Articles tagged with Materials Engineering
A team led by Professor Yoshihiro Yamazaki from Kyushu University discovered the chemical innerworkings of a perovskite-based electrolyte developed for solid oxide fuel cells. By combining synchrotron radiation analysis, large-scale simulations, machine learning, and thermogravimetric analysis, they found that protons are introduced at...
A new protein-based coating developed by Rice University researchers has the potential to extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables, reducing food waste and spoilage. The coating, made from surplus eggs, was shown to double the shelf life of avocados and bananas in earlier research.
Researchers developed innovative contrast-enhancing agents to tackle limitations of photoacoustic imaging, including low SNR, image contrast, and targeted delivery. The study suggests promising strategies such as photoswitching agents, near-infrared-II agents, and micromotor agents.
Researchers developed a new tool to disentangle electronic states in layered quantum materials, revealing surprising results that defy theoretical predictions. By analyzing vibrations and energy measurements, scientists can 'see' how electrons move through the layers.
Researchers at the University of Missouri are acquiring a new transmission electron microscope (TEM) with a $800,000 grant from the National Science Foundation. The TEM will allow them to conduct experiments in real-time and gain a greater understanding of material structure at an atomic level.
Researchers at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) have built and tested a full-scale bushfire safe room that demonstrates excellent heat resistance. The results suggest the shelter could keep people alive for up to two hours in extreme conditions, but further testing is needed to confirm human survivability.
A team of researchers developed a transfer-tattoo-like cell sheet that can be directly applied to targeted surfaces, facilitating cutaneous wound healing and promoting skin tissue regeneration. The system leverages natural cell migration between surfaces, eliminating the need for external stimuli and detachment processes.
The institute aims to shorten the cycle required to design, manufacture, and test parts that can withstand space travel conditions. It will develop detailed computer models of additively manufactured parts using digital twins.
Researchers developed StarCrete, a cosmic concrete made from Martian dust, potato starch, and salt, which is twice as strong as regular concrete. The material's compressive strength reaches 72 MPa, making it suitable for space construction.
Researchers developed a self-driven lab, AlphaFlow, that uses AI to optimize complex chemical reactions and discover new materials. The system significantly reduces the time needed to develop new chemistries from months to hours.
Researchers at Swansea University have created a low-cost and scalable method to manufacture fully printable perovskite photovoltaics using carbon ink. The devices achieved similar performance to conventional gold electrodes, with power conversion efficiencies of up to 14%.
Researchers developed an in situ technique to observe material behavior under various stresses, including shear stress. This allows for precise understanding of how materials respond and identify preferred slip planes.
Jefferson Lab has appointed Tim Michalski as its new Engineering Division Manager, overseeing the division's 200 staff members supporting key projects. With extensive experience in engineering and management, Michalski aims to incorporate best practices from previous organizations to drive success.
A new molecular testing device has been developed to identify individuals with high hypnotizability, who are most likely to benefit from hypnosis interventions for pain treatment. The test detected a subset of highly hypnotizable individuals with high levels of postoperative pain.
The new technique allows for the production of a dozen different soft polymer material morphologies, including ribbons, nanoscale sheets, rods, and branched particles. By precisely controlling three sets of parameters during manufacturing, researchers can fine-tune the morphology of polymeric materials at the micro- and nano-scale.
Researchers discover that graphene oxide's surface oxygen content is crucial for its antibacterial activity, with different interaction modes leading to distinct effects. Understanding this relationship can help design safer materials and combat antimicrobial resistance.
Researchers developed a hydrogel-based sensor to monitor overactive bladder activity in real-time. The sensor measures both mechanical and bioelectrical activities, allowing for simultaneous monitoring and neural stimulation. This breakthrough has the potential to improve treatment outcomes and minimize side effects.
Researchers at Columbia University have developed a new 'camera' that can see atomic structures in real-time, revealing the dynamic disorder of materials. This breakthrough enables better understanding of thermoelectric devices and waste heat conversion, leading to more efficient sustainable energy applications.
Researchers at UCLA have developed a new type of solar roof that can harness energy from sunlight without blocking light for plants. The innovative design uses semi-transparent organic solar cells with a layer of L-glutathione, which extends the cells' lifetime and improves efficiency.
TUS researchers develop novel method to create multi-walled CNT wiring on plastic films under ambient conditions, enabling flexible devices and energy conversion devices. The proposed method produces high-quality wires with varying resistance values.
The study found that pavement skid resistance is crucial in reducing bicycle and electric scooter crashes. Pavements with higher skid resistance, such as asphalt and concrete, are recommended for bike lanes to minimize the risk of falls and collisions.
Channeling ions into grain boundaries in perovskite materials improves the stability and operational performance of perovskite solar cells, paving the way for more efficient and practical solar cell technologies. This breakthrough finding may also inform the development of more efficient energy storage technologies.
Scientists from NC State University have discovered a way to manipulate the flow of heat through ferroelectric materials by applying different electric fields. The study, published in Advanced Materials, found that varying electric field strengths, types (AC/DC), time, and frequency can alter the thermal properties of these materials.
Scientists at SLAC and Stanford University have created a new type of quantum material with a herringbone-like pattern, showcasing the Jahn-Teller effect in a layered material. The resulting distortions are huge compared to those achieved in other materials, offering exciting possibilities for further investigation.
The article reviews the outlook of atomic layer deposition (ALD) based oxide semiconductor thin film transistors (TFTs), highlighting four benefits: in-situ composition control, vertical structure engineering, chemical reaction and film properties, and insulator and interface engineering. Despite these advantages, challenging issues re...
Scientists from SUTD design a novel thermal-based therapy nano-system that destroys over 20% of pancreatic cancer cells using microsecond electrical pulses, improving cancer cell targeting accuracy and bio-compatibility. The introduction of the M13 virus enhances electro-thermal therapy performance by assembling more on cancer cells.
Researchers have identified functional networks responsible for generating seizures in children with epilepsy. The new method uses noninvasive techniques and advanced computational methods to measure electric and magnetic signals generated by neural cells.
Rice University scientists have developed a method to engineer wood that traps carbon dioxide while increasing its strength. This process involves removing lignin and hemicellulose from the wood and replacing them with metal-organic framework particles, making it a sustainable alternative to traditional materials.
Scientists have created a new class of porous materials that can 'trap and store' volatile gases, offering an alternative approach to storing fuel and medicinal gases. The discovery expands when exposed to gases, capturing increasingly large quantities of gas as pressure is increased.
Researchers discovered a size threshold beyond which antiferroelectric materials become ferroelectric, losing energy storage advantages. At thicknesses below 40 nm, the material becomes completely ferroelectric, while above 270 nm, ferroelectric regions appear.
Researchers at Tohoku University developed flexible polymer-based actuatable fibers with integrated shape-memory alloy wires and biochemical sensing composite materials. The technology enables high-precision operations, closed-loop control, and diagnostic capabilities for soft robotic fields and minimally invasive surgical tools.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a self-assembling peptide ink that enables the 3D printing of complex structures with cells, which can then be used to grow mature tissue in a petri dish. The ink allows for control over cell behavior using structural and chemical complexity.
Researchers discuss the construction, properties, and applications of 2D/quasi-2D perovskite-based heterostructures. These heterostructures offer novel functionalities for photovoltaic solar cells, LEDs, and photodetectors.
Two research projects aim to convert rejected plastic wastes into materials for construction industries. The first project uses anaerobic digestion and pyrolysis to produce biogas and bio-oils, while the second project employs plasma technology to break down single-use plastics and create biodegradable polymers.
Researchers developed an elastic material using liquid metal that resists both gases and liquids, offering a trade-off between elasticity and gas resistance. The material, created with gallium-indium alloy, has been tested to prevent the escape of oxygen and liquids, showing promising potential for use in high-value tech packaging
A new smart contact lens has been developed to diagnose and treat glaucoma by monitoring intraocular pressure in real-time and releasing the appropriate amount of medication. The lens, created by a POSTECH research team, uses a flexible drug delivery system and wireless power and communication system.
Researchers have created a set of computational models to predict the structure, mechanical properties, and functional performance outcomes of granular hydrogels. The new framework could make it easier to design materials that can be injected for different types of applications.
Researchers have visualized the structural dynamics of 2D perovskite materials under light-induced excitation, revealing a transient lattice reorganization towards a higher symmetric phase. The study demonstrates the potential to tune the interaction between perovskite lattices and light.
Researchers at Drexel University have developed a wearable textile supercapacitor patch that can charge in minutes and power programmable electronics for almost two hours using MXene material. The innovative design enables seamless integration of technology into fabric, paving the way for health care technology applications.
Researchers at Tampere University have developed a polymer-assembly robot that can fly by the power of wind and be controlled by light. The fairy-like robot has several biomimetic features, including high porosity and lightweight structure, allowing it to float in the air and travel long distances with stability.
A team from the University of Bath has developed ultra-light aerogel insulation materials with tuneable acoustic properties and other functional properties like thermal and electromagnetic shielding. The technology aims to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 50% in aircraft fleets, contributing to the government's net zero strategy.
Researchers at UT Dallas have developed novel carbon nanotube yarns called twistrons, which generate electricity when stretched or twisted. The new version has a higher energy conversion efficiency of up to 22.4% for tensile and torsional energy harvesting.
Engineers at MIT and Georgia Tech have developed a faster and simpler way to model intrusion through any soft, flowable material. The new method uses Resistive Force Theory (RFT) and adapt it to 3D, predicting forces needed to push objects through sand, gravel, or other soft media in real-time.
Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder designed a new rubber-like film that can jump high into the air like a grasshopper. The material responds by storing and releasing energy, similar to how grasshoppers store energy in their legs.
A team of researchers has made two technical breakthroughs to grow high-quality 2D materials, overcoming challenges such as securing single crystallinity and preventing irregular thickness. Their method enables the growth of single-domain heterojunction TMDs at wafer scale, paving the way for next-generation electronics.
Researchers at MIT have developed a method to fabricate ever-smaller transistors from 2D materials by growing them on existing silicon wafers. The new method, called nonepitaxial, single-crystalline growth, enables the production of pure, defect-free 2D materials with excellent conductivity.
Scientists successfully used lab-produced tissue samples to remotely control muscle-driven miniature robots with this innovative technology. The device allows researchers a new level of interaction and exploration in the field of biological robots.
Researchers at Drexel University have developed a thin film device that can dynamically control electromagnetic wave shielding using MXene materials. The device can convert from shielding to quasi-electromagnetic wave transmission by electrochemical oxidation, making it suitable for various security applications.
Researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory have successfully discovered new materials using artificial intelligence and self-assembly. The AI-driven technique led to the discovery of three new nanostructures, expanding the scope of self-assembly's applications in microelectronics and catalysis.
Researchers at City University of Hong Kong have developed a lead-free perovskite photocatalyst for highly efficient solar energy-to-hydrogen conversion. The study uncovers the interfacial dynamics between halide perovskite molecules and electrolytes, enabling better photoelectrochemical hydrogen generation.
Researchers at Linköping University developed an artificial neuron that closely mimics biological nerve cells, with 15 out of 20 neural features replicated. The 'conductance-based organic electrochemical neuron' uses ions to control electronic current and demonstrates biorealistic behavior.
Researchers at Washington State University have developed a new screen-printing method to create stretchable and durable wearable electronics. The process uses a multi-step layering technique to create snake-like electrode structures that can be transferred onto fabric or worn directly on human skin.
Researchers uncover ancient manufacturing strategy that incorporates self-healing functionalities into Roman concrete. Hot mixing process allows for faster construction and enhanced durability through spontaneous cracking and recrystallization.
Researchers developed a semi-submersible vehicle that can travel quickly with low drag and a low profile, making it ideal for military, commercial, and research purposes. The vessel's design allows it to collect and transmit data while minimizing energy expenditure.
Scientists have created a novel approach to produce phase-pure quasi-2D Ruddlesden–Popper perovskites, enabling highly efficient and spectrally stable deep-blue-emissive perovskite LEDs. The rapid crystallization method yields high-performance devices with an emission wavelength centered at 437 nm.
Researchers from Nara Institute of Science and Technology have developed a straightforward means of fabricating high-quality soft semiconductors for advanced electrical circuits. The new method offers superior control over the resulting semiconductor film morphology, critical to its electrical properties.
Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a highly sensitive and stretchable strain sensor that can detect minor changes in strain with great range of motion. The sensor's innovative design features a patterned cut network that enables it to withstand significant deformation without sacrificing sensitivity.
Illinois researchers create a metamaterial that changes its functionality based on power input, mimicking semiconductor behavior. The material's non-linear properties enable the creation of qubits dynamically, promising new quantum information systems.
A team of researchers has created a new method for fabricating nanodevices by shrinking hydrogels to create 3D patterns. This technique uses ultrafast two-photon lithography and can produce high-resolution patterns up to 13 times larger than the original size, enabling the creation of complex nanostructures.
Researchers at The University of Tokyo have developed a cheap and simple method to bond polymers to galvanized steel, resulting in lightweight and durable materials. The process involves pre-treating the steel with an acid wash and dipping it in hot water, creating nanoscale needle structures that allow for strong mechanical linkages.