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University of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering


Generality vs. specificity: unraveling the electric double layer structure of highly ionic liquid electrolytes

A team of researchers used molecular dynamics simulations and electrochemical 3D atomic force microscopy to study the electric double layer structure of an ionic liquid on crystalline electrodes. They found that intermolecular interactions among cations and anions are stronger than electrode-specific interactions, proposing a key descr...

SourceUniversity of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering·JournalThe Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters·DateNov 17, 2022

Experimental data validates new theory for molecular diffusion in polymer matrices

Researchers have validated a new theory for molecular diffusion in polymer matrices, explaining how molecules move through complex media. The study found that temperature and molecule size significantly impact transport rates, enabling the design of more selective polymer membranes.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 9, 2022

Clear as mud

A team of researchers used clear mud to study turbulence in water flows, discovering that low clay concentrations alter the structure of turbulent dynamics. This finding has implications for understanding sediment transport and predicting flow behavior in natural environments.

Scientists crack upcycling plastics to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, advancing a recent Science study

Researchers develop breakthrough process to transform polyethylene into polypropylene, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by scalable and rapidly implementable method. The process could potentially save 3 million cars' worth of GHG emissions if 20% of global PE waste is recovered.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateOct 3, 2022

New nanophotonic coating could aid thermal management and counter-surveillance efforts

Researchers have developed a new nanophotonic coating that can effectively manage body temperature without the need for external energy sources. The coating, which is transparent to visible light and infrared radiation, has been shown to provide a 15°C higher heating effect than commercial clothing.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateAug 25, 2022

University of Illinois researchers derive new theory on behavior of new class of materials

Researchers have derived governing equations that describe the macroscopic mechanical behavior of elastomers filled with liquid inclusions directly from their microscopic behavior. This work enables a wide range of novel materials with unique mechanical and physical properties.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering·JournalJournal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids·DateJun 21, 2022

University of Illinois team topples the longstanding "efficiency droop" barrier to green-light LEDs

Researchers have long struggled to create high-power green LEDs due to the 'efficiency droop' phenomenon. The University of Illinois team has now discovered a way to avoid this issue by using cubic-phase crystal structures, which halves efficiency droop in InGaAlN light-emitting diodes.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering·JournalIEEE Transactions on Electron Devices·DateJun 20, 2022

Automated synthesis allows for discovery of unexpected charge transport behavior in organic molecules

A cross-disciplinary team at the University of Illinois used automated synthesis to discover a new mechanism for high conductance in organic electronics applications. The technology rapidly scanned through a library of molecules and uncovered unexpectedly high conductance, dependent on concentration and surface adsorption.

Physicists elucidate connection between symmetry and Mott physics in step towards understanding high-temperature superconductivity

Researchers at University of Illinois discover key connection between symmetry and Mott physics, providing new insight into high-temperature superconductivity. They found that breaking a hidden symmetry destroys Fermi liquids, implying that all models of Mott insulators must break this particle-hole symmetry.

New paper offers innovative solution for thermal energy storage

Researchers have developed a novel approach to improve thermal energy storage by decoupling energy density and power density using pressure-enhanced close contact melting. This method has demonstrated efficacy in achieving high power and energy density, making it suitable for demanding applications like electric vehicles and data centers.

New label-free detection technique digitally counts intact SARS-CoV-2 virus particles in saliva or exhaled breath

Researchers have developed a label-free detection technique that digitally counts intact SARS-CoV-2 virus particles in saliva or exhaled breath. The approach uses an aptamer attached to a biosensor to selectively recognize and capture viruses, providing lower cost and reduced time to diagnose infections.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateJan 18, 2022

New model accurately describes COVID-19 waves and plateaus: Adding random nature of social activity to traditional model, graphs match waves and plateaus of regional US data

A new epidemiological model, the stochastic social activity (SSA) model, combines real-world observations with mathematical equations to accurately describe COVID-19 wave and plateau dynamics. The model suggests that COVID-19 may become endemic in the global population, like the common cold or flu.

University of Illinois researchers design extreme heat exchanger using metal 3D printing

Researchers at the University of Illinois designed a tube-in-tube heat exchanger with significantly higher volumetric power density than current state-of-the-art devices. The optimized design enables more efficient energy transfer in industries requiring compact and high-performance heat exchangers.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering·JournalJoule·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateSep 9, 2021

DOE-funded study will explore how magnetic materials could improve the performance of quantum computing circuits

Researchers at University of Illinois and Argonne National Laboratory will explore magnetic materials to reduce noise in quantum computing hardware. The team aims to design non-reciprocal circuitry by harnessing magnetic features, which could lead to a hybrid device for sensing and communication applications.

New method brings physics to deep learning to better simulate turbulence

Researchers at the University of Illinois developed a new method that combines machine learning and physics to simulate turbulent flow, allowing for more accurate predictions in aerospace engineering. This method has the potential to improve design efficiency and reduce costs in industries such as air travel and spacecraft development.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering·JournalJournal of Computational Physics·DateNov 16, 2020