Georgia Institute of Technology STAMI

STAMI-COPE Co-Director Carlos Silva, Professor in the School of Physics and the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, has been elected to the 2019 Class of American Physical Society Fellows "[f]or the groundbreaking development of ultrafast laser techniques for probing the transient photophysics of electro-optical and excitonic materials leading to novel and unique insights into charge-separation and carrier generation in organic photovoltaic systems." Congratulations, Professor Silva!

STAMI-COPE Professor Shannon Yee and his team of Georgia Tech researchers are developing polymer-based thermoelectric (TE) materials for wearable devices to help people feel warmer or cooler on demand. The polymer TE materials could either harvest body heat to generate electricity or be used to produce a cooling sensation by hooking up a flexible battery to the circuitry.

CRĀSI member Prof. Mark Losego and GTPN member Prof. Ryan Lively are working on membranes that could separate chemicals without using energy-intensive distillation processes in a wide variety of products including gasoline, plastics, and food. The latest work, published in Chemistry of Materials and sponsored by the Department of Defense and the National Science Foundation, outlined a process for taking a polymer-based membrane and infusing it with a metal oxide network. The resulting membrane is far more effective at standing up to harsh chemicals without degrading.

A serendipitous discovery by Graduate Student Dylan Christiansen led to polymers that quickly change color from completely clear to a range of vibrant hues — and back again. The work could have applications in everything from skyscraper windows that control the amount of light and heat coming in and out of a building, to switchable camouflage and visors for military applications, and even color-changing cosmetics and clothing. It also helps fill a knowledge gap in a key area of materials science and chemistry.

Electrochromic films synthesized in the labs of STAMI-GTPN and STAMI-COPE Professor John Reynolds change their colors with the flick of a switch. Now they can be applied more safely thanks to an innovative chemical process that makes them water soluble. They can be sprayed and printed, instead of being confined behind safety implements to handle volatile and toxic fumes.