Center for Nanoscale Science | A Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC)

Welcome to the Center for Nanoscale Science

The Center for Nanoscale Science is a Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) supported by the National Science Foundation under grant DMR-2011839 (2020 - 2026). The Center supports collaborative, interdisciplinary research efforts in the area of nanoscale materials.

IRG1 - 2D Polar Metals and Heterostructures

IRG 2 - Crystalline Oxides with High Entropy

MRSEC Outreach Teams

MRSEC grads and Upward Bound students bond at Arts Fest Kids Day.

Research Opportunities for Undergrads

Research Opportunities for NCCU & Cal State LA Undergrads and Masters Students through PREM

Interdisciplinary Research Groups

Currently the Center is composed of two (2) Interdisciplinary Research Groups (IRG). Common themes of complex materials synthesis and length scale dependent physical phenomena permeate both IRGs. These research themes are integrated with major efforts in educational and industrial outreach.

News at MRSEC

MRSEC Seed Call

The 2022-23 MRSEC Seed Call is now open! See how to submit at https://www.mrsec.psu.edu/research/seed-program/how-apply-seed-grant.

Unique ferroelectric microstructure revealed for the first time

MRSEC faculty Nasim Alem and graduate student Leixin Miao (department of Material Science and Engineering) were recently highlighted by Penn State News for their investigation of a novel ferroelectric material.

Susan Sinnott recognized with 2022 AVS Medard W. Welch Award

Susan Sinnott, head of the Materials Science and Engineering Department at Penn State and faculty member of IRG 2 (High Entropy Oxides), has been selected for the top research award from the American Vacuum Society (AVS). She will give the honorary lectureship "Atomistic Simulations to Advance Surface Science" at the AVS 68th International Symposium and Exhibition this November.

DynaCool PPMS 14T is launched

Penn State's DynaCool 14T is launched and it is ready for people to schedule measurements. To learn more training and using the DynaCool PPMS 14T please see their website. The DC resistivity module and ETO module (AC measurement on resistance DV/DI vs Idc and I-V) are available. If you want to use the rotator or He-3 module, please contact Cequn Li or Yifan Zhao first.

Fulbright Award to a Research Experience for Teachers resulted from National Science Foundation Funding

Former Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) fellowship recipient, Paul Orbe received a 2021 Fulbright Teachers for Global Classroom award. NSF funding supported his research in the Dabo group at the Penn State MRSEC. By utilizing High-throughput methods, Paul contributed to the discovery of materials catalyzing water splitting reactions.

Co-Authored Research Experience for Teachers Resulted in a Publication

Paul Orbe an RET (Research Experience for Teachers) program participant research with Ismmaila Dabo lead to a published a paper resulting from research on hybrid and plug-in electric vehicles have helped curtail the global consumption of petroleum-based fuels for personal transportation. Photocatalysis offers a potential solution for the solar generation of hydrogen by electrochemically cleaving water. Data-driven materials screening could expedite the discovery and development of efficient photocatalysts.

Upcoming Events 2023

Mar

MRSEC Seminar - Dr. Maja Vukovic

Fellow - IBM Research

MSC N201 @ 12:20 PM

Apr

MRSEC Seminar - Dr. Xiaoqin Elaine Li

Professor of Physics, University of Texas, Austin

MSC N201 @ 12:20 PM

Apr

MRSEC Seminar - Dr. James LeBeau

Associate Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

MSC N201 @ 12:20 PM

Seminars

MRSEC Spring 2023 seminar series will be in the Millennium Science Complex N201.
MRSEC Seminars are on Monday’s at 12:20 PM ET unless otherwise noted.

January 23^rd - Dr. Sydney Chamberlin (Nature Conservancy), Around the Pale Blue Dot: A Journey from Astrophysics to California Climate Policy

February 6^th - CV and Resume Writing Workshop, Angela Ging from PSU Career Services

February 20^th - Dr. Kate Plass (Franklin and Marshall University)

February 27^th - Dr. Emmanouil (Manos) Kioupakis (University of Michigan)

March 20^th – Dr. Maja Vukovic (IBM), TBA

April 3^rd - Dr. Xiaoqin Elaine Li (UT Austin), TBA

April 24^th – Dr. James LeBeau (MIT), TBA

Mission: Materials Science

The mission of this interactive website is to disseminate high-quality educational content about materials science, specifically to promote and increase public awareness of materials science. Read more »