Please join us on Friday Oct. 3, at 12:15 in 6-120. Refreshments at 11:45 in 6-104.

Nano carbon: from string theory to atomic drums

Prof. Paul L McEuen

Laboratory of Atomic and Solid State Physics

Cornell University

 Carbon takes many forms, from precious diamond to lowly graphite. Surprisingly, it is the latter that is the most prized by nano physicists. Graphene, a single layer of graphite, is the first truly 2D material. Graphene is incredibly strong, robust, electrically conducting, and impenetrable to gases in spite of being only a single atom thick. Rolled up into a nanometer-diameter cylinder—a carbon nanotube—it makes great 1D transistors, quantum dots, and nanoguitar strings. In this talk, Prof. McEuen will review some of his group’s recent results on these remarkable materials, including ultrafast measurements of ballistic transport, studies topological spin-orbit effects that arise from a nanotube’s cylindrical geometry, measurements of electron-hole creation in nanotube solar cells, and inflating a graphene balloon that is one atom thick.

Amid an increasingly challenging federal funding environment, MIT’s Center for Materials Science and Engineering (CMSE) has won a six-year, $19.2 million National Science Foundation grant that will support research, K-12 educational outreach programs and vital shared experimental facilities.

“CMSE is privileged to be able to bring some of the Institute’s finest researchers together to perform interdisciplinary materials research that can impact the current and future needs of society,” said CMSE Director Michael Rubner, the TDK Professor of Materials Science and Engineering. “We’re excited about moving forward with a new research program that represents the culmination of a two-year internal and external review process.”

This post was taken from the MIT News Office.  Descriptions of the NSF grants are available on the MRSECwebsite.

An interested and appreciative crowd came to 6-120 to hear presentations from this year’s MADMEC teams. All four teams interpreted the challenges in different ways, utilizing different materials and facets of materials science.

First place went to Heliotrope, for developing a non-mechanical device that allows solar panels to move, tracking the sun’s movement throughout the day. Solar panels that track this way have a 38% improved efficiency over stationary panels, but the available mechanical devices are subject to equipment failure.

Second place finishers were Infraconsto, who pursued inexpensive solutions with readily available materials that could be used to modify windows in order to block IR. They tested a wide variety of materials and methods, and have plans to continue their research.

The third place was awarded to AER, a group that developed a device that harnesses wind energy by attaching small flags to magnets suspended within wire coils. They envision these devices lining highways, bridges, and train tracks, and utilizing the energy to power street lights.

A special “Dept. Head Prize” was given to Green Take Off in recognition of their hard work and fruitful collaborations. This team is developing a portable, low-cost device that can be attached to bicycles in order to gather and generate electricity. They have formed a community partnership with One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) with the goal of creating a design to power the OLPC Multi-Battery Charger.

We’re proud of these teams and their hard work this summer, and we hope the contest will continue to produce great results.  

Final presentations and awards for the 2008 MADMEC (Making and Designing Materials Engineering Contest) will take place at 7:00, on Sept. 18, 2008, in 6-120. Please join us to see the great work this year’s teams have done. For more about the projects, see the MADMEC webpages.

MISTI offers industry and research internships in:

• China (+Singapore and Taiwan)
• France
• Germany
• India
• Israel
• Italy
• Japan
• Mexico
• Spain

Internships are all-expenses-paid!

MISTI also offers workshops, study and research with MIT faculty abroad.

MISTI is open to ALL students (undergraduates, graduates, graduating students) and post-docs in any field. 

Learn more and meet MISTI alumni at the MISTI OPEN HOUSE, Wednesday, September 17, noon-2pm, La Sala De Puerto Rico, W20, Featuring international food and live entertainment

MISTI PROGRAM ORIENTATIONS, 5-7pm, 292 Main Street, E38 unless otherwise noted

Discover specific internship opportunities available through one of MISTI’s nine country programs, learn about the application process, and speak with returning interns. Food will be provided.

• MIT-China Thursday, September 18
• MIT-France Tuesday, September 23
• MIT-Japan Wednesday, September 24
• MIT-India Wednesday, September 24 NOTE! Different venue: E38-600
• MIT-Germany Thursday, September 25
• MIT-Italy Wednesday, October 8
• MIT-Mexico Thursday, October 9
• MIT-Israel Thursday, October 16 NOTE! Different venue: 56-114
• The Middle East and the Environment and Internship Opportunities Monday September 15th, Note Different Venue: Von Hippel Room, 13-2137
• MIT-Spain Thursday, October 23

 Ask these students about their experience in 2008: