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American Institute of Physics


Where the rubber meets the road

Researchers have discovered that rubber friction on asphalt is influenced by the deformation of molecules when pushed against rough road surfaces, as well as shearing movement. This finding could lead to more efficient tire materials and manufacturing processes.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalThe Journal of Chemical Physics·DateMay 15, 2015

Windows that act like an LCD Screen

A novel liquid crystal technology allows displays to flip between transparent and opaque states, increasing visibility while reducing the need for power. The new design remedies previous problems with scattering and absorption, providing a faster response time and improved energy efficiency.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalAIP Advances·DateApr 28, 2015

Printing silicon on paper, with lasers

A new fabrication technique allows for direct production of polycrystalline silicon on flexible surfaces, enabling the creation of wearable electronics and other applications. The method bypasses a traditional thermal annealing step, making it more suitable for use with flexible substrates.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateApr 21, 2015

Detecting cryptosporidium in China

Researchers developed a lab-on-a-chip device that can diagnose Cryptosporidium infections in as little as 10 minutes, offering potential improvements in treatment outcomes for rural areas in China. The device is easy to use and has diagnostic capabilities comparable to current standards, with the potential to reduce costs and timeframe.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalBiomicrofluidics·DateApr 14, 2015

Harvesting energy from electromagnetic waves

A team of researchers from the University of Waterloo has developed a novel design for electromagnetic energy harvesting based on the full absorption concept, which enables the collection of essentially all electromagnetic energy that falls onto a surface. This technology has vast applications in space solar power and wireless power tr...

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateApr 14, 2015

Carbon nanotube computing?

Researchers at Durham University and the University of São Paulo discovered a correlation between single-walled carbon nanotube concentration and computational capability in composite materials. The emerging field of 'evolution-in-materio' uses natural evolution principles to train materials to mimic electronic circuits.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalJournal of Applied Physics·DateApr 7, 2015

Future electronics based on carbon nanotubes

A team of researchers has found a way to strip out metallic carbon nanotubes from arrays using a simple, scalable procedure, leaving behind semiconducting nanotubes suitable for electronic devices. This breakthrough could lead to the development of smaller, faster, and cheaper electronic devices.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalJournal of Applied Physics·DateApr 7, 2015

Soft, energy-efficient robotic wings

Dielectric elastomers have made significant breakthroughs in soft robotics applications, enabling the creation of flapping robotic wings with high-energy conversion efficiencies. The new resonance phenomenon discovered by researchers can make the artificial joint bend up and down, mimicking the motion of a bird's wing.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateMar 31, 2015

Squeeze to remove heat: Elastocaloric materials enable more efficient, 'green' cooling

Researchers have discovered elastocaloric materials that can change temperature in response to mechanical stress, enabling more efficient solid-state refrigeration. These materials could lead to environmentally-friendly replacements for traditional cooling technologies, with potential applications in household refrigerators, air condit...

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalJournal of Applied Physics·DateMar 24, 2015

'Goldilocks material' could change spintronics

A team at Trinity College in Dublin has discovered a new class of magnetic materials based on Mn-Ga alloys, which could revolutionize data storage and increase wireless data transmission speeds. The material has unique properties that make it immune to external magnetic fields and free from demagnetizing forces.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateMar 24, 2015

Breakthrough in OLED technology

Researchers in California and Japan develop OLEDs with finely patterned structures, producing bright, low-power light sources. The key finding is confining charge transport and recombination to nanoscale areas, extending electroluminescent efficiency by almost two orders of magnitude.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateMar 2, 2015

A new spin on spintronics

A team of researchers from the University of Michigan and Western Michigan University has developed a new radiation-resistant spintronic material that can maintain its spin-dependence after being irradiated. This breakthrough could enable electronic devices to work in harsh environments, such as space-based communications satellites.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateFeb 17, 2015

Extreme-temperature electronics

Researchers discover molybdenum disulfide thin-film transistors functional at high temperatures, demonstrating potential for extreme-temperature electronics. The material's stable operation after two months suggests new applications in harsh environments.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalJournal of Applied Physics·DateFeb 10, 2015

The future of holographic video

Researchers at BYU and MIT develop a new technology using surface acoustic waves to control light's angle and color composition, enabling inexpensive holographic video displays. The team's approach reduces costs and opens up possibilities for large-scale room-sized displays.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalReview of Scientific Instruments·DateFeb 3, 2015

Artificial blood vessels

Researchers at Shanghai University developed a tri-layered artificial blood vessel composed of separate materials for mechanical strength and new cell growth. The composite allowed rapid proliferation and integration of rat fibroblast cells, overcoming limitations of existing vascular grafts.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalAIP Advances·DateFeb 3, 2015

Acoustic levitation made simple

A Brazilian team of researchers has developed a new levitation device that can hover tiny polystyrene particles with more control than any instrument before. The device uses sound waves to reflect off a concave reflector, allowing the particle to be moved around without precise setup.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateJan 5, 2015

Gift-wrapped gas molecules

Researchers have successfully created metal-organic frameworks that can stably store and slowly release nitric oxide, a key player in biological signaling pathways. This breakthrough could lead to new approaches for treating infections and heart conditions, as well as potential applications in medical therapies.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalAPL Materials·DateDec 30, 2014

A qubit candidate shines brighter

A team of researchers at Harvard, UC Santa Barbara, and the University of Chicago has developed a technique to precisely place nitrogen vacancy centers within nano-sized diamond structures, enhancing their fluorescence. This achievement is crucial for using NV centers as qubits in future quantum computers.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateDec 29, 2014