The Grainger College of Engineering

The Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign was established in 1868.

Smart Molecules Act as Computer Transistors

Researchers have discovered a single-molecule switch that can act like a transistor and store binary information such as the 1s and 0s used in classical computing. The molecule is around five...

Heat-Management Material Keeps Computers Running Cool

Computer processors have shrunk to nanometer scales over the years, with billions of transistors sitting on a single computer chip. While the increased number of transistors helps make...

New Family of Glass for Lens Applications

A new composition of germanosili-cate glass created by adding zinc oxide has properties good for lens applications. The new family of zinc germanosilicate glass has a high refractive index comparable...

Sensitive Method for Detecting Transistor Defects

The method could support the semiconductor industry and facilitate development of next-gen devices.

Method Recharges an Electric Car as it Drives

This practical technique uses magnetism to transmit electricity wirelessly to recharge electric cars, robots, or drones.

Stable Polymeric Ink with High Conductivity

This paves the way for innovative and more energy-efficient printed electronics.

2021 Create the Future Design Contest: Sustainable Technologies/Future Energy Category Winner — Multifunctional Bionanocomposite Fruit Coatings

The invention could capture the potential of the edible packaging market.

Unique Amplifier Could Change Optical Communication

Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology have developed an optical amplifier that they expect will revolutionize both space and fiber communication.

Manufacturing Technique Yields Flexible Electronics

With this advance, so-called “flextronics” move closer to reality.

Coherent Optical Transistor

Applications include telecommunications, optical switching, and quantum computing.

High-Mobility Transport Layer Structures for Rhombohedral Si/Ge/SiGe Devices

This invention enables improved carrier mobility for solar cells and other electronic devices.

High-Temperature Silicon Carbide Op Amps Fabrication

Applications include sensor signal conditioning in harsh conditions such as automotive, oil and gas operations, and firefighting.

Graphene “Nano-Origami” Creates Tiny Microchips

The microchips are about 100 times smaller than conventional microchips.

High-Altitude Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) for Monitoring Meteorological Parameters

The system uses infrasonic acoustics for weather monitoring and for drone or UAV activity.

Large Integrated Circuits Produced in a Printing Press

Complete integrated circuits with more than 1,000 organic electrochemical transistors can be screen-printed.

Nanotransistors Stay Cool at High Voltages

The transistors enable power converters to perform at substantially improved efficiencies, especially in high-power applications.

Polymer-Based Electrical Insulation for Circuits

The new material could help put more power in smaller microchips.

Nanowire Could Provide a Stable Superconducting Transistor

The technology could boost quantum computers and other superconducting electronics.

Transistor Design Disguises Key Computer Chips from Hackers

This built-in security measure would prevent hackers from getting enough information about the circuit to reverse-engineer it.

Sensitive Optical Receivers for Space

This concept could help break through the present-day data-return bottleneck in deep space missions.

Nanoscale Thermal Switches

These switches are key to thermal management of nanoscale devices, refrigeration, data storage, thermal computing, and heat management of buildings.

Solid-State Sensor for Detection and Characterization of Electric Fields

The sensor enables detection of items for security screening, intrusion detection, forensics, and medical imaging.

Quantum Sensor Enables Wide Spectral Coverage

The sensor could provide a way to detect communication signals over the entire radio frequency from 1 to 100 GHz.

Semiconductors Can Behave Like Metals and Superconductors

This work potentially opens the door to advances like more energy-efficient electronic devices.

Single-Atom Transistors

Linking multiple copies of these devices may lay the foundation for quantum computing.

Artificial Intelligence Finds and Labels 2D Materials Instantly

The AI system can help shorten the time required for 2D material-based electronics to be ready for consumer devices.

Radiation-Hardened Gain Digitizer

This instrument has applications in medical equipment, robotics, and satellites.

Electric Nanoscale Device Sees Through Walls

Applications include imaging, sensing, wireless communications, and medical treatments.