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Spiral wrappers switch nanotubes from conductors to semiconductors and back

Duke researchers have developed a new technique to engineer carbon-based semiconductors by wrapping metallic nanotubes in spiral polymers, transforming them into semiconducting forms that can be switched on and off. This method enables the creation of semiconductors that can control electricity with low-energy light wavelengths, openin...

SourceDuke University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 12, 2024

Rice lab finds better way to handle hard-to-recycle material

Rice University researchers have developed a new, energy-efficient process to upcycle glass fiber-reinforced plastic (GFRP) into silicon carbide, widely used in semiconductors and sandpaper. The method involves heating the mixture of GFRP and carbon to extremely high temperatures, transforming it into conductive silicon carbide.

SourceRice University·JournalNature Sustainability·DateFeb 29, 2024

University of Paderborn researchers use Hawk supercomputer and lean into imperfection to improve solar cell efficiency

A team led by Prof. Wolf Gero Schmidt used Hawk supercomputer to study how strategic impurities in solar cells can improve performance. They discovered that certain defects can improve exciton transfer, leading to more energy captured. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient and climate-friendly energy production.

SourceGauss Centre for Supercomputing·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 27, 2024

Vlasov and Bashir groups develop nanoscale device for brain chemistry analysis

The University of Illinois has developed a new nanoscale sensor that can monitor areas 1,000 times smaller than traditional technology, tracking subtle changes in brain chemistry with sub-second resolution. The device takes advantage of silicon-based manufacturing techniques to achieve 100% efficiency and high spatial resolution.

HKUST researchers develop new integration technique for efficient coupling of III-V and silicon

Researchers at HKUST have developed a novel selective direct epitaxy method, called lateral aspect ratio trapping (LART), to efficiently integrate III-V compound semiconductor devices with silicon. This breakthrough enables high-speed, low-cost connections that can handle massive amounts of data.

SourceHong Kong University of Science and Technology·JournalLaser & Photonics Review·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 16, 2024

New chip opens door to AI computing at light speed

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed a new silicon-photonic chip that can perform vector-matrix multiplication using light waves, allowing for accelerated AI computing. The chip's design has privacy advantages, as sensitive information can be processed simultaneously without being stored in memory.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science·JournalNature Photonics·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 16, 2024

Groundbreaking discovery enables cost-effective and eco-friendly green hydrogen production

A new bifunctional water electrolysis catalyst made from ruthenium, silicon, and tungsten enables the efficient production of high-purity green hydrogen. The catalyst demonstrates exceptional durability in acidic environments, making it an attractive alternative to traditional precious metal catalysts.

New 2D material with super-heavy electrons

Researchers at Uppsala University and Columbia University have created a new 2D quantum material, CeSiI, with atoms-thin layers of cerium, silicon, and iodine. The material features super-heavy electrons with an effective mass up to 100 times that of ordinary materials.

SourceUppsala University·JournalNature·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJan 17, 2024

In a new light – new approach overcomes long-standing limitations in optics

A multi-institutional research team, including Osaka University, has developed a new approach to enhance the efficiency of Mie scattering, which could lead to significant advancements in meta-photonics and applications like all-optical transistors. The researchers found that misaligning the incident laser on a nanometer scale can induc...

SourceOsaka University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 12, 2023

Thermal impact of 3D stacking photonic and electronic chips

The study found that 3D integration can lead to significant heat spreading and crosstalk, reducing heater efficiency by up to -43.3% and increasing thermal crosstalk by up to +44.4%. However, optimizing design variables, such as spacing between µbumps and interconnect linewidth, can minimize the thermal penalty of 3D integration.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalJournal of Optical Microsystems·DateDec 7, 2023

CityU joint research creates 3D-printed aluminium alloy with unprecedented fatigue resistance

A team of researchers from City University of Hong Kong and Shanghai Jiao Tong University has developed a novel aluminium alloy with unprecedented fatigue resistance using advanced 3D printing techniques. The new alloy, called NTD-Al, surpasses the fatigue strength of high-strength wrought Al alloys and conventional metals.

SourceCity University of Hong Kong·JournalNature Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 24, 2023

NTU Singapore scientists develop new method to recover high-purity silicon from expired solar panels for upcycling into lithium-ion batteries

Researchers have devised an efficient method of recovering high-purity silicon from expired solar panels, which can help meet the increasing global demand for electric vehicles. The new extraction method using phosphoric acid achieved a recovery rate of 98.9% and purity of 99.2%, comparable to existing methods.

SourceNanyang Technological University·JournalSolar Energy Materials and Solar Cells·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 7, 2023

Enhanced light absorption in thin silicon photodetectors with photon-trapping structures

A new approach boosts light absorption in thin silicon photodetectors with photon-trapping structures, increasing the absorption efficiency over a wide band in the NIR spectrum. The findings demonstrate a promising strategy to enhance the performance of Si-based photodetectors for emerging photonics applications.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalAdvanced Photonics Nexus·DateJul 26, 2023

Rice U.’s Songtao Chen wins NSF CAREER Award

Songtao Chen, an assistant professor at Rice University, has won a prestigious NSF CAREER Award to study the interaction between photons and T center qubits. The research aims to address signal-loss during transmission, which is crucial for large-scale implementation of quantum communication.

Developing a nano-antenna that forms a near field of circularly polarized light: Promising applications in highly sensitive sensing and asymmetric photochemical reactions for molecular chirality

Researchers developed a nano-antenna that forms a near field of circularly polarized light, enhancing optical chirality and preserving helicity. This technology has promising applications in highly sensitive sensing and asymmetric photochemical reactions for molecular chirality.

SourceKobe University·JournalNano Letters·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 28, 2023

New priming method improves battery life, efficiency

Researchers at Rice University developed a new priming method to optimize prelithiation in silicon anodes, improving battery life cycles by up to 44% and energy density. The method uses stabilized lithium metal particles with surfactants, enabling more stable SEI layer formation and reduced lithium depletion.

SourceRice University·JournalACS Applied Energy Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 15, 2023

Solar cells charging forward

Researchers at Kyoto University have successfully created silicon-based photovoltaics at room temperature using a hybrid PEDOT:PSS/silicon heterojunction. This breakthrough technology offers improved production speed and cost, with power generation efficiency above 10%. The new process has the potential to facilitate large-scale diffus...

SourceKyoto University·JournalPNAS Nexus·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 10, 2023

Illinois researchers achieve the first silicon integrated ECRAM for a practical AI accelerator

Researchers at the University of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering have successfully integrated arrays of electrochemical random-access memory (ECRAM) onto silicon transistors, creating a practical AI accelerator. This innovation eliminates energy costs associated with data transfer and enables efficient deep learning operations.

Scientists integrate two-dimensional materials into silicon microchips for advanced data storage and computation

Researchers at King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST) successfully integrated two-dimensional materials on silicon microchips, achieving high integration density, electronic performance, and yield. The resulting hybrid devices exhibit special electronic properties that enable low-power consumption artificial neural ne...

Light meets deep learning: computing fast enough for next-gen AI

Researchers developed a novel design for the chip using a crossbar layout, outperforming state-of-the-art photonic counterparts in terms of scalability and technical versatility. The synergy of powerful photonics with the novel crossbar architecture enables next generation neuromorphic computing engines.

SourceInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers·JournalIEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics·TypeLiterature review·DateMar 22, 2023