Articles tagged with Materials Engineering
Professor Adachi's work on thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) established a new design principle for highly efficient organic light-emitting materials. TADF-based emitters have enabled ultra-high-efficiency organic light-emitting diodes, paving the way for sustainable display technologies.
Researchers have found Cooper pairs in uranium ditelluride to exist above the superconducting critical temperature in pair density waves, contradicting the conventional BCS theory. These non-uniform patterns, known as pair density waves, were predicted 20 years ago and provide direct evidence of their persistence even in the
Researchers developed a thermogalvanic system from lignosulfonate, a papermaking black liquor component, to convert low-grade heat and sunlight into electricity. The system achieved a Seebeck coefficient of 4.3 mV/K and generated 1.56 V under a 40 K temperature difference.
The University of Pittsburgh will establish the Pittsburgh Laser Engine, a training center for displaced coal workers and union electricians. The center will offer 10-week hands-on courses in advanced laser processing and fiber-optic sensing, preparing workers for high-paying careers in AI data centers, power systems, and other critica...
Researchers have identified a mechanism called Precipitation Induced Recrystallisation (PIX) that enables metals to self-refine their internal structure through heat treatment alone. This process reduces average grain size by up to 90% in alloys relevant to aerospace applications and fusion energy systems.
A study by IRCCS Fondazione Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta and Politecnico di Milano demonstrates that innovative materials can coat mitochondria without compromising their function. The coating method retains the mitochondria's ability to produce energy.
Researchers at CUNY ASRC discover stable, repeating wave patterns in hyperbolic materials, allowing for new approaches to controlling energy, information, and communication signals. The findings have parallels with ocean waves and nanophotonics, enabling the design of wave behavior rather than simply observing it.
Researchers at Kyushu University have developed a novel molecule that can produce fluorescence and serve as an MRI contrast agent, addressing limitations of current imaging techniques. The molecule, a water-soluble and metal-free compound, demonstrates improved imaging depth and reduced toxicity compared to existing agents.
Engineers can now design aircraft with more accurate pressure control, reducing fuel efficiency and safety risks. The new paint, which glows in proportion to air pressure, has a temperature sensitivity drop of 0.3% per degree Celsius, making it ideal for high-speed wind tunnel testing.
Researchers at MANA discovered that atomic-scale steps can guide superconducting vortices, moving them 1,000 times more easily along the steps than across them. This finding opens possibilities for controlling vortex motion and heat flow in future superconducting technologies.
Researchers found that microscopic folds can act like programmable traffic gates for liquid droplets, stopping, letting pass, or merging them without contact. The folds sense droplets from a distance and adjust their curvature to control droplet size and shape.
Researchers developed a heat-venting ceramic metastructure with high terahertz shielding efficiency, combining material modification and structural design. The metastructure exhibited multifunctional characteristics, including hydrophobic and antifouling surfaces and excellent heat dissipation capabilities.
Emma Zhang's research develops biological approaches to improve recycled concrete aggregates and convert fine particles into useful construction materials. The project aims to conserve domestic resources, reduce solid waste, and support more durable infrastructure materials.
Researchers are developing self-lubricating metal alloys that won't break down even at ultra-high temperatures, reducing dependence on conventional lubricants and coatings. The project aims to create a reusable materials-discovery infrastructure, enabling materials that become functionally adaptive to their environment.
Researchers discovered that tiny wrinkles in graphene can change its electrical properties, revealing flexoelectricity. The team found that the sharpness of the wrinkles was more important than their size, allowing for stronger electrical charge separation and potential applications in sensing and electronic devices.
Engineers at Washington University in St. Louis have created renewable carbon fiber from waste lignin, cutting production costs by 25% and reducing carbon emissions substantially. The new process involves deploying single-walled carbon nanotubes to improve performance and align crystallization chemistry.
Researchers have engineered a new material with exceptional stiffness and low thermal conductivity, outperforming any material found in nature. The material can be printed as a thin film at large scales, making it suitable for various applications such as cookware, electronic devices, and space travel.
Researchers used 3D imaging to explore cuprate superconductors, finding a patchwork of different crystal structures throughout their bulk, with boundaries hundreds of times wider than expected. This discovery may explain why some materials perform better than others and requires reinterpretation of existing bulk measurements.
Researchers used photons and electrons to create hollow gold nanoboxes, differing in material properties, and demonstrated that beam observation affects chemical reactions.
Researchers developed a tiny mirror that can control light in three dimensions at record speeds, enabling faster and smaller optical systems for brain imaging, augmented reality and precision manufacturing. This technology could lead to smaller, mountable miniature microscopes for studying neurobiology and lighter glasses and headsets ...
Scientists systematically map the Biginelli reaction to uncover a previously unknown branch that produces complex bicyclic structures and molecules with unusual supramolecular behavior
The new method uses a chemical additive to create a sacrificial molecular cushion on the crystal surface, allowing for smoother cutting and reducing defects. This technique slashes subsurface crystal defects to a depth of only 70 nanometers, promising to revolutionize semiconductor manufacturing.
The IIT's new treatment makes wood temporarily flexible, allowing for easy shaping, and uses a green solvent derived from cellulose. The method provides a sustainable alternative to current, more polluting or energy-intensive processes, supporting a circular economy.
Researchers developed a new culture membrane that recreates the biochemical composition and soft physical environment of native intestinal tissue, enhancing intestinal cell growth and behavior. The membrane, combined with human colon organoid-derived epithelial cells, exhibited increased characteristics associated with intestinal stem ...
The consortium aims to improve inspection and maintenance tasks using robotics, focusing on corrosion detection and surface maintenance in extreme environments. SwRI will manage the project, leveraging its expertise in manufacturing robotics, mechanical engineering and oil and gas services to deliver pioneering robotic solutions.
Researchers have successfully reversed magnetization in nanoscale multiferroic materials using electric fields, enabling energy-efficient magnetic memory devices. The study demonstrates a promising approach for next-generation memory technologies with potential for higher-density memory architectures.
Researchers at the University of Bath found that straw could provide a sustainable solution to meet the UK's housing targets, reducing emissions and storing carbon. The study suggests that scaling up straw construction could store between 1.8 and 3.1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.
Industry leaders gathered at M2IND to discuss manufacturing challenges and technologies for US industry, focusing on alternatives to traditional methods. Key findings include a need for resilient supply chains, expanded critical material options, and faster qualification processes.
Researchers developed a thermochromic ZnO coating that improves water repellency, self-cleaning behavior, and UV protection on wood surfaces. The coating reduces solar heat absorption while maintaining thermal radiation, resulting in a 10.4°C surface temperature reduction and 3.3°C average reduction in a model wooden house.
Researchers create powerful optical device with layered semiconductor and metasurface, enhancing nonlinear frequency conversion and enabling efficient light mixing and transformation. The device has potential applications in telecommunications, quantum communication, and photonic quantum computing.
The study introduces a new bamboo fiber foam that combines electromagnetic shielding, flame retardancy, thermal insulation, and electrically driven heating in one lightweight material. The foam was created using ambient drying, which reduces energy consumption compared to traditional processing methods.
Researchers developed a bio-based Fe-MOF nanoreactor that combines natural-ligand chemistry with multimetallic redox catalysis, biomimetic targeting and MRI visibility. The nanoplatform produced a strong ROS response, increased apoptosis, and tumor inhibition in breast cancer cells and mice.
Researchers discovered hidden repeating patterns in seemingly disordered nanostructures, allowing for faster and more accurate analysis and design of metasurfaces. This breakthrough enables the development of next-generation optical devices, including AR and VR components and high-performance metalenses.
Researchers found that composite metal foam (CMF) can absorb more energy during high-velocity impacts, reducing crash severity and improving driver and passenger safety. CMF outperformed conventional front rail designs, increasing safety limits by up to 40% and reducing maximum deceleration by 38%.
Scientists from Washington University in St. Louis are developing materials that can shake off biofouling organisms in water, a major concern for the US Navy and global shipping lines. The new system uses soft robotics and nontoxic polymers to create a self-healing multiphase coating that can detect and dislodge biofilms, potentially i...
Harvard researchers have developed a mechanics-based framework to control crumpling on inflatable membranes, enabling the creation of reconfigurable, bistable structures. By locally controlling crumples on the surface, the researchers can tune the stability of the whole structure, giving rise to complex shapes and forms.
Researchers developed a cobalt-based catalyst that efficiently promotes oxygen reduction and evolution reactions in zinc-air batteries. The catalyst's curved carbon support and cobalt nanoparticles work together to improve oxygen electrocatalysis, enabling long-term bifunctional performance.
Researchers developed cellulose metafibers with a maximum tensile strength of 3.29 GPa and a toughness of 349.5 MJ m–3, comparable to top-tier synthetic fibers and natural spider silk. The biodegradable fibers were used in lawn and vegetation maintenance, showing wear resistance and environmental benefits.
A research team created an ultrathin artificial lung that reproduces the movement of alveoli, air sacs inside the lung, and demonstrates the response to influenza virus. The lung operated stably through 240,000 breaths and showed promise for studying lung disease and drug responses.
Researchers at SwRI will use a plasma reactor to convert waste CO2 into solid carbon for a domestic graphite supply, reducing reliance on foreign imports. The team aims to produce graphite through a process that involves tuning the CO2 molecule to remove oxygen atoms and solidify into carbon allotropes.
Researchers at Princeton University have created a semiconductor that can change its properties in response to light, enabling the creation of energy-efficient sensors and computing technologies. This breakthrough material is just a few molecules thick and can be programmed, erased, and reprogrammed with light.
The journal focuses on research related to turning solid wastes into useful ecomaterials, aiming to advance a zero-waste society. The editorial team accepts original research, reviews, and industry reports on solid waste valorization, including artificial intelligence and data-driven approaches.
A comprehensive review article presents a detailed technical roadmap for resource recovery of cathode materials from spent lithium-ion batteries. The study highlights the need for green and low-carbon recycling technologies, with emerging methods like direct regeneration and novel green solvents showing promise.
A new study estimates that decommissioning subsea oil and gas pipelines could release 4.5 to 500 tonnes of microplastics into the North Sea each year. The research highlights the potential environmental risks of legacy plastics and recommends integrating environmental consequences into decommissioning decision-making.
Researchers from Saarland University will test metallic glass alloys on the ISS to improve material properties and discover new applications. The experiments will examine levitated droplets heated to temperatures of up to 1,700 degrees Celsius to study material properties such as surface tension and thermal expansion.
The partnership aims to develop new battery technologies and manufacturing processes to enhance grid reliability, security and resilience. Researchers will work together to validate energy technologies through a test bed and train the next generation of energy researchers.
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.