Materials science and engineering Assistant Professor Ming Chen is a contributing author on a review paper published June 3 in Nature Materials, a monthly, peer-reviewed materials science journal.
“In situ mechanical characterization of functional and architected materials” provides a comprehensive review of advanced techniques used to study how emerging materials deform, fail and function at micro- and nanoscale length scales. These materials include low-dimensional materials, bio-inspired materials and architected materials - materials whose properties are controlled not only by their chemistry, but also by their carefully designed internal structures.
The review focuses on in situ characterization methods, meaning techniques that allow researchers to observe materials in real time while they are being mechanically loaded, heated or exposed to other external conditions. These tools, including instrumented electron microscopy, X-ray imaging and opto-acoustic techniques, provide critical insight into how materials behave under realistic operating environments.
The paper, Chen said, also discusses the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning in this area, which help researchers analyze large datasets.
Ultimately, Chen and his colleagues highlight interdisciplinary applications of these new materials, which could provide solutions in the fields of energy, sustainability, semiconductor technology and healthcare.
Chen joined the University of Nevada, Reno in 2025, coming from Northwestern University in Evanston. Other authors on the paper: Hanxun Jin, Northwestern; Matias Kagias, Lund University in Lund, Sweden; Maroun Abi Ghanem, Institut Lumiere Matiere, France; Boyu Zhang, Northwestern; and Horacio D. Espinosa, Northwestern.
