Researchers at Princeton University developed a new pixel-by-pixel printing method that creates composite shapes, colors, and mechanical abilities using curable elastic polymers. The technique, inspired by inkjet printers, uses age-old fluid dynamics to fabricate precise and robust structures without complicated machinery.
Researchers at Ritsumeikan University in Japan have developed a new method to fabricate cadmium-free thin-film solar cells with improved energy conversion efficiency. The process replaces toxic materials with native buffer layers formed through air-annealing, reducing waste and increasing the potential for large-scale manufacturing.
Researchers at MIT have created a paper-thin loudspeaker that produces sound with minimal distortion while using a fraction of the energy required by traditional loudspeakers. The device, which is as thin as a dime and weighs about the same, can generate high-quality sound on any surface it is bonded to.
Researchers at Samsung have developed a novel approach to inspect critical dimensions of semiconductor devices, improving speed and resolution. The new 'line-scan hyperspectral imaging' (LHSI) technique offers faster measurements with high spatial resolution, outperforming existing methods.
The University of Texas at El Paso Aerospace Center will engage in nuclear materials technology research with a five-year, $5 million grant from the US Department of Energy. This partnership aims to transform national nuclear security through nuclear material science applications and provide opportunities for underrepresented students.
Researchers at Surrey and the Federal University of Pelotas developed a low-cost, environmentally friendly way to produce flexible supercapacitors. The new technology can significantly extend the lifespan of Internet of Things devices, such as smartwatches and fitness trackers.
Researchers developed a self-cleaning bioplastic that repels liquids and dirt like a lotus leaf, breaking down rapidly in soil. The bioplastic is made from cheap raw materials, compostable, and suitable for fresh food and takeaway packaging.
Researchers at USTC create flexible electronic systems using thermoplastic polyurethane and liquid metal, enabling high-performance, stretchable, and reconfigurable devices. The technology addresses environmental and energy concerns with recyclability and reconfigurability.
New 3D printed sinusoidal spacers successfully decrease membrane fouling by an additional 10% compared to conventional spacers. The design addresses the issue of local dead zones, which can promote membrane fouling.
A team of engineers at the University of Arizona is using machine learning methods to monitor and mitigate defects in additive manufactured metal parts designed for use in extreme environments. The system combines data processing, process optimization, materials analysis, and machine learning to predict defects.
Researchers from City University of Hong Kong created a new titanium-based alloy using additive manufacturing, boasting unprecedented structures and properties. The alloy exhibits high tensile strength, excellent work-hardening capacity, and is up to 40% lighter than stainless steel, making it suitable for various structural applications.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis developed a new material for stretchy flexible LEDs using an inkjet printer, combining the benefits of organic and inorganic LEDs. The new material, called perovskite, can be printed onto unconventional substrates, including rubber, and is elastic and stretchable in nature.
Researchers at MIT develop a data-driven process using machine learning to optimize new 3D printing materials with multiple characteristics. The system lowers costs and lessens environmental impact by reducing chemical waste and suggesting unique chemical formulations that human intuition might miss.
A University of Missouri researcher is using a grant from the National Science Foundation to explore how time can factor in a building collapse. She's conducting thousands of hours of laboratory tests to determine the breaking points of reinforced concrete building materials.
Researchers found a solution to overcome ion interference in perovskite transistors, enabling room-temperature operation. The breakthrough uses ferroelectric materials to mitigate ion transport, promising applications in low-cost electronics.
Researchers from Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation developed a method to fabricate ultrathin gold shells around silver nanowires, improving their stability and effectiveness. The gold-coated nanowires showed superior durability and performance in various tests, outperforming commercial nanowires.
Researchers at KAIST have developed a brain-inspired highly scalable neuromorphic hardware by co-integrating single transistor neurons and synapses. This innovation dramatically reduces hardware cost and accelerates the commercialization of neuromorphic hardware, enabling its application in mobile and IoT devices.
The NTU team created flexible UV light sensors that are 25 times more responsive and 330 times more sensitive than existing sensors. These sensors can be used in wearable devices to monitor personal UV exposure and reduce the risk of skin cancer.
Researchers in Italy and UK developed an automatic process to assess nanofiber fabrication quality, achieving 92.5% accuracy. The new system reduces the need for human inspection and minimizes anomalies, improving uniformity and quality.
Researchers from Fraunhofer ITWM and Technische Universität Kaiserslautern create a new photosensitive material that enables the fabrication of highly conductive microcomponents via direct laser writing. The approach demonstrates high material density and on-chip compatibility, offering vast potential for improving antenna performance.
Researchers have developed a contact lens that uses tiny channels to collect tears and measure biomarkers like sodium ions and glucose molecules. The lens can detect changes in tear pH and flow rates, offering a potential solution for preventing dry eye disease and monitoring diabetic patients.
Researchers at the University of Tokyo have developed a new and efficient way to create nanographene, a material that is expected to revolutionize technology. The method uses an atomic force microscope (AFM) to precisely control the fabrication process, allowing for the creation of tailored nanographene formations.
Flexible on-skin electronics made from pencil traces on paper can record various biomedical signals such as temperature, heart rate, and glucose levels. The technology has the potential to enable transdermal drug delivery and provides a cost-effective solution for monitoring vital signs in low-resource medical settings.
Researchers propose novel temporal-spatial ordering and dynamic smart behavior in hollow multishell structures (HoMS), enabling efficient energy conversion and storage. The unique structure facilitates sequential electromagnetic wave harvesting and cascade catalytic reactions.
Carpentry Compiler is a digital tool that allows users to design and fabricate woodworking projects. The tool optimizes fabrication instructions based on materials and equipment available, allowing for tradeoffs in cost, precision, and time.
A team of researchers from University College London has developed a new method for fabricating polymeric nanofibers and microfibers without the use of electric fields. The technique, called pressure gyration, produces thinner and more consistent fibers than traditional centrifugal spinning methods.
Researchers from SUTD's Soft Fluidics Lab developed a new 3D printing method, immersion precipitation 3D printing (ip3DP), which allows for the fabrication of 3D porous models in one step. The porosity of the printed objects can be easily controlled by adjusting polymer concentrations and solvent types. This novel approach enables the ...
Sodium-ion batteries have shorter lifetimes than lithium-based batteries due to the unintended presence of hydrogen. Hydrogen leads to degradation of the battery electrode. The study reveals that measures can be taken during fabrication and encapsulation to suppress incorporation of hydrogen, leading to better performance.
A team at Michigan Technological University developed the Gigabot X, an industrial 3D printer that uses waste plastic particles to create large, strong prints. The printer has shown significant cost savings and high returns on investment for producing sporting goods products.
Researchers discovered that an inhomogeneous magnetic field affects the magnetization reversal mechanism of exchange-coupled structures, increasing sensitivity of magnetic field detectors. The study reveals a step-wise hysteresis loop and changes in the shape of the loop with varying magnetic field gradients.
Researchers developed a Computer-Aided Material Design (CAMaD) system that extracts information related to fabrication processes and material structures and properties, enabling the summarization of knowledge from thousands of scientific articles in a single chart. This allows for rationalizing and expediting material design.
Researchers developed a mathematical approach to predict crease formation in soft solids, enabling on-demand control of adaptive surface morphology. This breakthrough enables the design and fabrication of morphable materials for stretchable electronics, self-foldable machines, and lab-on-a-chip devices.
Inorganic-organic halide perovskites have distinctive advantages for high efficiency solar cells, with recent breakthroughs in developing efficient hole transport material free PSCs. Significant ion transport has been found to redistribute doping and defects, affecting photoelectric behavior and stability.
An international research team developed inkjet printing techniques for scalable mass fabrication of black phosphorous-based photonic and optoelectronic devices. The novel technique enables the production of functional devices with excellent print quality and uniformity.
Scientists at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology create a method to erase the ink used for 3D printing, allowing for the creation of structures that can be modified repeatedly. The technology has numerous applications in biology and materials sciences.
Digital fabrication in architecture promises substantial contributions to sustainability and productivity, enabling new forms of architectural expression. Researchers are developing interdisciplinary research connections to form a digital building culture, leveraging domain-specific robotic technology and advanced materials.
Researchers have developed a highly stretchable and UV curable elastomer that can be stretched by up to 1100%, making it suitable for 3D printing techniques. The new material enables the direct creation of complex structures and devices, such as soft robotic grippers, with significantly reduced fabrication time.
Manchester University researchers have developed a method to stabilize previously unstable 2D crystals, allowing for the study of their properties and potential applications. The breakthrough enables the isolation of these materials in thin stacks, enabling control over their properties and opening up new possibilities for industry.
Researchers at MIT demonstrated a novel automated fabrication process for producing highly aligned polymer films (HAPFs) with superior mechanical and thermal properties. The process involves sol-gel extrusion, structure freezing and drying, and mechanical drawing, resulting in uniform alignment of molecular chains.
The National Science Foundation has awarded a three-year grant to Virginia Tech to optimize DNA molecule fabrication using industrial engineering methods. The project aims to increase productivity in life science research and create manufacturing jobs for undereducated individuals.
The James Webb Space Telescope achieved significant milestones in 2011, including the completion of flight mirror testing and sunshield layer testing. The telescope's mirror segments were chilled to temperatures similar to those it will see in space, while the sunshield's deployment system was also tested.
Researchers at UCLA have overcome difficulties in integrating graphene into electronic devices, achieving the fastest graphene transistor to date with a cutoff frequency of up to 300 GHz. This breakthrough enables the development of high-speed radio-frequency electronics for applications in microwave communication and radar technologies.
Researchers have developed a novel method for growing barium titanate films at atmospheric pressure using the localized hydrothermal technique. The method uses an aqueous alkali-earth hydroxide solution and Joule heating, resulting in low-energy consumption and simple experimental setup.
Researchers at Penn State have developed a new type of ultrathin film made from spherical cages of carbon atoms, which can enable more precise patterning of electronic and sensing devices. The material's unique properties allow for easier replacement of molecules, expanding the range of molecular components that can be incorporated.
Researchers developed a novel fabrication technique that uses magnetic actuation to assemble large arrays of three-dimensional microstructures. The method involves casting individual components in place and using a magnetic field to fold them into shape.
University at Buffalo chemists have developed a new method to generate coatings for electronic devices, eliminating toxic precursors and enabling the creation of unique materials with photonics applications. The technique uses high temperatures and quenching to produce uniform films without fail.
Scientists at Sandia National Laboratories and France Telecom have developed a prototype memory-retention device that uses embedded protons to preserve information. The 'protonic' device is inexpensive, low-powered, and simple to fabricate, and can retain data even when power is turned off.