UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Qing Wang and Clive Randall, professors in the Penn State Department of Materials Science and Engineering, were named 2022 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) fellows.
“I am humbled by this recognition,” Wang said. "I'm confident the impact of our work will continue to lead to new developments in energy materials and devices for many years."
The fellowship is a distinction reserved for IEEE members who have achieved extraordinary accomplishments, according to the professional association.
“It is an honor to join this distinguished group of engineering and researchers,” said Randall, distinguished professor of materials science and engineering and director of the Materials Research Institute at Penn State.
Wang was cited for contributions to polymer dielectrics for capacitive energy storage.
His research focuses on the development of novel functional polymers and polymer nanocomposites with dramatically enhanced electrical, dielectric and transport properties.
Wang has developed a completely new class of polymer dielectric materials for high-temperature applications. The materials are stable over a wide range of temperatures and frequencies and show remarkable energy storage capabilities at record temperatures of about 500 degrees Fahrenheit. This operating temperature allows for applications in modern electronics and electric vehicles.
Prior to joining the Penn State faculty in 2002, Wang received his bachelor of science degree in materials science and engineering from East China University of Science and Technology, his master of science degree in chemistry from Wuhan University, and his doctoral degree from the University of Chicago.
Randall was cited for contributions to the formulation, processing and characterization of electroceramics.
He is a world leader in ceramics and functional materials. Among his many contributions are the development of novel processing methods such as the fast-sintering processes for multilayer ceramic capacitor devices, a method that has been adopted by major manufacturers, as it permits superior microstructural and dielectric performance.
Via fast sintering, trillions of capacitors are manufactured every year, and these capacitors are in all electrical systems. More recently, his group discovered and developed cold sintering, a revolutionary process that enables sintering of ceramics at a much lower temperature than traditional sintering. Cold sintering uses much less energy and enables development of new materials.
Randall joined Penn State in 1987. He received his bachelor of science degree in physics from the University of East Anglia and his doctoral degree in experimental physics from the University of Essex.