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Direct observation of the ad- and desorption of guest atoms into a mesoporous host

Scientists have developed a new method to directly observe the filling and emptying of tiny pores in materials, revealing complex mechanisms behind guest-atom interactions. This breakthrough uses combined X-ray methods to provide empirical insights into confined matter in battery electrodes, catalysts, and hydrogen storage materials.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie·JournalThe Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters·DateApr 21, 2021

Researchers first to link silicon atoms on surfaces

A team of researchers from the University of Münster has developed a highly efficient method to produce silicon polymers using surface chemistry. The breakthrough allows for the creation of long polymers with mild reaction conditions, paving the way for new material properties and potential applications as organic semi-conductors.

SourceUniversity of Münster·JournalNature Chemistry·DateMar 29, 2021

Discovery of non-toxic semiconductors with a direct band gap in the near-infrared

Researchers at NIMS and Tokyo Institute of Technology have discovered a non-toxic semiconductor with a direct band gap in the near-infrared range. The compound, Ca3SiO, exhibits great potential to serve as a direct transition semiconductor, potentially replacing toxic elements like mercury and cadmium in existing infrared semiconductors.

SourceNational Institute for Materials Science, Japan·JournalInorganic Chemistry·DateMar 23, 2021

Lights on for silicon photonics

Researchers successfully demonstrated electroluminescence from a silicon-germanium device, marking a key step towards the development of a silicon-based laser. The achievement could have significant implications for the large-scale use of terahertz radiation in fields such as medical imaging and wireless communication.

SourceETH Zurich Department of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateMar 8, 2021

Pumping perovskites into a semiconductor platform

Materials scientists have created a method to incorporate diverse perovskite materials into silicon-based semiconductor platforms using microfluidic pumping technology. This innovation enables the creation of complex optoelectronic devices on a single chip, offering potential applications in fields like lab-on-a-chip technology.

SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalCell Reports Physical Science·DateFeb 28, 2021

Wafer-scale production of graphene-based photonic devices

Researchers from Graphene Flagship partners developed a wafer-scale fabrication method for graphene-based photonic devices, enabling automation and paving the way to large-scale production. The technique allows for integration into silicon wafers, offering ultra-broadband communications and ultra-high mobility of carriers.

SourceGraphene Flagship·JournalACS Nano·DateFeb 11, 2021

A scalable method for the large-area integration of 2D materials

Researchers from Graphene Flagship report a new method to integrate graphene and 2D materials into semiconductor manufacturing lines, overcoming challenges such as transferring materials between growth substrates. The technique uses standard dielectric material BCB and conventional wafer bonding equipment, enabling high-quality integra...

SourceGraphene Flagship·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 10, 2021

Silicon anode structure generates new potential for lithium-ion batteries

Scientists at OIST have developed a new nanostructure that improves the silicon anode in lithium-ion batteries, increasing its charge capacity and lifespan. The vaulted structure formed by depositing silicon atoms on metallic nanoparticles increases the strength and structural integrity of the anode.

Towards applications: ultra-low-loss on-chip zero-index materials

Scientists have designed a zero-index material based on a purely dielectric photonic crystal slab that supports low-order mode-based design, reducing radiation loss. This design enables applications such as arbitrarily shaped waveguides, phase-mismatch-free nonlinear propagation, and extended super radiance with low propagation loss.

Chemists synthesize 'flat' silicon compounds

The molecules generated at the University of Bonn have a trapezoidal arrangement of bonding partners around the silicon atom, which is energetically unfavorable. Despite this, they are found to be extremely stable and can be stored for weeks without degradation.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateDec 22, 2020

Sorting out viruses with machine learning

Researchers at Osaka University have created a label-free method for identifying respiratory viruses based on changes in electrical current through silicon nanopores. This new system uses machine learning to achieve highly accurate virus classification, with potential applications for COVID-19 and influenza diagnosis.

SourceOsaka University·JournalACS Sensors·DateNov 11, 2020

Getting single-crystal diamond ready for electronics

Researchers from Osaka University have successfully polished a single-crystal diamond wafer to near-atomic smoothness using plasma-assisted polishing, which could enable the material's use in high-performance power devices and heat sinks. The technique avoids damaging the crystal structure and preserves its chemical properties.

SourceOsaka University·JournalScientific Reports·DateNov 10, 2020

A new way of looking at the Earth's interior

Researchers have found that the Earth's mantle has a different composition to its upper layer, contradicting long-held assumptions. Lab experiments and seismic wave analysis suggest that silicon is present in the lower mantle, not the core.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 21, 2020

Multi-institutional team extracts more energy from sunlight with advanced solar panels

A new study shows that layering advanced materials atop traditional silicon can produce multilayered solar panels with improved efficiency. The researchers used a precisely controlled fabrication process to create the new panels, which have the potential to convert more sunlight into usable electricity.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalCell Reports Physical Science·DateOct 6, 2020

Researchers have developed the world's smallest ultrasound detector

Scientists at Helmholtz Zentrum München and TUM developed the world's smallest ultrasound detector, leveraging silicon photonics technology to achieve super-resolution imaging. This innovation enables high-sensitivity detection in smaller sizes than previously possible, opening up new avenues for sensing and imaging applications.

Single photons from a silicon chip

Researchers at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf have designed a silicon-based light source to generate single photons, a crucial component for quantum cryptography and communication. The prototype can produce 100,000 single photons per second and is stable even after several days of continuous operation.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalOptics Express·DateSep 15, 2020

Scientists have discovered an environmentally friendly way to transform silicon into nanoparticles

Researchers at Skoltech have developed a simple and efficient method to convert silicon wafers into nanoparticles in an aqueous solution, providing a new source of sustainable materials. The process enables controlling particle sizes and has implications for optics, photonics, medicine, and other fields.

SourceSkolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech)·JournalACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering·DateSep 8, 2020

Tale of the tape: Sticky bits make better batteries

Rice chemist James Tour and his team use adhesive tape to create a silicon oxide film that replaces troublesome anodes in lithium metal batteries. The new coating triples the battery lifetimes of other zero-excess lithium metal batteries, delivering better performance and longer lifespan.

SourceRice University·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateJul 14, 2020

Custom-built to ready-made

A team of researchers from UC Santa Barbara, Caltech, and EPFL has developed a new technology that simplifies and condenses complex optical systems onto a single silicon photonic chip. This breakthrough allows for easy integration with traditional silicon chip production, significantly reducing cost and improving performance.