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Germanium made laser compatible

Researchers develop method to make germanium laser-compatible through high tensile strain, enabling faster data transfer via light. The new technique could increase computer performance and revolutionize computing chip design.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Photonics·DateApr 22, 2013

A giant step toward miniaturization

Researchers at Polytechnique Montréal and international partners create a new method for self-doping nanowires, allowing for precise control of electronic properties. This breakthrough enables the development of novel nanoscale devices with tailored shape and composition.

SourcePolytechnique Montréal·JournalNature·DateApr 3, 2013

Light from silicon nanocrystal LEDs

Researchers from KIT and the University of Toronto have successfully manufactured highly efficient light-emitting diodes using silicon nanocrystals. The SiLEDs can produce light in various colors and have a surprising long-term stability, making them an attractive alternative to existing LEDs.

SourceHelmholtz Association·JournalNano Letters·DateFeb 22, 2013

A cooler way to protect silicon surfaces

Researchers at MIT have developed a new passivation process that can protect silicon surfaces at room temperature, reducing energy costs and enabling the production of more efficient solar cells. This breakthrough has the potential to replace traditional silicon nitride coatings, which are currently expensive and finicky.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateFeb 13, 2013

The graphene-paved roadmap

The graphene-paved roadmap outlines the material's potential for transforming various industries, including electronics and medicine. With its unique properties, graphene is expected to play a crucial role in developing new technologies such as flexible devices, rollable e-paper, and high-speed wireless communications.

SourceUniversity of Manchester·JournalNature·DateOct 10, 2012

Next up: Electronics that vanish in the environment or the body

Researchers have developed biodegradable electronics that can dissolve in water or bodily fluids, opening new design paradigms for medical implants, environmental monitors and consumer devices. The technology harnesses techniques for making tiny electronic systems out of ultrathin sheets of silicon, which can completely dissolve in a f...

Waste not, power up

Researchers have developed a method to make flexible lithium-ion battery components from discarded silicon, which can prolong their usefulness. The new material is made by creating nanowires from high-value but hard-to-recycle silicon and then encasing them in an electrically conducting copper and ion-conducting polymer electrolyte.

SourceRice University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 4, 2012

Spinach power gets a big boost

Researchers at Vanderbilt University have developed a way to combine the photosynthetic protein from spinach with silicon to produce substantially more electrical current. The new design produces current levels nearly 1,000 times higher than previous biohybrid solar cells and has the potential to power small devices.

SourceVanderbilt University·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateSep 4, 2012

Toughened silicon sponges may make tenacious batteries

Researchers at Rice University and Lockheed Martin have developed a process to create multiple high-performance anodes from a single silicon wafer for lithium-ion batteries. The new method uses electrochemical etching to extract the sponge-like structure, which can store more than four times its weight in lithium.

SourceRice University·JournalChemistry of Materials·DateJul 16, 2012

Stanford engineers perfecting carbon nanotubes for highly energy-efficient computing

A team of Stanford engineers has made breakthroughs in carbon nanotube circuits, providing a ten-times improvement in energy efficiency over silicon. They have overcome major barriers, including alignment and metallic contamination, using a unique imperfection-immune design paradigm.

SourceStanford University School of Engineering·JournalIEEE Transactions on Computer-Aided Design of Integrated Circuits and Systems·DateJun 14, 2012

Radiation-resistant circuits from mechanical parts

Researchers develop unique technology that keeps devices working in the presence of ionizing radiation, suitable for space applications and control systems, and overcome current radiation-resistant technologies' drawbacks. The new logic gates perform logical operations and can be used to build circuits such as adders and multiplexers.

New silicon memory chip developed

Researchers at University College London have developed a new silicon oxide-based 'Resistive RAM' memory chip that can operate in ambient conditions, offering significantly greater memory storage and reduced energy consumption. The chip promises to be much faster than current technology, with potential applications beyond memory storage.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalJournal of Applied Physics·DateMay 18, 2012

You can't play nano-billiards on a bumpy table

A team of physicists has developed a new design for nano-billiards that eliminates the effect of small bumps on electron paths, enabling more predictable electronic devices. By removing impurities and defects, researchers have created stable billiard tables at the nanoscale, paving the way for improved nanoscale electronics.

SourceUniversity of New South Wales·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMay 13, 2012

Water sees right through graphene

A new study reveals graphene's ability to enhance conductivity while retaining wetting characteristics, making it a promising coating for various applications. The research found that gold, copper, and silicon get just as wet when clad by a single layer of graphene as they would without.

SourceRice University·JournalNature Materials·DateJan 23, 2012

How to build doughnuts with Lego blocks

Scientists have discovered how to build doughnuts with Lego blocks using a novel material with internal nanostructure made of two chemically discordant polymers. The discovery sheds light on the self-assembly of these materials, which could lead to breakthroughs in data storage, nanoelectronics, and pattern creation.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal E·DateDec 21, 2011

New Geology science posted online Dec. 8-16 2011

The article discusses the discovery of missing mid-Cenozoic sediments in the Lomonosov Ridge drilling, the variation in the Intertropical Convergence Zone's (ITCZ) position with global climate changes, and the decoupling of taxonomic and ecological severities of major mass extinctions. The ITCZ's position was more southward than today ...

SourceGeological Society of America·JournalGeology·DateDec 16, 2011