Delia Milliron
@deliamilliron.bsky.social
930 followers 1.6K following 54 posts
nanocrystals, clean tech, cooking, trails, dogs, higher ed (she/her). Views are my own and do not represent any institution or organization.
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deliamilliron.bsky.social
How do polymer co-solutes induce attractive interactions between colloidal nanocrystals? Quantitative theory-experiment analysis with @tmtruskett.bsky.social group using small angle X-ray scattering. @texasche.bsky.social @chemistry.bsky.social

www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

#ChemSky 🧪
LEFT: S(q) from small angle X-ray scattering showing comparison between theory predicted structure and observed structure in colloidal nanocrystal dispersions with added polymer. RIGHT: Phase diagram comparing theoretical predictions for phase boundaries (FVT, GFVT) with experimental observations of phase stability for varying polymer concentration and ratio of sizes between nanocrystals and polymers.
Reposted by Delia Milliron
tmtruskett.bsky.social
Disorder is inevitable in colloidal assembly. Sharing our latest in ACS Photonics, led by Tanay Paul and Allison Green in collaboration with @deliamilliron.bsky.social, exploring the role of structural disorder in extreme light-matter coupling of plasmonic nanocrystals pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10....
Plasmon Polaritons in Disordered Nanoparticle Assemblies
Multilayer assemblies of metal nanoparticles can act as photonic structures, where collective plasmon resonances hybridize with cavity modes to create plasmon-polariton states. For sufficiently strong coupling, plasmon polaritons qualitatively alter the optical properties of light-matter systems, with applications ranging from sensing to solar energy. However, results from experimental studies have raised questions about the role of nanoparticle structural disorder in plasmon-polariton formation and the strength of light-matter coupling in plasmonic assemblies. Understanding how disorder affects optical properties has practical implications since methods for assembling low-defect nanoparticle superlattices are slow and scale poorly. Modeling realistic disorder requires large system sizes, which is challenging using conventional electromagnetic simulations. We employ Brownian dynamics simulations to construct large-scale nanoparticle multilayers with controlled structural order. We investigate their far- and near-field optical response using a superposition T-matrix method with two-dimensional periodic boundary conditions. We find that while structural disorder broadens the polaritonic stop band and the near-field hot-spot distribution, the polariton dispersion and coupling strength remain unaltered. To understand the effects of nanoparticle composition, we consider assemblies with Drude model particles mimicking gold or tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) nanocrystals. Assemblies of ITO nanocrystals, which have lower carrier concentrations, exhibit ultrastrong coupling, in contrast to Au nanoparticle multilayers that display deep strong coupling. Finally, we demonstrate that while computationally efficient mutual polarization method calculations employing the quasistatic approximation modestly overestimate the strength of collective plasmon coupling in these assemblies, they reproduce the polariton dispersion relations determined by electrodynamic simulations.
pubs.acs.org
deliamilliron.bsky.social
Abortion bans make pregnancy more dangerous and put young families at risk.
propublica.org
Earlier this year, ProPublica found that the sepsis rate in second-trimester pregnancy loss hospitalizations increased by more than 50% under Texas’ abortion ban.

Here’s how we did our analysis.

(Published Feb. 2025)
Texas Won’t Study How Its Abortion Ban Impacts Women, So We Did
Since Texas banned abortion, no one has studied the statewide effects on pregnant women experiencing complications. Here’s how we sifted through data on millions of pregnancy hospitalizations and anal...
www.propublica.org
deliamilliron.bsky.social
Huge thank you to my DMG (Delia Milliron Group) students and postdocs for the amazing send off at group meeting today. Go Blue! #ChemSky
A panoramic of a research group sitting around a conference table, most wearing Michigan branded shirts or hats, making M with their hands. A cake with blue and maize colored decoration, printed with DMG, the M resembling the University of Michigan logo and a scientific visualization of a localized surface plasmon resonance in a doped nanocrystal.
deliamilliron.bsky.social
The girls are training for our upcoming trip.
Two small spaniels, each sitting in a mesh bag dog carrier with the top zipper open
Reposted by Delia Milliron
davidho.bsky.social
“More than 140 employees of the National Science Foundation have signed a letter denouncing what they described as efforts to undermine one of the country’s main science funding agencies.”
Amid Fear of Retaliation, N.S.F. Workers Sign Letter of Dissent
www.nytimes.com
deliamilliron.bsky.social
Austin votes 70-80% for Democratic candidates and elects progressive prosecutors, but only 1 of something like 5 US representatives from districts including Austin is a Democratic.
deliamilliron.bsky.social
In discussing the redistricting news with folks outside of Texas, I've realized many don't know how much our democracy is already eroded. The GOP is not worried about losing ground, rather they are aiming to go even FURTHER to undermine representation for democrat-leaning populations.
deliamilliron.bsky.social
On my way to the first-ever American Conference on Inorganic Nanoscience (ACIN). Grateful to @brandicossairt.bsky.social and the other organizers for bringing the community together to exchange ideas. I hope our international colleagues can reach the US safely.
#chemSky
Reposted by Delia Milliron
science.org
"I now start my classes by saying science is a human endeavor, with the uniquely human parts making us stronger—if we let them." scim.ag/3Sn9O7G #ScienceWorkingLife
An illustration of a woman sailing a boat. Hedline says: Abandoning my long-held career plans was painful—but I love where I landed.
Reposted by Delia Milliron
nature.com
Nature @nature.com · May 1
Staff members at the US National Science Foundation (NSF) were told on 30 April to “stop awarding all funding actions until further notice,” according to an email seen by Nature.

https://go.nature.com/44Ugf9V
Exclusive: NSF stops awarding new grants and funding existing ones
US science funder also plans to screen grant applications for compliance with ‘agency priorities’.
go.nature.com
deliamilliron.bsky.social
This is chilling. The slowing of grant funding to a crawl could, through recission later this year, result in drastically reduced FY25 funding that provides the excuse for drastically reduced science funding going forward. The copy-paste of this strategy to #NSF and others seems likely.
🧪#ChemSky
donmoyn.bsky.social
New at Can We Still Govern: An anonymous NIH employee maps out the GOP budget gameplan to permanently gut our most important science agency.
Impoundment, delay and red tape will create artificial "savings" that become the new benchmark for NIH budgets.
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/the-nih-bu...
The NIH budget is on a fast track to disaster
An NIH insider explains what Republicans are likely to do next, and what we can do
donmoynihan.substack.com
deliamilliron.bsky.social
Useful info for those mystified (and angered) by the student status terminations hitting international students at campuses across the US.
reichlinmelnick.bsky.social
We already know of over 1,000 student visa terminations. The true number is likely significantly higher. Very few have anything to do with pro-Palestinian advocacy. The overwhelming majority seem to be the result of automated terminations for any contact with law enforcement, no matter how minor.
kreighbaum.bsky.social
There are specific regulatory and procedural requirements to end a student’s legal status, attorneys say.

But the basis for the vast majority of terminations—including traffic violations and other misdemeanor issues—wouldn’t meet them, they say. And students aren’t getting a chance to respond.
deliamilliron.bsky.social
Photonic integration of plasmonic metal oxide nanocrystal assemblies for ultrastrong coupling and infrared spectral tuning. Collaboration with @utmid-ir.bsky.social and @tmtruskett.bsky.social now out in @pubs.acs.org ACS Nano.
@texasche.bsky.social

#ChemSky 🧪
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
LEFT: Near-field electric field enhancement maps of nanocystal layers in cross-section showing spatial concentration in different layers RIGHT: Reflection spectra in the mid-IR depending on the number of nanocrystal layers stacked on a Au-backed Ge substrate, demonstrating ultrastrong coupling and increasing splitting of spectral modes where reflection drops to zero.
deliamilliron.bsky.social
How do polymer co-solutes induce attractive interactions between colloidal nanocrystals? Quantitative theory-experiment analysis with @tmtruskett.bsky.social group using small angle X-ray scattering. @texasche.bsky.social @chemistry.bsky.social

www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

#ChemSky 🧪
LEFT: S(q) from small angle X-ray scattering showing comparison between theory predicted structure and observed structure in colloidal nanocrystal dispersions with added polymer. RIGHT: Phase diagram comparing theoretical predictions for phase boundaries (FVT, GFVT) with experimental observations of phase stability for varying polymer concentration and ratio of sizes between nanocrystals and polymers.
deliamilliron.bsky.social
I'm watching closely, with a flicker of hope, and with pride as an alum, how Princeton is responding to funding threats and how other universities will, I hope, rally in solidarity with them and with each other. #academicSky
jbenmenachem.com
Relatedly: University President Christopher Eisgruber signaled that Princeton would not make concessions to the federal government in an interview with Bloomberg after news broke that the Trump administration had suspended dozens of the University’s research grants.
In Bloomberg interview, Eisgruber signals that Princeton will not make concessions
University President Christopher Eisgruber ’83 signaled that Princeton would not make concessions to the federal government after news broke that the Trump administration had suspended dozens of the U...
www.dailyprincetonian.com
deliamilliron.bsky.social
Heading to San Diego for #ACSSpring2025? Check out our three-day symposium on Responsive Colloidal Networks (3/23, 3/26, 3/27) with more than 40 speakers.

Full technical program: lnkd.in/gdd-2YKE

Thanks to sponsors: @acs.org, @aip.bsky.social, Syngenta, @texasche.bsky.social, and UW ChE
ChemSky🧪
Flyer advertising Responsive Colloidal Networks symposium that runs all day Sunday and Wednesday, half day Thursday at the American Chemical Society meeting in San Diego. 40 invited speakers from around the world with sponsors as described in the post.
deliamilliron.bsky.social
Big congrats to my @texasche.bsky.social colleague Wennie Wang on her Maria Goeppert Mayer award from @apsphysics.bsky.social for "research on defective transition metal oxides...[&] a commitment to broadening participation of underrepresented groups in computational materials science"
🧪ChemSky
Prof. Wennie Wang receives a certificate of her award from the President of the American Physical Society.
deliamilliron.bsky.social
Grateful for my elected US rep @doggett.house.gov and colleagues from UT Austin who gave voice yesterday to the importance of science. The baseless and destructive dismantling of science and higher ed in the US must stop. We must protect funding and demand disbursement of funds for research!
doggett.house.gov
This Friday, March 7, at 5 pm on the Texas State Capitol south steps, I am speaking at a public event to Stand Up for Science as part of a national day of action. Essential to engage more and more neighbors in rejecting the science deniers. (1/2)
Reposted by Delia Milliron
jeremymberg.bsky.social
Special Bluetorial: The benefits of different life experiences

The scientific community has folks with a very wide range of life experiences. We have a lot to learn from one another.
a cartoon says hey everybody an old man 's talking while bart simpson looks on
ALT: a cartoon says hey everybody an old man 's talking while bart simpson looks on
media.tenor.com
Reposted by Delia Milliron
jcconrad.bsky.social
Received this email from my chair tonight (🧵, 1/6):

"The DOE has issued new guidance indicating that, until further notice, there will be delays in any funding actions. Here’s what this means for projects pending or already awarded by DOE:
1. Pending Proposals: Awards will be postponed.
...
deliamilliron.bsky.social
Reading about these various definitely-not-DEI-hire nominees, I can't help but wonder if the Republicans have confused "meritocracy" with "mediocrity."
deliamilliron.bsky.social
New #ChemRxiv #preprint from my group and collaborators @tmtruskett.bsky.social and @utmid-ir.bsky.social

Ultrastrong coupling and IR spectral design by assembling layers of plasmonic ITO nanocrystals in open cavities. Surprising disorder tolerance of polariton modes!

chemrxiv.org/engage/chemr...
(left) cross-sectional SEM showing a Au layer at the bottom, few hundred nm thick Ge layer, topped by ~200 nm thick layer of ~25 nm diameter ITO nanocrystals. (right) Series of mid-IR reflectance spectra showing two dips to near-zero that become further apart as the number of nanocrystal layers in the assembly increases