A new study led by FAMU-FSU College of Engineering researchers investigating precision polymer blends revealed critical insights that could accelerate the development of advanced materials for batteries, membranes and energy storage systems.

The research, which focused on blends of a polymer called polyethylene oxide (PEO) and a charged polymer known as p5, found that even small amounts of charge can dramatically alter how these materials mix. This behavior aligns with previously developed theoretical models, offering a new framework for anticipating when polymer blends will remain uniform or separate into distinct phases.

Johns Hopkins University researchers have identified more than 200 types of misfolded proteins in rats that could be associated with age-related cognitive decline. The findings could lead the way to finding new therapeutic targets and treatments in humans that could provide relief for the millions of people over 65 who suffer from Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other diseases that rob them of their memories and independence as they age.

One challenge with the manufacturing of MXenes is that they are only a few atoms thick, and defects are amplified on that scale. Using a technique called plasma-enabled atomic layer etching (plasma-ALE), Wang and members of his lab, including postdoctoral associate Xingjian Hu, can remove or replace individual surface functional groups – akin to atomic surgery.

New quantitative analysis from the Wang lab published in Matter found that the plasma-ALE process improves MXene conductivity by 80 percent and bends up to 165 degrees, which outperforms similar 2D materials.

The Wang lab’s goal is to develop MXene materials to enable more flexible, programmable and resilient soft robotics, all controlled with nothing but light.

How molten carbon crystallizes into either graphite or diamond is relevant to planetary science, materials manufacturing and nuclear fusion research. A new study uses computer simulations to study how molten carbon crystallizes into either graphite or diamond at temperatures and pressures similar to Earth’s interior, challenging the conventional understanding of diamond formation.