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All wired up: New molecular wires for single-molecule electronic devices

Researchers designed a novel molecular wire with a polyyne backbone and a ruthenium-based unit, achieving higher conductance than previous organic molecular wires. The origin of high conductance lies in orbital splitting, which induces changes in the electron orbitals to facilitate electron transfer between metal electrodes and the wir...

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateAug 28, 2018

Looking inside the lithium battery's black box

Researchers at Columbia University have used Stimulated Raman Scattering microscopy to directly observe ion transport in electrolytes for the first time. They discovered a lithium deposition process with three stages: no depletion, partial depletion, and full depletion of lithium ions. The study also found a feedback mechanism between ...

Thermal camouflage disguises hot and cold

A new thermal camouflage system has been developed by researchers, allowing it to rapidly adapt to different temperatures and become indistinguishable from its surroundings. The system, which contains layers of graphene and an ionic liquid, can be applied to a variety of surfaces and is thin, light, and flexible.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalNano Letters·DateJun 27, 2018

A sprinkle of platinum nanoparticles onto graphene makes brain probes more sensitive

Researchers at UC San Diego developed a technique to engineer graphene electrodes with low impedance and transparency. This allows for simultaneous recording of neuronal activity and high-quality imaging of brain cell activity in transgenic mice. The technology brings graphene electrodes closer to being adapted into next-generation bra...

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateJun 14, 2018

Wood to supercapacitors

Researchers have discovered a way to produce highly conductive electrode materials for supercapacitors sustainably using nanocellulose derived from wood pulp. The new method yields mechanically stable and porous three-dimensional networks with high electrical conductivity.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateMay 24, 2018

Valves for tiny particles

The ETH Zurich researchers developed nanovalves that can control individual nanoparticles in liquids using electric forces. This technology enables sorting and manipulation of tiny particles such as metal, semiconductor, virus, liposomes, and antibodies.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateMay 23, 2018

Lignin -- A supergreen fuel for fuel cells

Researchers at Linköping University have developed a lignin-based fuel cell that converts the chemical energy of forest fuels into electricity without emitting carbon dioxide. The use of conducting polymer PEDOT:PSS as both electrode and proton conductor enables efficient proton-coupled electron transfer reactions.

SourceLinköping University·JournalAdvanced Sustainable Systems·DateMay 14, 2018

Tattoo electrodes from an ink-jet printer

Researchers at TU Graz have developed a novel method for creating printed tattoo electrodes that can transmit electrical impulses from human to machine. The electrodes are thin, flexible, and conformable, allowing for accurate measurements over extended periods without restricting patient mobility or comfort.

SourceGraz University of Technology·JournalAdvanced Science·DateMar 27, 2018

A new way to find better battery materials

Researchers at MIT have developed a new approach to designing battery materials that could lead to improved ion mobility and reduced reactivity. By analyzing the lattice properties of solid materials, they found a correlation between vibrational frequency and conductivity, allowing for accurate predictions of material properties.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalEnergy & Environmental Science·DateMar 26, 2018

Got the message? Your brainwaves will tell

Neuroscientists at KU Leuven developed an EEG-based method to objectively and automatically assess speech understanding. The technique, which uses 64 electrodes, can measure brainwaves while a person listens to a sentence and determine whether they have understood it.

SourceKU Leuven·JournalJournal of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology·DateMar 8, 2018

Capturing brain signals with soft electronics

Researchers have developed high-density stretchable electrode grids for long-term stable neural recording, overcoming challenges in biocompatibility and mechanical properties. The breakthrough enables crucial applications in biomedical engineering, including diagnosing and treating neurological disorders such as epilepsy.

SourceLinköping University·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateMar 5, 2018

UNIST researchers develop highly stretchable aqueous batteries

Researchers at UNIST have developed a highly stretchable rechargeable lithium-ion battery based on aqueous electrolytes, using a simple and cost-effective solution process. The breakthrough involves a bioinspired Jabuticaba-like hybrid carbon/polymer composite that retains its electrical conductivity under high strain rates.

SourceUlsan National Institute of Science and Technology(UNIST)·JournalAdvanced Energy Materials·DateJan 26, 2018

Columbia engineers develop floating solar fuels rig for seawater electrolysis

Researchers have developed a novel photovoltaic-powered electrolysis device that can operate as a stand-alone platform on open water, producing hydrogen fuel from sunlight and water. The device separates gases using buoyancy-driven product separation, resulting in high product purity without actively pumping the electrolyte.

SourceColumbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science·JournalInternational Journal of Hydrogen Energy·DateDec 15, 2017

A lithium-ion battery inspired by safety glass

Researchers have modified lithium-ion batteries to include slits along the electrodes, potentially mitigating battery failure during automobile accidents. The prototype improved energy density and reduced housing material costs, offering a safer alternative for electric vehicles.

SourceCell Press·JournalJoule·DateDec 13, 2017

Hybrid electrolyte enhances supercapacitance in vertical graphene nanosheets

Researchers discovered a hybrid electrolyte that combines aqueous and organic characteristics to increase the performance of vertical graphene nanosheets in supercapacitors. The hybrid electrolyte and potassium hydroxide activation improved nanostructure and charge storage capacity, resulting in fivefold improvements in capacitance.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalJournal of Applied Physics·DateDec 5, 2017