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Nanoscale optical switch breaks miniaturization barrier

A team of scientists from Vanderbilt University has invented an ultra-fast and ultra-small optical switch that can turn on and off trillions of times per second. The device is made of artificial material engineered to have properties not found in nature, breaking the miniaturization barrier for photon-based devices.

SourceVanderbilt University·JournalNano Letters·DateMar 13, 2014
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Vanadium dioxide research opens door to new, multifunctional spintronic smart sensors

Research integrates vanadium dioxide onto a silicon chip to create infrared smart sensors that are faster, more energy-efficient, and lighter than conventional sensors. This breakthrough paves the way for multifunctional spintronic devices with enhanced memory capacity, data transfer speed, and computational power.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateFeb 5, 2014

A micro-muscular breakthrough

Researchers at Berkeley Lab have created a micro-sized robotic torsional muscle/motor made from vanadium dioxide, achieving unprecedented power density and speed. The device can catapult objects over 50 times its own weight with remarkable efficiency.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateDec 19, 2013

Advanced light source provides a new look at vanadium dioxide

Researchers studied vanadium dioxide using ALS beamline 4.0.2 to investigate the origin of its metal-insulator transition, which could lead to faster and more energy-efficient electronic devices. The study identified roles for Pi-symmetry and delta-symmetry electron orbitals in controlling the transition.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalNature Physics·DateOct 22, 2013

A chameleon in the physics lab

Researchers at Harvard SEAS have developed a thin coating that intrinsically conceals its own temperature to thermal cameras, demonstrating the potential for new military and everyday applications. By introducing impurities or defects in vanadium oxide, the team can create a wide range of interesting behaviors.

SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalPhysical Review X·DateOct 21, 2013
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Hybrid ribbons a gift for powerful batteries

Researchers at Rice University have developed a new material that accelerates the development of high-power lithium-ion batteries suitable for electric cars. The hybrid ribbons of vanadium oxide and graphene work well for lithium-ion storage, providing both high energy density and significant power density.

SourceRice University·JournalNano Letters·DateMar 25, 2013
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Flexing fingers for micro-robotics: Berkeley Lab scientists create a powerful, microscale actuator

Researchers developed an elegant and powerful new microscale actuator based on vanadium dioxide material, which expands and contracts in response to temperature variations. The actuators are smaller than human hair width and offer large force and displacement, suitable for biological and microfluidic applications.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalNano Letters·DateDec 17, 2012

New device hides, on cue, from infrared cameras

Researchers at Harvard University have developed a new device that can absorb 99.75% of infrared light on demand, using a tunable material with exceptional optical properties. The device has wide-ranging applications in thermal imaging, spectroscopy, and energy harvesting.

SourceHarvard University·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateNov 26, 2012

Paints and coatings containing bactericidal agent nanoparticles combat marine fouling

Scientists at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz discovered that vanadium pentoxide nanoparticles can inhibit the growth of barnacles, bacteria, and algae on surfaces in contact with water. This could lead to the development of new protective coatings that are less damaging to the environment than current ship coatings.

SourceJohannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateJul 2, 2012

Reversible doping: Hydrogen flips switch on vanadium oxide

Researchers find a new method to reversibly change VO2's behavior by exposing it to hydrogen, altering its electronic and structural properties. The findings could lead to better understanding of the material's physics and potential applications in ultrasensitive sensors.

SourceRice University·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateMay 21, 2012
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Ultrafast sonograms shed new light on rapid phase transitions

Researchers have developed an ultrafast method to track structural changes in solid materials during phase transitions. This technique sheds new light on vanadium dioxide's fast transformation between transparent and reflective phases. The study provides valuable insights into designing high-speed optical switches using this material.

SourceVanderbilt University·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 8, 2012

Upgrading the vanadium redox battery

Researchers have improved the performance of vanadium redox batteries by modifying their electrolyte solution, increasing energy storage capacity by 70 percent. The upgraded battery can now operate in a wider temperature range and reduce cooling costs, making it more suitable for grid reliability and renewable power sources.

SourceDOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory·JournalAdvanced Energy Materials·DateMar 17, 2011
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Strain on nanocrystals could yield colossal results

By applying strain to single-crystal vanadium oxide micro- and nanowires, researchers created phase inhomogeneity, a phenomenon critical to collective electronic behavior of correlated electron materials. This breakthrough could lead to designing and controlling phase inhomogeneity for future devices.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateSep 17, 2009

Nano-sandwich triggers novel electron behavior

Researchers at UC Davis discovered a material with unique electronic properties, exhibiting mass-like behavior in one direction and mass-less behavior in another. The discovery has potential applications in spintronics technology and could lead to new electronic devices.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMay 4, 2009

Ultrafast optical shutter is switched entirely by laser light

A team of physicists from Vanderbilt University and the University of Konstanz in Germany have used a laser with 12-femtosecond pulses to switch vanadium dioxide film between reflective and transparent states. The transition occurs faster than previously thought, with the film shifting back and forth in under 100 femtoseconds.

SourceVanderbilt University·DateDec 6, 2007

Quantum mechanics predicts unusual lattice dynamics of vanadium metal under high pressure

Researchers have discovered a new type of phase transition in vanadium metal under extreme pressure, which contradicts the behavior of most other elements. This unusual lattice dynamics is driven by a huge change in electronic structure, providing a new explanation for the record-high superconducting temperature.

SourceUppsala University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 11, 2007
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Under pressure, vanadium won't turn down the volume

Researchers at Carnegie Institution's Geophysical Laboratory found a unique phase transition in vanadium crystals under high pressure, changing shape but not volume. This discovery has significant implications for superconducting materials and challenges previous theories on element stability.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateFeb 20, 2007

Nanoscale tubing assembles itself instantly

Researchers discovered a new way to form complex networks of nanotubes on the surface of layered crystals. The tubes are prismatic folds with intricate branches and connections, forming in less than a second.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateFeb 27, 2006

Vanadium appears to play role in speeding recovery from infections

Researchers found that vanadium supplementation sped recovery in mice, with 50% faster recovery times in both diabetic and non-diabetic animals. The exact mechanism is unclear but may involve vanadium's metal-related shape or ability to inhibit tyrosine phosphatases.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 11, 2005

Timing nature's fastest optical shutter

Researchers at Vanderbilt University developed an ultra-fast optical shutter with a record-breaking speed of 40 picoseconds, enabling high-speed imaging applications. The new technology uses femtosecond laser pulses to freeze light at the molecular level, opening doors for breakthroughs in fields like biology and materials science.

SourceVanderbilt University·JournalOptics Letters·DateApr 6, 2005
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