Robotic fingers with a gentle touch
Researchers create soft gripper that uses electroadhesion to pick up fragile objects of arbitrary shape and stiffness. The new technology mimics muscle function, gripping onto objects with electrostatic forces.
Electrodes
Articles tagged with Electrodes
Graphene shown to safely interact with neurons in the brain
Researchers have successfully interfaced graphene with neurons, maintaining the integrity of these vital cells. The work may lead to the development of graphene-based electrodes that can safely be implanted in the brain, offering promise for restoring sensory functions in amputee or paralyzed patients.
Scientists decode brain signals nearly at speed of perception
Researchers used electrodes implanted in the temporal lobes of awake patients to decode brain signals and predict what object patients were seeing with over 95% accuracy. The study's findings have significant implications for understanding human perception and could lead to new treatments for paralysis and stroke patients.
Continuing the search for better energy materials
Researcher Zhifeng Ren has received a $561,275 DOE grant to continue his work on flexible transparent electrodes and thermoelectric materials. His efforts aim to enhance existing material properties and discover new materials with high power factor.
Nanowalls for smartphones
Scientists at ETH Zurich have developed a new type of transparent electrode using 3D print technology, featuring gold or silver nanowalls on a glass surface. This innovation offers higher conductivity and transparency than traditional indium tin oxide electrodes, leading to improved screen quality and touch responsiveness in smartphones.
Melting, coating, and all-solid-state lithium batteries
Researchers created a new way to coat solid electrolyte around electrodes, solving problems of gasification and poor permeability. The breakthrough enables high-ion conductivity and air stability in all-solid-state lithium batteries.
The double life of a bacteria
Researchers discovered a bacterium that can use direct uptake of electrons from an electrode to fuel its metabolic pathway. This finding suggests the existence of electro-ecosystems, where microorganisms sustain life by electrical current, not relying on inorganic substances or light.
CWRU researchers tailor power source for wearable electronics
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have created flexible, wire-shaped microsupercapacitors that can be woven into garments to power wearable electronics. The capacitors increase energy density and capacitance by coating a titanium wire with aligned carbon nanotubes, allowing for more efficient charging and discharging.
Basic technology of high thermally-durable all-solid-state lithium ion battery developed
Hitachi and Tohoku University's Advanced Institute for Materials Research have developed a basic technology to reduce internal resistance in all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries, allowing them to operate at temperatures up to 150°C. This breakthrough enables the thermally durable battery to be used in various applications, such as lar...
New concepts emerge for generating clean, inexpensive fuel from water
Researchers at the University of Chicago and University of Wisconsin developed a new method to split water into hydrogen and oxygen efficiently using solar energy. By incorporating nitrogen into an electrode made of bismuth vanadate, they increased photon absorption and electron transport, leading to higher fuel efficiency.
An enhanced lithium-air battery
Researchers have developed a new lithium-air battery that utilizes unique materials to overcome common issues with efficiency and water tolerance. The battery's design features a lithium metal negative electrode, non-aqueous electrolyte, and positive electrode that work together to improve overall performance.
New design points a path to the 'ultimate' battery
Scientists have developed a working laboratory demonstrator of a lithium-oxygen battery with very high energy density, exceeding 90% efficiency, and over 2000 recharges. The breakthrough relies on a highly porous graphene electrode and additives altering chemical reactions for improved stability and efficiency.
Capacitor breakthrough
Researchers at the University of Delaware have successfully developed a new method to increase the energy storage ability of dielectric capacitors using nanotechnology. The innovation achieves an energy density of about two watt hours per kilogram, significantly higher than existing structures.
Silver: The promising electrode winner for low-cost perovskite solar cells
Researchers have identified silver corrosion as a major issue in perovskite solar cells, which absorb light across almost all visible wavelengths and exceed 20% power conversion efficiency. A solution-based method using silver electrodes can reduce costs but may lead to short lifetimes.
Breakthrough for electrode implants in the brain
Researchers at Lund University have developed implantable electrodes that capture signals from single neurons without causing brain tissue damage. The electrodes, called 3-D electrodes, are extremely soft and flexible, enabling stable recordings over long periods.
A micro-supercapacitor with unmatched energy storage performance
Researchers at INRS have developed a micro-supercapacitor with unprecedented energy density, exceeding existing electrochemical capacitors by 1,000 times. This innovation combines the strengths of supercapacitors and lithium-ion batteries, making it suitable for various applications.
Hopes of improved brain implants
Researchers at Lund University have developed a new type of brain implant that uses nanowires to stimulate or capture signals from different areas of the brain. This breakthrough could lead to improved treatments for Parkinson's disease, depression, autism, and paralysis.
ORNL demonstrates road to supercapacitors for scrap tires
Researchers at ORNL have created flexible polymer carbon composite films as electrodes for supercapacitors, achieving high power and energy density. The technology can consume up to 50 tons of scrap tires daily, providing relief from the expected 1.5 billion discarded tires by 2035.
PolyU develops novel efficient and low-cost semitransparent solar cells
Researchers at PolyU have created high-efficiency, low-cost semitransparent perovskite solar cells with graphene electrodes for BIPV applications. The PCEs reach up to 12% and show potential cost savings of over 50% compared to existing silicon-based solar panels.
New nanomaterial maintains conductivity in three dimensions
Researchers create a one-step process to make seamless carbon-based nanomaterials that possess superior thermal, electrical and mechanical properties in three dimensions. The material enables high efficiency batteries, supercapacitors, and solar cells, and has potential for applications such as energy storage, sensors, and wearable ele...
New findings move flexible lighting technology toward commercial feasibility
Researchers at Pohang University of Science and Technology have made significant advancements in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) for solid-state lighting. The team developed flexible electrodes using graphene, conducting polymers, and silver nanowires, which demonstrated good electrical, optical, and mechanical performance.
Researchers collaborate in development of brain-friendly interfaces
Researchers have developed a brain-friendly interface using an extracellular matrix environment, which can adapt to the mechanical properties of brain tissue and acquire neural recordings. This technology has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of limb loss and spinal cord injuries.
Transparent, electrically conductive network of encapsulated silver nanowires
Researchers have developed a new, cost-effective alternative to conventional electrodes using encapsulated silver nanowires. The electrodes are made by applying a suspension of silver nanowires onto a substrate and then encasing them in AZO crystals.
Sensitive and specific: A new way of probing electrolyte/electrode interfaces
Researchers developed a novel diffraction spectroscopy technique to probe chemical processes at the electrode/electrolyte interface, offering enhanced sensitivity and specificity. The method uses graphene gratings to detect molecular vibrations with sub-monolayer sensitivity.
Culturing the connectome
Researchers at OIST developed a method to recreate connections between neurons from two different brain areas in a dish, allowing for the study of brain function and potential treatments for neurological disorders. The breakthrough used neurons from embryos of mice and created a working corticostriatal network.
Study finds a way to prevent fires in next-generation lithium batteries
Researchers discovered a way to prevent dendrite formation in lithium metal batteries by adding chemicals to the electrolyte, improving safety and performance. The new approach could lead to more efficient and longer-lasting batteries with potential applications in electric vehicles and energy storage.
Designer electronics out of the printer
Researchers at TUM have successfully improved the electrical properties of printed films by optimizing the printing process, resulting in custom organic electronics. The team used X-ray radiation to study the curing process and achieved high time resolution, leading to significant improvements in stability and conductivity.
MRI technology reveals deep brain pathways in unprecedented detail
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have created a high-resolution map of the human brain stem using MRI technology, providing unprecedented detail of deep brain pathways. This new model can guide surgeons in implanting electrodes more accurately, potentially eliminating trial-and-error methods and making surgery safer.
New 'designer carbon' from Stanford boosts battery performance
The new material has exceptional energy-storage capacity, enabling unprecedented performance in lithium-sulfur batteries and supercapacitors. Designer carbon can be fine-tuned for various applications by adjusting the type of polymers and organic linkers used during fabrication.
Physicists precisely measure interaction between atoms and carbon surfaces
Researchers at the University of Washington have made the most precise measurements yet of atom-surface interactions crucial for improving lithium batteries and air filters. By studying gas atoms' behavior on a carbon nanotube surface, they found a measurable change in electrical resistance occurs when an atom sticks to the surface.
Stanford scientists discover how microbes acquire electricity in making methane
Researchers have identified the mechanism by which methanogens obtain electrons from solid surfaces, paving the way for more efficient microbial factories that produce methane gas. The discovery also sheds light on microbially influenced corrosion, a significant global problem with estimated annual economic losses of $1 billion.
High-performance 3-D microbattery suitable for large-scale on-chip integration
Researchers created high-performance 3D lithium-ion microbatteries using 3D holographic lithography and 2D photolithography. The battery has exceptional performance, scalability, and can be integrated with microelectronic devices.
Chest strap heart rate monitor
A new chest strap ECG monitor has been developed using wettable electrodes that are kept moist by an artificial sweating process. The device can now be used for long-term heart rate monitoring, addressing previous limitations of gel electrodes.
New chip architecture may provide foundation for quantum computer
Researchers at Georgia Tech have developed a microfabricated ion trap architecture that increases qubit density and brings us closer to building a quantum computer. The new design uses ball grid array techniques to fit more electrodes onto the chip, paving the way for increased scalability.
Beyond the lithium ion -- a significant step toward a better performing battery
Scientists at the University of Illinois Chicago have made a significant breakthrough in battery technology by replacing lithium ions with magnesium ions, which can carry twice the positive charge. This development could lead to the creation of high-voltage, high-energy batteries that can outperform existing lithium-ion batteries.
Engineer improves rechargeable batteries with MoS2 nano 'sandwich'
Researchers have developed a new type of battery electrode made from molybdenum disulfide sheets wrapped in silicon carbonitride, showing improved stability and high lithium capacity. The discovery could lead to more efficient rechargeable batteries for smartphones and other devices.
Thumbnail track pad
Researchers at MIT Media Lab create a miniature wireless track pad using capacitive sensing, allowing users to control devices with their thumbs. The technology has potential applications in various scenarios, including cooking, texting, and subtle communication.
A KAIST research team develops a hyper-stretchable elastic-composite energy harvester
A KAIST research team has developed a hyper-stretchable elastic-composite energy harvester called a nanogenerator. The device can harvest mechanical energy to produce high power output with large elasticity and excellent durability.
LSU professor's neurological research featured in the Journal of Neuroscience
A new study published in the Journal of Neuroscience found that visual objects are represented by a distributed network in the human brain. Researchers used single-neuron activity recordings from epilepsy patients to test the idea of
University of Houston researchers build brain-machine interface to control prosthetic hand
A team of researchers from the University of Houston has developed a non-invasive brain-machine interface that allows an amputee to control a prosthetic hand with high accuracy. The technology, which uses electroencephalogram (EEG) signals to capture brain activity, enables individuals to grasp objects with ease and precision.
Carbon nanotube fibers make superior links to brain
The carbon nanotube fibers have proven superior to metal electrodes for deep brain stimulation and reading signals from a neuronal network. They offer promise for treating patients with neurological disorders while monitoring the real-time response of neural circuits.
Clean energy future: New cheap and efficient electrode for splitting water
UNSW Australia scientists have developed a highly efficient oxygen-producing electrode for splitting water that has the potential to be scaled up for industrial production of clean energy fuel, hydrogen. The new technology is based on an inexpensive, specially coated foam material that lets the bubbles of oxygen escape quickly.
High performance, lightweight supercapacitor electrodes of the future
The new electrode boasts nearly 1415 farad per gram capacitance, high current density, low resistance, and high power density. It also exhibits long-term cycling stability, retaining up to 95% of initial capacitance after 3000 cycles.
New research could lead to more efficient electrical energy storage
Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have identified changes in the structure and bonding of graphitic carbon electrodes that may improve the capacity and efficiency of electrical energy storage systems. The new X-ray adsorption spectroscopy capability provided key information on how the structure and bonding evolve du...
Pens filled with high-tech inks for do-it-yourself sensors
Researchers developed bio-inks that react with chemicals, allowing the creation of reusable glucose sensors on skin and leaves. The pens can also detect pollutants and hazardous materials, enabling potential applications in healthcare, environmental monitoring, and security. Future steps include connecting sensors wirelessly to monitor...
NIH-funded research lays groundwork for next-generation prosthetics
Researchers have developed implantable devices that can record muscle activity and provide more natural prosthesis control. The technologies aim to improve the reliability of prosthetic limbs and enable users to experience sensations in their residual limbs, enhancing overall prosthetic performance.
Utah team gets $1.4M for bionic hand research
A team of researchers at the University of Utah has received $1.4 million to further develop an implantable neural interface that allows amputees to control a prosthetic hand with their thoughts and feel sensations of touch and movement.
'Bulletproof' battery: Kevlar membrane for safer, thinner lithium rechargeables
Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed a new battery technology using a Kevlar membrane to prevent lithium-ion fires and enhance safety. The membrane, made with nanofibers extracted from Kevlar, stifles the growth of metal tendrils that can become unwanted pathways for electrical current.
Self-powered intelligent keyboard could provide a new layer of security
A new self-powered non-mechanical intelligent keyboard generates electricity from user fingertips, capturing unique typing styles for enhanced computer security. This innovative device uses individual keystroke patterns to identify users and prevent unauthorized access.
Wearable sensor clears path to long-term EKG, EMG monitoring
Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a new, wearable sensor that can accurately monitor electrophysiological signals like electrocardiography (EKG) or electromyography (EMG) for long periods. The sensor uses silver nanowires and is more accurate than existing sensors, especially when a patient is moving.
Extra-short nanowires best for brain
Researchers found that nanowires shorter than 2 micrometres cause no harm to the brain tissue, while longer ones lead to inflammation and neurotoxic effects. The study suggests developing electrodes with smaller and more flexible nanowire coatings for safer neural implants.
Pitt team publishes new findings from mind-controlled robot arm project
A woman with quadriplegia used her thoughts to control a prosthetic arm and hand, achieving 10-degree brain control and grasping various objects. The study's findings indicate that highly coordinated movement can be restored to people with paralyzed arms and hands.
Lengthening the life of high capacity silicon electrodes in rechargeable lithium batteries
Researchers discovered a rubber-like coating that improves durability of high-capacity silicon electrodes, leading to potential ten-fold increase in battery capacity. The coating softens the particles, allowing them to expand and contract with lithium without fracturing.
Shaping the future of energy storage with conductive clay
Researchers at Drexel University have developed a conductive clay that can be easily molded into various shapes and sizes, representing a significant shift in the production of electrodes for energy storage devices. The clay's high conductivity and plasticity make it an attractive candidate for use in batteries and supercapacitors.
ASU, IBM move ultrafast, low-cost DNA sequencing technology a step closer to reality
A team of scientists from Arizona State University and IBM have developed a prototype DNA reader that can distinguish individual chemical bases of DNA. The device is thousands of times smaller than the width of a human hair and could make whole genome profiling an everyday practice in medicine.
Berkeley Lab study reveals molecular structure of water at gold electrodes
Researchers at Berkeley Lab have observed the molecular structure of liquid water at a gold surface under different charging conditions using XAS. The team developed a method to determine the arrangement changes of molecules depending on the voltage, shedding light on battery performance and materials science.
Mind-controlled prosthetic arms that work in daily life are now a reality
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology have developed a novel osseointegrated implant system, enabling patients to control prosthetic arms with direct bone-anchored connections. The technology allows for long-term stable fusion between man and machine, providing mechanical stability and intimate union.
Batteries included: A solar cell that stores its own power
Researchers at Ohio State University have created a solar cell that can store its own power, reducing the cost of renewable energy. The 'solar battery' combines a mesh solar panel with a battery, allowing for efficient charging and discharging using light and oxygen.
NIH taps lab to develop sophisticated electrode array system to monitor brain act
The NIH is developing an advanced electrode array system that will enable researchers to better understand how the brain works through unprecedented resolution and scale. The system, which will pack over 1,000 tiny electrodes, will allow scientists to simultaneously study thousands of neuronal cells in various brain regions during comp...
New EEG electrode set for fast and easy measurement of brain function abnormalities
A new, easy-to-use EEG electrode set was developed to quickly attach on patients, reducing electromagnetic interference and allowing rapid diagnosis of severe brain function abnormalities. The set consists of 16 hydrogel-coated electrodes placed on hair-free areas, making it suitable for emergency care and field conditions.