Paul V. Braun

About

Professor Paul V. Braun holds the titles of Grainger Distinguished Chair in Engineering, Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, Professor of Mechanical Sciences and Engineering, Professor of Chemistry, and Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. He is also the Director of the Materials Research Laboratory at the University of Illinois. His research focuses on materials science and engineering, with an emphasis on developing advanced materials and understanding their properties for various applications. As a leading figure in his field, Professor Braun contributes significantly to the scientific community through his leadership and innovative research.

Research topics

• Materials science
• Nanotechnology
• Physics
• Chemistry
• Physical chemistry
• Optics
• Electrical engineering
• Optoelectronics
• Metallurgy
• Chemical engineering

Selected publications

• Improved synthesis of Ti₃C₂T_x MXenes resulting in exceptional electrical conductivity, high synthesis yield, and enhanced capacitance

  Nanoscale · 2021 · 547 citations

  For the first time, an "Evaporated-Nitrogen" Minimally Intensive Layer Delamination (EN-MILD) synthesis approach is reported to synthesize exceptionally high quality MXene sheets. In the EN-MILD method, the concentrations of acids and Li-ions are continuously increased during the etching process. By implementing the EN-MILD approach, the electrical conductivity increases up to 2.4 × 104 S cm-1, which is the highest reported value to date for Ti3C2Tx MXenes (a traditional MILD approach results in…

  DOI

• Direct laser writing of volumetric gradient index lenses and waveguides

  Light Science & Applications · 2020 · 130 citations

  Senior authorCorresponding

  Abstract Direct laser writing (DLW) has been shown to render 3D polymeric optical components, including lenses, beam expanders, and mirrors, with submicrometer precision. However, these printed structures are limited to the refractive index and dispersive properties of the photopolymer. Here, we present the subsurface controllable refractive index via beam exposure (SCRIBE) method, a lithographic approach that enables the tuning of the refractive index over a range of greater than 0.3 by perform…

  DOI

• Monolithic mtesla-level magnetic induction by self-rolled-up membrane technology

  Science Advances · 2020 · 53 citations

  , respectively. The simulated intensity of the magnetic induction reaches tens of mtesla in fabricated devices at 10 MHz.

  DOI

• Formation and impact of nanoscopic oriented phase domains in electrochemical crystalline electrodes

  Nature Materials · 2022 · 44 citations

  DOI

• Beyond Heat Harvesting: Thermoelectric Materials and Hybrid Devices for Smart Sensing and Sustainable Technologies

  Advanced Energy Materials · 2025-07-26 · 19 citations

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Heat is a plentiful energy source available within us and in our surroundings, yet it is still underutilized and wasted. Capturing even a small fraction of this energy provides an opportunity to contribute to an eco‐friendly and sustainable society. Although traditional solid‐state inorganic semiconductor materials have led the research stage of thermoelectric (TE) energy conversion, carbon‐based hybrid materials and hydrogels provide an emerging TE platform for wearable, flexible, and…

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Recent grants

• Controlled Synthesis of Polypeptides from Non-Purified N-Carboxyanhydrides

  NSF · $236k · 2020–2022

• FMRG: Holistic Design of Low-Cost and Recyclable High Energy Density Li-ion Batteries

  NSF · $3.3M · 2021–2026

Frequent coauthors

• Mark L. Brongersma

  Stanford University

  126 shared

• Timothy J. Bunning

  United States Air Force Research Laboratory

  123 shared

• Guido Fuchs

  University of Kassel

  121 shared

• Adrian Miller

  Cornell University

  121 shared

• Cornelia Denz

  Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt

  121 shared

• Anja Eberhardt

  121 shared

• Zhiyuan Li

  121 shared

• Melanie Baumann

  RWTH Aachen University

  121 shared

Labs

• Braun Research GroupPI

Education

• Ph.D., Chemical Engineering

  University of California, Berkeley

  1990

• M.S., Chemical Engineering

  University of California, Berkeley

  1986

• B.S., Chemical Engineering

  University of California, Berkeley

  1984

Awards & honors

• Grainger Distinguished Chair in Engineering

Similar researchers at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

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• Jonathan J. L. Higdonh-29
• Mary L. Krafth-28