Pinshane Huang

Pinshane Yeh Huang is an Associate Professor of

Materials Science at the University of Illinois at Pinshane Yeh Huang
Urbana–Champaign. She develops transmission Born Arlington, Texas
electron microscopy to investigate two-dimensional Alma mater Carleton College
materials. During her PhD she discovered the thinnest Cornell University
piece of glass in the world, which was included in the Known for 2D Materials Electron Microscopy
Guinness World Records. Huang was awarded the
Awards PECASE (2019)
2019 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists
and Engineers. Scientific career
Institutions Columbia University
University of Illinois at Urbana-
Early life and education Champaign
Thesis Transmission Electron
Huang grew up in Arlington, Texas.[1] She was Microscopy Of Structural Disorder
interested in science as a child, and eventually studied In Two-Dimensional Materials (htt
physics at Carleton College.[2] She was not sure ps://ecommons.cornell.edu/handl
whether she would major in anthropology or e/1813/39006) (2014)
physics.[1] She spent a summer teaching science in a
Website Huang Lab (https://huanglab.mats
summer camp at Johns Hopkins University, and
e.illinois.edu/)
decided that she wanted to be involved with physics
teaching. As a senior she played violin.[3] She moved
to Cornell University for her graduate studies, completing a PhD in applied physics under the supervision
of David A. Muller.[4][5] Huang started working with graphene in 2009, and developed the methodology
to create the world's thinnest sheet of glass.[6] The piece of glass was so thin that it was possible to
resolve individual silicon and oxygen atoms using transmission electron microscopy.[4] Huang created the
glass by accident whilst making graphene, when she found that her graphene was actually composed from
silicon and oxygen, the elements that constitute glass.[4][7] This accidental discovery made it possible to
identify the arrangement of atoms in glass for first time, and was included in the Guinness World
Records.[8][9] Her work involved using two-dimensional materials as a model to investigate the structure-
property relationships in materials, as well as informing the design and fabrication of two-dimensional
materials with desired chemical, optical and electronic properties.[10] She investigated grain boundaries in
molybdenum disulfide and graphene.[11] After earning her doctorate Huang was a postdoctoral researcher
at Columbia University, where she worked with Louis E. Brus in the Materials Science & Engineering
Research Center.[12]

Research and career

Huang was appointed to the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign in 2015.[2] Her lab, Small
Things Considered, use nanotechnology and electron microscopy to investigate the properties of different
materials. She is based in the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign Materials Research Laboratory.
She has pioneered techniques to study individual atoms in glass as it bends and breaks, making it possible
to image defects in ultra-thin materials.[13] In particular, Huang works on aberration-corrected electron
microscopy to study two-dimensional materials.[14] To visualise glass as it bends, Huang used the
electron beam of a transmission electron microscope to simultaneously excite and image atoms within
glasses. Huang created videos that make it possible to understand the liquid state of glass.[10][15] Defects
and dopants can have significant impacts on the electronic properties of two-dimensional materials. The
materials investigated by Huang have applications in catalysis, energy generation and storage; including
solar cells, batteries and graphene-based devices.[13] As the performance of nanostructured catalysts and
batteries is determined by the atomic arrangement on the surfaces of nanoparticles, Huang uses atom-by-
atom electron microscopy to characterise these interfacial atoms. She combines microscopy with transient
spectral imaging to understand the reactivity and stability of metallic nanoparticles.[16] She combines
atom-by-atom imaging with device measurements and spectroscopy to correlate atomic structure,
performance and optical properties.[16]

Huang told The Daily Telegraph about the need for scientists to engage the public in their research, “If I
can do something to inspire a young person to become a scientist, become a teacher, or vote to make sure
we have funding for scientific research, that makes it worthwhile for me".[6] Her research was featured in
the Science and Industry Museum Wonder Materials exhibition.[17] She has also featured on PBS Nova's
Hunting the Elements.[18]

Awards and honours

Her awards and honours include;

2012 Microscopy Society of America Presidential Scholarship

2012 Microbeam Analysis Society Raymond Castaing Award
2013 Cornell University College of Engineering William Nichols Findley Award[19]
2016 Air Force Research Laboratory Young Investigator Award[20]
2017 Microscopy Society of America Albert Crewe Award[21]
2017 3M Non-Tenured Faculty Award[22]
2017 Packard Fellowship[13]
2018 Kavli Foundation Fellow[23]
2018 Sloan Research Fellowship[24]
2018 Global Highly Cited Researcher[25]
2019 National Science Foundation CAREER Award
2019 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers[26]

Selected publications
Her publications include;

Huang, Pinshane (2011). "Grains and grain boundaries in single-layer graphene atomic
patchwork quilts". Nature. 469 (7330): 389–92. arXiv:1009.4714 (https://arxiv.org/abs/1009.4
714). Bibcode:2011Natur.469..389H (https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2011Natur.469..389
H). doi:10.1038/nature09718 (https://doi.org/10.1038%2Fnature09718). PMID 21209615 (htt
ps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21209615). S2CID 205223553 (https://api.semanticscholar.or
g/CorpusID:205223553).
 Huang, Pinshane (2013). "One-dimensional electrical contact to a two-dimensional
material". Science. 342 (6158): 614–617. Bibcode:2013Sci...342..614W (https://ui.adsabs.h
arvard.edu/abs/2013Sci...342..614W). doi:10.1126/science.1244358 (https://doi.org/10.112
6%2Fscience.1244358). PMID 24179223 (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24179223).
S2CID 24531061 (https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:24531061).
Huang, Pinshane (2013). "Grains and grain boundaries in highly crystalline monolayer
molybdenum disulphide". Nature Materials. 12 (6): 554–561. arXiv:1301.1985 (https://arxiv.o
rg/abs/1301.1985). Bibcode:2013NatMa..12..554V (https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2013
NatMa..12..554V). doi:10.1038/nmat3633 (https://doi.org/10.1038%2Fnmat3633).
PMID 23644523 (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23644523). S2CID 36712829 (https://api.
semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:36712829).

References
1. "Pinshane Huang | School of Applied & Engineering Physics" (https://www.aep.cornell.edu/s
potlights/pinshane-huang). www.aep.cornell.edu. Retrieved 2019-08-23.
2. "Materials Science and Engineering - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign" (https://mats
e.illinois.edu/directory/profile/pyhuang). matse.illinois.edu. Retrieved 2019-08-23.
3. "Senior Recital: Pinshane Huang, violin, Rachel Samuels | Music Department Events |
Carleton College" (https://apps.carleton.edu/curricular/musc/events/?view=all&start_date=2
005-05-03&event_id=400175&date=2008-06-11). apps.carleton.edu. Retrieved 2019-08-23.
4. "Shattering records: Thinnest glass in Guinness book" (http://news.cornell.edu/stories/2013/
09/shattering-records-thinnest-glass-guinness-book). Cornell Chronicle. Retrieved
2019-08-23.
5. "Muller Group | Understanding Materials, Atom by Atom" (http://muller.research.engineering.
cornell.edu/). muller.research.engineering.cornell.edu. Retrieved 2019-08-23.
6. Gee, Tabi Jackson (2016-07-27). "Meet the women using 'miracle material' graphene to
inspire girls into science" (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/work/meet-the-women-using-
miracle-material-graphene-to-inspire-girls/). The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235 (https://search.
worldcat.org/issn/0307-1235). Retrieved 2019-08-23.
7. "Turning Graphene Gunk Into the World's Thinnest Glass" (http://ww31.oomberg.com/news/
articles/2013-09-16/turning-graphene-gunk-into-the-worlds-thinnest-glass).
ww31.oomberg.com. Retrieved 2019-08-23.
8. Huang, Pinshane Y.; Kurasch, Simon; Srivastava, Anchal; Skakalova, Viera; Kotakoski, Jani;
Krasheninnikov, Arkady V.; Hovden, Robert; Mao, Qingyun; Meyer, Jannik C. (2012-01-26).
"Direct Imaging of a Two-Dimensional Silica Glass on Graphene". Nano Letters. 12 (2):
1081–1086. Bibcode:2012NanoL..12.1081H (https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2012Nano
L..12.1081H). doi:10.1021/nl204423x (https://doi.org/10.1021%2Fnl204423x). ISSN 1530-
6984 (https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1530-6984). PMID 22268818 (https://pubmed.ncbi.nl
m.nih.gov/22268818). S2CID 8828898 (https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:8828898).
9. Wood, Paul (29 October 2017). "Wired In: Pinshane Huang" (https://www.news-gazette.co
m/news/wired-in-pinshane-huang/article_cd632ae8-d161-52ec-8f13-4c0c65ecf21b.html).
The News-Gazette. Retrieved 2019-08-23.
10. Huang, Pinshane (2014-08-18). "Transmission Electron Microscopy Of Structural Disorder
In Two-Dimensional Materials" (https://ecommons.cornell.edu/handle/1813/39006).
Bibcode:2014PhDT.......232H (https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2014PhDT.......232H).
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
11. "Stitching defects into world's thinnest semiconductor" (https://www.sciencedaily.com/releas
es/2013/05/130523113800.htm). ScienceDaily. Retrieved 2019-08-23.
12. "Women in STEM Podcast Episode 13 – Pinshane Huang, Materials Research Scientist,
Applied Physicist | Lady Paragons" (http://ladyparagons.com/2014/10/women-in-stem-podca
st-episode-13-pinshane-huang/). Retrieved 2019-08-23.
13. Touchstone, Liz Ahlberg. "Illinois scientist named Packard Fellow" (https://news.illinois.edu/v
iew/6367/568383). news.illinois.edu. Retrieved 2019-08-23.
14. "Awards & Scholarships - Society Awards" (https://www.microscopy.org/awards/bios/crewe_
2017.cfm). Microscopy Society of America. Retrieved 2019-08-23.
15. "When you bend the world's thinnest glass, this happens" (https://www.futurity.org/bend-worl
ds-thinnest-glass-happens/). Futurity. 2013-10-14. Retrieved 2019-08-23.
16. "Research | Pinshane Huang Research Lab" (https://huanglab.matse.illinois.edu/research/).
Retrieved 2019-08-23.
17. "Wonder Materials: Graphene and Beyond" (https://www.scienceandindustrymuseum.org.u
k/what-was-on/wonder-materials-graphene-and-beyond). Science and Industry Museum.
Retrieved 2019-08-23.
18. Hunting the Elements | Season 39 Episode 6 | NOVA (https://www.pbs.org/video/nova-hunti
ng-the-elements/), retrieved 2019-08-23
19. "Welcome to Cornell 2014-2015" (https://issuu.com/cornellgraduateschool/docs/youbelong_
1_6_14_singlepgs/11). Issuu. 8 January 2014. Retrieved 2019-08-23.
20. "AFOSR Awards Grants to 58 Scientists and Engineers through its Young I" (http://www.wpa
fb.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/969772/afosr-awards-grants-to-58-scientists-and-engin
eers-through-its-young-investigat). Wright-Patterson AFB. 11 October 2016. Retrieved
2019-08-23.
21. "Awards & Scholarships - Society Awards" (https://www.microscopy.org/awards/society.cfm).
Microscopy Society of America. Retrieved 2019-08-23.
22. "Assistant Professor Pinshane Huang Receives 3M 2017 Non-Tenured Faculty Award |
Materials Science and Engineering - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign" (https://mats
e.illinois.edu/news/assistant-professor-pinshane-huang-receives-3m-2017-non-tenured-facu
lty-award). matse.illinois.edu. Retrieved 2019-08-23.
23. "2019 U.S. Symposium" (http://www.nasonline.org/programs/kavli-frontiers-of-science/past-s
ymposia/2019-usfos.html). www.nasonline.org. Retrieved 2019-08-23.
24. Yates, Diana. "Three Illinois professors named Sloan Research Fellows" (https://news.illinoi
s.edu/view/6367/612300). news.illinois.edu. Retrieved 2019-08-23.
25. Yoksoulian, Lois. "Eleven Illinois researchers rank among world's most influential" (https://ne
ws.illinois.edu/view/6367/722900). news.illinois.edu. Retrieved 2019-08-23.
26. "President Donald J. Trump Announces Recipients of the Presidential Early Career Award
for Scientists and Engineers" (https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/pr
esident-donald-j-trump-announces-recipients-presidential-early-career-award-scientists-engi
neers/). whitehouse.gov. Retrieved 2019-08-23 – via National Archives.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pinshane_Huang&oldid=1194355667"