MRI

This unique one-credit course, offered by Penn State’s Materials Characterization Laboratory, is designed to teach students the fundamental theory and practical skills required to properly operate a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The class will consist of a mixture of hands-on activities on the microscope and lectures.  Topics covered will include basic operation and components of the microscope, imaging modes and detectors, imaging variables, imaging of non-conductive samples, sample preparation, and elemental mapping using energy dispersive spectroscopy.

FREE WORKSHOP
JULY 22 - 23, 2025
The Materials Characterization Lab (MCL) and Bruker are excited to co-host a two-day workshop on July 22–23 at the Millennium Science Complex. Dive into the latest innovations and real-world applications in atomic force microscopy, nanoscale infrared spectroscopy, and nanoindentation.

Whether you're working in materials science or the life sciences, this workshop offers a unique opportunity to explore how these powerful techniques are transforming research at the nanoscale.

LEO is the online software program used by select Penn State Core Facilities, including 2DCC, the Materials Characterization Lab (MCL), and the Nanofabrication Laboratory, for reserving tools, tracking lab and tool usage, tracking staff-performed operations, and making consumable and supply purchases.

We’re thrilled to announce that the Penn State Nanofab is expanding its cutting-edge capabilities with the addition of the Raith PicoMaster 200, a state-of-the-art direct write lithography tool, set to be available for use in July 2025!

We’re excited to welcome back Wanlin Zhu to the Penn State Nanofab Staff! Wanlin returns with a focus on our advanced and quantum packaging toolset, including glass laser patterning, electroplating, and wafer bonding to drive cutting-edge innovations. Join us in welcoming Wanlin’s back!  See Wanlin's full profile here.

Are you looking for solutions to your characterization challenges?  
Set up a project consultation meeting with MCL: Click to get started

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.

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.

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!

View all bulk samples here

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.