This article is an edited transcript of the MRS Medal presentation given by Mark Thompson (University of Southern California) on November 28, 2006, at the Materials Research Society Fall Meeting in Boston. Thompson was awarded the Medal for the “development of highly efficient heavy-metal phosphor complexes.” The MRS Medal recognizes a specific outstanding recent discovery or advancement which is expected to have a major impact on the progress of any materials-related field.

Successful research efforts have led to improvements in the internal efficiencies of organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs) from 25% to 100%. The electroluminescence process in OLEDs involves the formation of both singlet and triplet excitons, formed in a ratio of 1:3. There is a drive to improve spin statistics by developing compounds in which triplet excitons, in addition to singlet excitons, can be used efficiently. Success with the incorporation of heavy-metal–based phosphors into OLEDs, in which the strong spin-orbit coupling of the metal atom allows for efficient molecular phosphorescence from triplet excitons, resulted in the identification and synthesis of an iridium complex, fac-tris-phenylpyridine iridium, with internal efficiencies of 100%. This, in turn, has led to the synthesis of more than 100 iridium- and platinum-based compounds, which have become the most efficient light-emitting compounds yet discovered. Intellectual property from Thompson's research in this field has led to more than 50 U.S. patents and substantial entrepreneurial investment toward commercial applications and devices.

The following article is based on the Symposium X presentation given by David A. Weitz (Harvard University) on April 11, 2007, at the Materials Research Society Spring Meeting in San Francisco. The article describes how simple microfluidic devices can be used to control fluid flow and produce a variety of new materials. Based on the concepts of coaxial flow and hydrodynamically focused flow, used alone or in various combinations, the devices can produce precisely controlled double emulsions (droplets within droplets) and even triple emulsions (double emulsions suspended in a third droplet). These structures, which can be created in a single microfluidic device, have various applications such as encapsulants for drugs, cosmetics, or food additives.

This article is based on an edited transcript of a presentation given by Frank W. Gayle (National Institute of Standards and Technology) on April 12, 2007, in Symposium X at the Materials Research Society Spring Meeting in San Francisco.

The NIST investigation of the World Trade Center disaster addressed many aspects of the catastrophe, from occupant egress to factors affecting the ability of the Twin Towers to remain standing after being hit by the airplanes, with the goal of gaining valuable information for future best practices in building materials, building design, and emergency response. The presentation addressed the structure of the towers, the analysis of the recovered steel, and special issues faced during the investigation. The probable collapse sequence for each of the towers was also discussed.

In his visionary 1959 lecture at Caltech, Richard P. Feynman foresaw the potential of the ability to manipulate matter at the atomic scale. In this article, adapted from Integrated Nanosensors, MRS Symposium Proceedings Volume 952E, edited by I.K. Schuller, Y. Bruynseraede, L.M. Lechuga, and E. Johnson (2007), Jozef T. Devreese (University of Antwerp) discusses implementations of Feynman's vision in the field of nanosensors and perspectives of its further development and applications.

Nanoparticles are unique tools as sensors. Particles with sizes at the nanoscale reveal physical properties that do not exist in bulk materials; these properties can operate well inside living cells. Nanosensors possess unique physical characteristics. Their sensitivity can be orders of magnitude better than that of conventional devices. Nanosensors possess such performance advantages as fast response and portability. State-of-the-art nanosensors are based on various advanced materials (quantum dots, nanoshells, nanopores, carbon nanotubes, etc.). Nanosensors furthermore allow for building an entirely new class of integrated devices that provide the elemental base for “intelligent sensors” capable of data processing, storage, and analysis. Advances can open unprecedented perspectives for the application of nanosensors in various fields, for example, as molecular-level diagnostic and treatment instruments in medicine and as networks of nanorobots for real-time monitoring of physiological parameters of a human body.