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Ultrafast beam-steering breakthrough at Sandia Labs

A team of researchers has demonstrated the ability to dynamically steer incoherent light pulses using a semiconductor device, paving the way for applications such as holograms, remote sensing, and self-driving cars. The technique uses metasurfaces to manipulate light waves, offering a low-power alternative to traditional laser beams.

SourceDOE/Sandia National Laboratories·JournalNature Photonics·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 20, 2023

Pusan National University researchers develop novel stackable hole injection layer material for solution-processed OLEDs

Researchers at Pusan National University have developed a novel solvent-resistant hole injection layer material, enabling the creation of efficient solution-processed OLED devices. The material exhibits high mobility and excellent film-forming properties, leading to improved efficiency and lifetime compared to existing materials.

SourcePusan National University·JournalChemical Engineering Journal·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 15, 2023

Ben-Gurion University chemists pioneer responsive polymers that heat up when exposed to LED light

Researchers have created a new type of polymer that can be triggered by light, enabling faster chemical reactions and more efficient energy use. The polymers, which respond to different wavelengths of light, show promise for use in various fields, including pharmaceuticals and future Mars habitats.

SourceBen-Gurion University of the Negev·JournalNature Chemistry·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 30, 2023

Highly transparent electrodes for deep-UV light emitting diode applications

Scientists from Tokyo Metropolitan University have developed a new electrode material for deep-ultraviolet light-emitting diode applications, combining excellent electrical conductivity with unprecedented transparency. The new electrodes promise to impact industry by enabling more efficient and compact light sources for sterilization p...

SourceTokyo Metropolitan University·JournalChemistry of Materials·DateJan 21, 2023

Entire color palette of inexpensive fluorescent dyes

ETH Zurich researchers have created a range of affordable fluorescent inks with machine learning algorithms to determine the right molecular subunits. The new dyes can be used for security features and applications like solar power plants and organic light-emitting diodes.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalChem·DateJan 2, 2023

Nanoantennas directing a bright future

Researchers at Kyoto University have developed nanoantennas that significantly increase the efficiency and photoluminescence of white LEDs by replacing aluminum with titanium dioxide. This breakthrough enables the creation of intensely bright yet energy-saving solid-state lighting solutions.

SourceKyoto University·JournalJournal of Materials Chemistry C·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 21, 2022

Single component white LED based on lanthanide ions doped lead halide perovskite

Scientists developed a method to fabricate white perovskite LEDs using lanthanide ions doped CsPbCl3 nanocrystals, achieving a peak luminance of 1678 cd m^-2 and a maximum external quantum efficiency of 5.4%. The LEDs demonstrate excellent performance among existing white PeNCs LEDs from single chip.

A sensitization strategy achieves hyperfluorescence

Researchers developed a new fluorescent emitter with a small Stokes shift, achieving high external quantum efficiency over 10% and narrow emission bands. The sensitization strategy using TADF sensitizer is an effective method for obtaining efficient electroluminescent devices.

SourceHigher Education Press·JournalFrontiers of Optoelectronics·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 16, 2022

Soft robot detects damage, heals itself

Researchers create a soft robot that can detect damage and heal itself using stretchable fiber-optic sensors and polyurethane urea elastomer. The SHeaLDS technology provides a damage-resistant robot that can self-heal from cuts, and the researchers plan to integrate it with machine learning algorithms for more tasks.

SourceCornell University·JournalScience Advances·DateDec 7, 2022

KAIST team develops surface-lighting MicroLED patch with significant melanogenesis inhibition effect

A KAIST research team has developed a surface-lighting microLED patch for UV-induced melanogenesis inhibition. The patch demonstrated significant suppression of melanin synthesis and minimized epidermal photo-toxicity, making it a promising treatment option for skin diseases such as spots and freckles.

SourceThe Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)·JournalAdvanced Healthcare Materials·TypeMeta-analysis·DateNov 23, 2022

Out of the blue

Researchers at the University of Tokyo have developed a new method for producing blue quantum dots, which are essential for creating high-quality displays. The breakthrough uses self-organizing chemical structures and a cutting-edge imaging technique to visualize the novel blue quantum dots.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 8, 2022

Wavelength stable green InGaN micro LEDs monolithically grown on silicon substrate

Scientists overcome barriers in conventional LED technology by creating III-nitride submicron-scale green µLEDs with a bottom-up approach. The devices feature arrays of nanowires with a core-shell multiple-quantum-well structure, which alleviate color instability and maintain peak wavelength stability despite changes in current injection.

NTU Singapore scientists develop inexpensive device that can harvest energy from a light breeze and store it as electricity

The NTU-developed wind harvester generates a voltage of three volts at wind speeds as low as two meters per second, powering commercial sensor devices. The device can also store excess charge for extended periods in the absence of wind, serving as an alternative to smaller lithium-ion batteries.

SourceNanyang Technological University·JournalMechanical Systems and Signal Processing·TypeMeta-analysis·DateOct 5, 2022

Small molecules, giant (surface) potential

Scientists at Kyushu University have developed organic molecules that align in the same direction, creating a 'giant surface potential' when evaporated onto a surface. This alignment leads to a significant electric field, which can improve OLED efficiency and open new routes for realizing devices that convert vibrations into electricity.

SourceKyushu University·JournalNature Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 26, 2022

Technique using light and artificial intelligence is effective in selecting immature soybean seeds

A team of Brazilian researchers has developed a novel technique using light and artificial intelligence to identify the maturity stages of soybean seeds. The method utilizes chlorophyll fluorescence and machine learning algorithms to classify commercial seeds with high accuracy. This innovation avoids destroying seeds, which are then c...

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalFrontiers in Plant Science·DateAug 25, 2022

Building molecular bridges: New crystal engineering strategy to design ultrabright fluorescent solid dyes

A new study from Tokyo Institute of Technology introduces a novel crystal engineering strategy to design ultrabright fluorescent solid dyes. This approach allows for monomeric emission and suppressed intermolecular interactions, enabling the creation of highly dense crystalline structures with controlled electronic properties.

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalChemistry - A European Journal·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 4, 2022

It’s not just diamonds that shine, so shine bright like nitrogen-doped polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Researchers from the Polish Academy of Sciences propose nitrogen-doped polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as potential OLED emitters, offering improved energy efficiency and color purity. The new compounds achieve high external quantum efficiencies, outperforming existing donor-acceptor emitters.

SourceInstitute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateJun 21, 2022

University of Illinois team topples the longstanding "efficiency droop" barrier to green-light LEDs

Researchers have long struggled to create high-power green LEDs due to the 'efficiency droop' phenomenon. The University of Illinois team has now discovered a way to avoid this issue by using cubic-phase crystal structures, which halves efficiency droop in InGaAlN light-emitting diodes.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering·JournalIEEE Transactions on Electron Devices·DateJun 20, 2022

Towards indoor lighting-powered thin-film, flexible solar cells with piezophototronics

Ritsumeikan University researchers create a novel thin-film flexible piezoelectric-photovoltaic device that can generate electricity from indoor lighting. The device's performance is improved through strain-induced polarization in the ZnMgO layer, increasing open-circuit voltage and overcoming charge recombination issues.

SourceRitsumeikan University·JournalNano Energy·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 8, 2022

Highly efficient green InP-based quantum dot light-emitting diodes regulated by inner alloyed shell component

Researchers developed highly efficient pure green-emitting InP-based QLEDs with an external quantum efficiency of 15.2%. The performance can be optimized by regulating the components of the inner alloyed ZnSe shell, reducing surface defects and increasing photoluminescence quantum yield.

Time-reversal asymmetry surpasses conversion efficiency limit for solar cells

Researchers have developed a single-cell PV design integrated with nonreciprocal optical components to provide 100-percent reuse of emitted radiation, breaking the Shockley–Queisser limit. This breakthrough enables a quasimonochromatic radiation converter to reach the theoretically maximum Carnot efficiency.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalJournal of Photonics for Energy·DateJun 1, 2022

SUTD develops design-based activity to enhance students’ understanding in electrochemistry

The electrochemistry designette is a pedagogical tool that enables instructors to visualize students' competence and misconceptions on electrochemical principles. Developed by SUTD researchers, the designette has proven highly effective in allowing instructors to spot misconceptions and provide prompt intervention.

SourceSingapore University of Technology and Design·JournalJournal of Chemical Education·DateMay 8, 2022

World’s first LED lights developed from rice husks

Researchers at Hiroshima University have created the world's first silicon quantum dot (QD) LED light using waste rice husks, offering an eco-friendly alternative to toxic semiconducting materials. The new method transforms agricultural waste into high-quality LED lights with high luminescence efficiency and low environmental impact.

SourceHiroshima University·JournalACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering·DateApr 11, 2022

Genetically modified proteins convert carbon nanotube to programmable optoelectronic device

Researchers developed a full-function bioelectronic photocell using genetically modified proteins attached to a carbon nanotube. The system can change its electronic properties in response to light, operating as a spotlight or memory cell. This discovery opens the door to environmentally friendly electronic elements, memory devices, an...

SourceSkolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech)·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateMar 30, 2022

Losing the cover of darkness

A study by researchers at the University of Plymouth reveals that energy-efficient broad spectrum lighting is reducing the efficacy of coastal species' camouflage. This can have significant impacts on visually guided ecological processes, with certain color variations being more vulnerable to detection.

SourceUniversity of Plymouth·JournalJournal of Applied Ecology·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 25, 2022

Ln-doped lead-free double perovskite based ultra-broadband LED

Researchers have developed a lead-free ultra-broadband LED using lanthanide-doped double perovskites, offering improved stability and cost-effectiveness. The device shows promising applications in spectroscopic analysis and multifunctional lighting, outperforming previously reported ultrabroadband light sources.

‘Self-driving’ lab speeds up research, synthesis of energy materials

Researchers at NC State University have developed a 'self-driving lab' that uses artificial intelligence and fluidic systems to advance our understanding of metal halide perovskite nanocrystals. The technology can autonomously dope MHP nanocrystals, adding manganese atoms on demand, allowing for faster control over properties.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalAdvanced Intelligent Systems·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 16, 2022

Record-breaking, ultrafast devices step to protecting the grid from EMPs

Scientists at Sandia National Laboratories have developed a tiny device that can shunt excess electricity in a few billionths of a second, protecting the nation's electric grid from electromagnetic pulses. The diode operates at a record-breaking 6,400 volts and has potential to operate up to 20,000 volts.

SourceDOE/Sandia National Laboratories·JournalIEEE Transactions on Electron Devices·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 15, 2022