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Materials Science & Engineering News

Communications satellite
July 1, 2024

Through years of hard work, a promising new ‘low-work-function’ cathode material is poised to fill vacuum electronics

A multi-year collaboration between electrical and materials science engineers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has resulted in a promising new electron emission cathode material, a key component in modern vacuum…

Researchers Md Sariful Sheikh, Ryan Jacobs, Jun Meng and Dane Morgan
June 13, 2024

An oxide in a haystack: From a field of 34,000, advanced computational techniques identify exactly the right material

Using advanced computational techniques and molecular-level simulation, a team of materials science engineers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has identified, synthesized and tested a new class of materials that act…

Isaiah McCray Jones, Adam Falk and Josh Baston
May 29, 2024

Forged in Madison: Casting competition busts down doors for materials science students

During his time at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Adam Falk has had many doors opened to him. In early May 2024, however, the materials science and engineering senior literally tore…

Chang-Beom Eom
May 24, 2024

New synthesis technique can make thin films from mismatched elements

Materials science and engineering researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have developed a new synthesis technique for creating extremely clean single crystalline thin films. Called hybrid pulsed-laser deposition, the method…

Cody Falconer works on the molten salt loop in the laboratory
April 23, 2024

New technique pinpoints material corrosion in molten salt systems in real time

A team of University of Wisconsin-Madison engineers has developed a new technique that allows them, for the first time, to see how materials corrode directly within a high-temperature flowing molten…

Xudong Wang and graduate student Wenjian Liu show off the dendrite-inhibiting membrane
April 18, 2024

Self-flattening membrane will power a smooth transition to next-generation batteries

The anodes, or negative electrodes, in most rechargeable batteries are currently made of graphite. But the next generation of high-capacity, fast-charging, low-cost batteries will use metal anodes instead, which will…

Undergraduates in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering’s capstone class examine a piece of laser-textured steel using a scanning electron microscope
April 12, 2024

For Wisconsin company, undergrads highlight laser focus on engineered coatings

Almost every metal tool out there, from surgical scalpels to agricultural blades, is treated with some sort of engineered coating. These coatings have all sorts of benefits—including reducing wear and…

hero energy graphic
March 15, 2024

Energy Reservoirs

We’re capturing the potential in a portfolio of new, more sustainable storage technologies. Every year, renewable resources like wind and solar become a larger slice of the energy mix in…

Southwest view of the outside of the new UW-Madison College of Engineering building
March 6, 2024

Wisconsin approves new UW-Madison engineering building

On March 6, 2024, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers gave final approval to fund a new College of Engineering building at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “The approval of a new building…

Daniel Rhodes
February 19, 2024

With NSF CAREER award, Dan Rhodes is searching for superconductivity in an unusual place

Superconductors are already changing the world—for example, they’re powering MRI machines and high-speed maglev trains. New types of superconductors promise even more advances in energy, transportation, computing and many other…