Articles tagged with Materials Engineering
Researchers found that electrifying kilns and using DAC can significantly reduce cement production's climate impact. The technology removes more CO₂ than it generates over its lifecycle, with efficiencies ranging from 85-96% depending on the energy mix used.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a new technique for rapid production of advanced materials, called MXenes, using ultrafast flash Joule heating. This method significantly reduces the manufacturing time, switching from hours to just seconds, and produces less toxic waste.
Researchers developed tiny ceramic microscrolls that can be unrolled and rolled up in a controlled manner using a magnet, inspired by the rolling motion of butterfly proboscis. The microscrolls have proven to be durable and can lift more than 30 times their own weight.
Gennady Gor and his team will explore how petroleum-derived polymers swell and shrink, and the effects of hysteresis on their elasticity. The research aims to improve reliability in models of polymer performance and ensure consistent behavior across various applications.
The new device operates in the strong light–matter coupling regime, allowing researchers to study nonlinear polariton interactions. The platform makes organic laser devices more accessible for studying polariton interactions.
Scientists at North Carolina State University have created a highly-porous, superadhesive mesh that can capture both large and small microplastic particles, including those as small as tens of nanometers. The mesh is made from sustainable biopolymers and can clean microplastics from both saltwater and freshwater.
Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT) has been selected as a research hub for fusion technology, focusing on the development of the fuel cycle and new materials. The institution will pool its expertise with industry partners to master technological challenges associated with fusion energy.
Researchers report reductions of up to 75.8% in perfluorinated compounds after plasmapheresis treatment, while microplastics decrease in four out of four patients. The exact mechanism behind this effect is still unclear and requires further investigation.
Researchers nationwide will have access to Georgia Tech's Advanced Manufacturing Pilot Facility remotely, leveraging AI, simulation, and autonomous experimentation to accelerate materials discovery. The cloud lab will expand who can take advantage of AMPF's capabilities, lowering costs and barriers to conducting research.
Researchers at Seoul National University have developed a novel approach using porous triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) feet and deep reinforcement learning controller, which significantly reduces battery power consumption in quadruped robots. The solution reduces energy consumption by up to 6.2% while maintaining stable locomotion.
The study advances solar desalination by removing over 99.99% of oil from seawater while maintaining stable performance and efficient freshwater production. The multifunctional membrane combines oil removal with solar-powered desalination, demonstrating a promising strategy for treating real-world oily seawater.
Scientists from the University of Osaka created an autonomous solid-state nanopore that can sense molecules, generate electrical signals, and retain memories of recent events. The device continuously changes its structure through chemical reactions, creating a dynamic sensing environment that responds to molecules passing through it.
Researchers are transforming paper into sophisticated smart packaging that controls respiration, scrubbing ethylene to slow ripening for fruits and vegetables. For meat and seafood, the focus is on blocking oxygen and grease while embedding sensors that flag spoilage before it becomes obvious.
Researchers have developed a way to quickly create customizable synthetic blood vessel grafts in just minutes using additive manufacturing. The new technique, called Focused Rotary Jet Spinning, allows for precise control over diameter and wall thickness, making it ideal for acute trauma situations and complex pediatric heart surgeries.
Researchers have found that hydrogen-induced embrittlement can be twice as severe in Nickel-base superalloys at elevated temperatures, posing a challenge for gas turbine safety and reliability. The study suggests that designing temperature-specific alloys with tailored microstructures could help mitigate this issue.
Researchers have created a new, recyclable yarn that mimics the properties of spandex-based yarns, offering an alternative to non-recyclable stretchy garments. The yarn is made from a form of plastic and can be melted down and reused multiple times without losing its strength and flexibility.
A team of researchers from Chiba University developed a method to monitor laser ablation in real time by detecting tiny push-back forces during laser cutting. By tracking the recoil force, they can sense depth and detect completion in real time, allowing for precise control over the process.
A team of researchers at Harvard and Max Planck Institute have developed three new functional components for photonic microchips using an inverse design algorithm. The compact designs are about 500 times smaller than conventional designs and offer a path toward higher-performance integrated light technologies.
Researchers at Harvard's SEAS have created unique machine-knitted fabrics that 'snap' between multiple stable shapes, exhibiting multistability. The team embedded fine conductive yarns to create soft, stretchable electric switches that change state as the textile snaps back and forth.
Researchers used machine learning to analyze thousands of automated experiments and accurately predict how new material compositions will respond to heat, identifying the most promising materials. This approach gives scientists a roadmap for developing more durable perovskite solar cells that can withstand real-world operating conditions.
Researchers have developed a novel method to control miniature rotations using water flow at a surface, allowing for the creation of targeted ultrafine structures such as twisted fibers for wires and sutures. This approach enables the assembly of complex structures without mechanical contact or chemical propulsion systems.
The NUS research team developed a self-healing magnetoelectric sensory system (SMES) that combines sensing with autonomous self-repair. The technology overcomes the challenges of conventional sensors, enabling devices to function reliably in both air and water.
A new layered crystal, TlFe1.6Se2, combines high thermoelectric power factor with exceptionally low thermal conductivity, offering a promising strategy for designing next-generation thermoelectric materials. The material's unique electronic properties and Fe-vacancy ordering enhance its performance.
Kyushu University researchers have developed prototype thin-film electronic modules that can automatically connect and disconnect with each other. The modules use a kinetic electronics approach, integrating actuators and circuits on the same thin-film to create an electromechanical docking mechanism.
Reducing carbon dioxide concentration improves microbial production of biodegradable plastic, such as poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate]. Lower CO2 levels trigger adaptive cellular responses that enhance carbon utilization efficiency.
Researchers have demonstrated a technique to fabricate large-area oxide twistronic materials with controlled twist angles and strong chemical bonding between layers. This allows for the creation of high-crystallinity oxide moiré superlattices, which could enable new functionalities in devices.
Researchers at The University of Manchester discovered that carefully controlling thermal conditions during molten metal deposition (MMD) can reduce defects and improve the final material structure. By adjusting nozzle and substrate temperatures, they found a strong relationship between grain size and porosity, providing valuable insig...
Researchers have designed a 3D device that can hide objects from infrared cameras and protect them from extreme temperatures, with potential applications in electronics, security, and defense
Researchers developed a new lightweight cast aluminum alloy that exhibits improved ductility and strength, making it suitable for demanding mechanical and thermal conditions. The alloy's unique nanostructures allow for efficient crack transfer and stress distribution.
Researchers will address the unstable interface between lithium metal anode and solid electrolyte by engineering ultra-thin films to reduce degradation and resistance. The goal is to improve reliability and stability of solid-state batteries for electric vehicles, enabling faster charging and greater energy storage potential.
Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University introduced ultra-fine bubbles into ink droplets, demonstrating their ability to modify ink drying patterns. The team's discovery holds promise for the printing of microdevices, where additives can negatively affect properties of ink deposits.
The COCOON Lab provides a coordinated suite of microscopes that work together to connect macro-scale observations to findings at the nanoscale. This allows researchers to study biological and industrial materials in unprecedented detail, from the macroscale down to the molecular scale.
Researchers have developed a novel quantum material that can naturally enable the study of non-Hermitian dynamics, a phenomenon where systems exhibit unusual behaviors. The material, a magnetic topological insulator, allows for the creation of electronic networks with direction-dependent connections, enabling the accumulation of states...
Researchers develop a comprehensive framework to predict drilling instability in backfilled ground, considering strength differences and asymmetry. The proposed design criterion aims to reduce inclined drilling deviations by at least 10 millimeters per meter of depth.
Researchers found that sea stars' skeletons contain specialized mineral structures capable of guiding and concentrating light, providing both mechanical support and optical sensing. The discovery may inspire future engineering materials with multifunctional capabilities.
Researchers at Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg have discovered a way to generate and control toroidal moments in carbon nanotori using computer simulations. This enables precise control of superconductors with minimal loss, opening up new possibilities for quantum computing.
Researchers develop annealable ferromagnetic icosahedral quasicrystals with unprecedented structural quality, revealing intrinsic magnetic properties and magnetic criticality. The discovery enables the first systematic investigations of quasiperiodic magnetism and magnetic criticality in QCs.
The Illinois researchers developed a micromagnetic model based on a magnetic octupole moment to capture complex behavior of noncollinear antiferromagnets. The model revealed domain-wall deformation and an effective inertial mass, providing new insight into mesoscopic magnetic-multipole dynamics.
A new winged composite pile system can enhance uplift resistance while reusing excavated soil, reducing off-site transport and minimizing waste. The study found that the optimal wing diameter varies with pile length, and shaft diameter has little effect on uplift resistance.
Researchers developed a new battery management system that uses everyday charging data to detect when silicon is most vulnerable. This helps guide battery temperature control to protect it. By applying heat when silicon works harder and cooling the battery when graphite takes over, the system aims to extend EV battery life.
A study by Chiba University researchers reveals the structural origins of widely debated defect peaks in carbon materials. They used isotropic pitch-based carbon fiber to analyze various defects, including oxygen-containing functional groups and vacancy defects.
A modular system designed by Worcester Polytechnic Institute Assistant Professor Jiawei Yang enables the creation of customized hydrogel implants with tailored stiffness and functionality. The system addresses critical challenges in implant design, including adhesion and immune rejection, to improve long-term performance.
A team of UTEP researchers has created a printable gel polymer electrolyte that can be 3D-printed in any shape. The material performed similarly to conventional electrolytes and showed optimal performance at a specific recipe ratio, paving the way for flexible battery design.
Researchers discovered graphene can host multiple superconducting states, some persisting even in the presence of strong magnetic fields. The team found that certain experimental conditions could control the material's properties, leading to a new family of unconventional superconducting states.
Intrinsic disorder in CuInSnS₄ influences its optical properties, with excitons showing direction-dependent responses. The discovery sheds light on the relationship between disorder and material properties.
A new device inspired by fish's lateral line senses the pulse of lab-grown heart tissue, enabling real-time monitoring of hundreds of tests. This breakthrough could revolutionize drug screening and personalized medicine with more accurate human tissue simulations.
A team of researchers at Penn State developed a new design approach to reduce the cost of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) by optimizing metallic fibers, which currently make up 70% of the material's price. The new design can help produce stronger and more environmentally friendly concrete while reducing costs.
A team of scientists observed Jahn–Teller polarons in cobalt oxide crystals activated by tailored laser pulses. The study reveals the material's structural, electrical, and magnetic properties can be engineered using ultrafast laser pulses.
Jorge Íñiguez-González leads a €2.5M ERC Advanced Grant project to explore reconfigurable materials with tunable properties. The research aims to create adaptive technologies for information storage and next-generation computing.
The FutSteel project aims to develop a model integrating electric arc furnace technology into the existing hot rolling production chain, supporting the transformation of Finland's steel industry to low-carbon production. The research project, led by the University of Oulu and SSAB, will start in June 2026 and run for three years.
A novel supramolecular film with switchable structural and adhesive functions has been developed, exceeding industry standards for wood adhesion. The film's unique structure retains strength in wet conditions and demonstrates high-performance bonding to wood substrates.
New instruments promise precise measurement and manipulation of tiny nanomaterials used in manufacturing, aerospace and medicine. Researchers can now study the smallest heavy metals with water filters, developing more resilient structures.
Researchers use ENABLE, a markerless motion capture technology, to estimate metabolic cost for movement efficiency improvement in healthcare and rehabilitation. The team validates the system by comparing model outputs with experimental measurements.
Researchers have designed a clay material that can absorb and retain ethylene gas, slowing down the ripening process of fruits and vegetables. This innovation has the potential to reduce food waste and improve fruit flavor by allowing for later harvesting in the ripening process.
A team of MIT researchers has developed a machine-learning approach that captures the diversity of atomic environments in chemically disordered materials. This allows for more accurate predictions of material properties and opens up possibilities for creating new sustainable steels and materials for aerospace, energy, and computing.
Scientists create microscopic 3D light-emitting ceramic structures using chemical synthesis and advanced laser-based 3D printing, enabling the fabrication of single-phase crystalline YAG:Ce³⁺ with high precision. This technology has the potential to transform the design and manufacturing of optical devices, leading to more energy-effic...
Researchers have developed a single material, tungsten disulfide, that can serve as both barrier and liner in copper wiring, allowing for improved chip performance. The coating is just 0.7 nanometres thick, roughly the width of a few atoms, and has shown significant improvements in resistance and reliability.
Researchers at Purdue University have developed a way to achieve simultaneous high strength and plasticity in cobalt aluminum (CoAl) intermetallics. This is achieved through the introduction of dislocations and amorphous interfaces, which enable the materials to withstand extreme forces without fracturing.
A redesigned high-NA EUV lithography optical system has been proposed, which could enable the manufacture of smaller computer chips at lower cost than current methods. The new design eliminates troublesome optical effects, enhances resolution, and should be much cheaper to produce.
Researchers at HKU have discovered a significant piezoelectric effect in ultrathin and ultra-flexible polycrystalline diamond membranes. The finding challenges the long-held assumption that diamonds are non-piezoelectric, opening up new possibilities for medical and energy applications.