition of his research contributions, teaching and service to the Department of Physics and the Eberly College of Science. This professorship was established in 2004 by George A. Downsbrough, a physicist whose extensive volunteer work at Penn State included the Armsby Committee, the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee and the Eberly College of Science's Grand Destiny Campaign Committee. Downsbrough was named an honorary alumnus of Penn State in 2003.