Charging ahead to higher energy batteries
Scientists at Shinshu University develop a thin and dense connecting layer between electrodes using cubic crystal growth, improving lithium ion battery efficiency and addressing temperature issues.
Ceramics
Articles tagged with Ceramics
Horse domestication revisited: Botai horses did not sire today's steeds
A genomic study of ancient and modern horses reveals that the Botai horses, who lived on Central Asian steppes 5,500 years ago, did not contribute to the modern domesticated horse population. However, seven Przewalski's horses, an endangered feral group, show a connection to the original Botai group.
Optical ceramic meets metal-organic frameworks
Researchers from Sun Yat-Sen University have developed a new type of optical ceramic material using metal-organic frameworks, which can be transparent or optically clear. The material has been shown to have high optical transmittance and can be used for applications such as lasing gain medium and amplified spontaneous emission.
Federico Rosei becomes Academician of the World Academy of Ceramics
Dr. Federico Rosei, a renowned professor and researcher, has been invited to join the prestigious World Academy of Ceramics as an Academician in recognition of his groundbreaking work on nanoscale functional materials. His research has led to significant advances in solar, optoelectronic, and biomedical technologies.
Blast, bubble and brain injury
University of Texas researchers use supercomputer simulations to study how blast waves affect the brain's perineuronal nets, potentially leading to life-threatening injuries. They also explore materials for space shuttles, aiming to improve their durability and performance.
SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin, Texas Advanced Computing Center·JournalJournal of the American Ceramic Society·DateJan 24, 2018
A new approach to rechargeable batteries
Researchers at MIT have developed a new approach to rechargeable batteries using a metal-mesh membrane, which overcomes the limitations of previous ceramic membranes and enables cost-effective power storage for large-scale installations.
White graphene makes ceramics multifunctional
Researchers at Rice University have developed a new ceramic material that combines the benefits of white graphene with calcium-silicates. The resulting composite has improved strength, toughness, and thermal conductivity, making it suitable for high-performance applications in construction, nuclear power plants, aerospace, and more.
Research may improve artificial joints used in hip replacement surgery
Researchers examined artificial joints used for total hip replacement and found ceramic components experience less corrosion than cobalt-chromium. The findings suggest improvements to artificial joints for better outcomes.
Brittle starfish shows how to make tough ceramics
Researchers discovered a unique process to create highly resistant lenses using calcite nanoparticles, mimicking the brittle starfish's ability to produce super-tough glass. This breakthrough could lead to improved materials for optical lenses, automotive turbochargers, and biomaterial implants.
Fine felted nanotubes
Scientists from Kiel University and University of Trento create stable 3D network of carbon nanotubes using wet chemical infiltration process. The method retains beneficial properties of CNTs, enabling applications in battery technology, medical implants, sensors, and electronic components.
HRL receives NASA award to 3-D print ceramic rocket engine components
HRL Laboratories has received a NASA award to develop additive manufactured ceramic rocket engine components. The company's technique combines polymer additive manufacturing with high-temperature ceramics, enabling new designs, lower costs, and reduced lead time.
University of Florida, US Army develop model for lighter armor
Researchers created a new model that better describes the behavior of ceramic materials under impact stress, improving prediction of resistance to deep penetration. The improved model reduces the need for expensive experiments, guiding material design and multi-materials systems approaches.
SourceU.S. Army Research Laboratory·JournalInternational Journal of Solids and Structures·DateAug 17, 2017
New optical method pinpoints weak spots in jet engine thermal coatings
A new technique can reveal weak areas in ceramic thermal barrier coatings, predicting coating lifetime and improving engine efficiency. The approach uses GHz illumination to analyze the coatings' refractive index changes with applied strain.
New ceramic nanofiber 'sponges' could be used for flexible insulation, water purification
Researchers have developed ultralight ceramic nanofiber sponges that can maintain resilience after compressive strain up to 50% and withstand temperatures of up to 800 degrees Celsius. These sponges also show promise as insulating materials with flexibility and for water purification applications.
Freezing lithium batteries may make them safer and bendable
Researchers at Columbia University developed a new method using ice-templating to create solid electrolytes for lithium batteries, which are safer, have longer battery life, and are bendable. This approach could improve energy density by replacing the graphite layer with lithium metal.
SourceColumbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science·JournalNano Letters·DateApr 24, 2017
Engineer patents waterlike polymer to create high-temperature ceramics
A KSU engineer has patented a waterlike polymer that transforms into a ceramic at high temperatures, offering valuable thermal, optical and electronic properties. The liquid polymer can be mass-produced and used to create lightweight ceramics, jet engine blades and battery electrodes.
Mimicking nature's cellular architectures via 3-D printing
Scientists at Harvard and MIT have developed a new 3D printing method that can create lightweight structural materials with tunable porosity, inspired by natural cellular structures. The approach uses ceramic foam ink to produce materials with exceptional stiffness and multifunctional properties.
SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 6, 2017
Tailor-made membranes for the environment
Researchers at Forschungszentrum Juelich have developed tailor-made ceramic membranes to efficiently separate gases, including harmful greenhouse gases, and produce high-purity hydrogen. The membrane's stability and hydrogen flow rate have been improved by inserting foreign atoms into the crystal lattice.
Lowering the heat makes new materials possible while saving energy
Researchers at Penn State developed a cold sintering process (CSP) that combines ceramic and plastic materials at lower temperatures than traditional methods. The process allows for densification of materials to over 95% of their theoretical density in just 15 minutes.
Personal cooling units on the horizon
Researchers at Penn State have developed a nanowire array that can cool about 5.5 degrees Fahrenheit using 36 volts, an electric field level safe for humans. The material is flexible, can be powered by a 500g battery pack for two hours, and could potentially be incorporated into firefighting gear or athletic uniforms.
Making electronics safer with perovskites
Researchers at Hokkaido University are developing perovskite ceramic capacitors with improved insulating properties. The process involves sintering and annealing the material to exhibit ferroelectricity, a promising dielectric property for multi-layered ceramic capacitors.
New NIST method may find elusive flaws in medical implants and spacecraft
The new NIST method uses nonlinear acoustic measurements to detect cracks in ceramic capacitors before they cause electrical failure. This approach has shown promise in rejecting over 90% of sample capacitors with visible cracks and may help prevent failures in medical implants, spacecraft, and other mission-critical electronics.
New technique offers strong, flawless 3-D printed ceramics
Researchers developed a method to create ceramic materials using 3D printing with minimal cracking, enabling complex shapes and high temperatures. The resulting silicon carbide material can withstand 1,400°C temperatures without cracking, making it suitable for hypersonic vehicles and jet engines.
Springer's Journal of Materials Science awards the 2015 Robert W. Cahn Best Paper Prize
Researchers from the University of Virginia have received the 2015 Robert W. Cahn Best Paper Prize from Springer's Journal of Materials Science for their work on ytterbium silicate protective coatings. The study optimizes the deposition process for these coatings, which are crucial for advanced gas turbine engines.
Innovative components for an imaging system in the terahertz range
Researchers developed a terahertz imaging system using COC substrates, enabling the detection of objects hidden under clothing or skin, and improving image resolution. The system has potential applications in airport security, medical diagnostics and food industry inspection.
UT Arlington research could yield more resilient ceramic material for future spacecraft
Researchers at UT Arlington are developing a new ceramic material that can withstand both extreme heat and collisions, making it suitable for use in spacecraft, power plants, and other applications. The advanced material is created by blending different ceramics within the same family, resulting in added strength.
Materials science researcher honored as Fellow by ASM International
Pranesh Aswath, a renowned materials scientist at the University of Texas at Arlington, has been recognized as a Fellow by ASM International for his groundbreaking research in ceramics. His work on functional ceramic films and biological applications has resulted in over 150 publications and numerous patents.
Consumers value handmade products: What's love got to do with it?
A study finds that consumers perceive handmade products as imbued with love and creator's essence. Handmade items preferred when purchasing for loved ones, with a 17% premium paid.
Clemson leads research on new materials that could make it safer to store nuclear waste
A Clemson University-led research team aims to develop materials that can encase nuclear waste for safe storage. The project focuses on crystalline ceramic based on naturally occurring minerals that endure for millions of years.
NSF funds new method for making materials that can make lighter, more efficient vehicles
Researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute are developing a novel way to manufacture metal-ceramic composites for use in vehicles. The new technique involves the formation of nano-reinforcements directly within the molten metal, resulting in less expensive and more flexible materials.
Ceramics don't have to be brittle
Caltech materials scientist Julia Greer and her colleagues have developed a method to create ceramics with unusual properties, such as being strong, lightweight, and nonbreakable. The researchers used direct laser writing to produce three-dimensional nanolattices that can recover their original shape after deformation.
New digital fabrication technique creates interlocking 3D-printed ceramic PolyBricks
A new digital fabrication technique enables the construction of mortar-less brick building assemblies at greater scales using 3D-printed ceramic PolyBricks. The PolyBrick system allows for customized, prefabricated ceramic building blocks to interlock and assemble easily into larger units.
SourceMary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News·Journal3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing·DateJun 19, 2014
LLNL, MIT researchers develop new ultralight, ultrastiff 3D printed materials
Researchers from LLNL and MIT have created ultra-lightweight and stiff mechanical metamaterials using additive micro-manufacturing processes. The new materials exhibit properties not found in nature, maintaining a nearly constant stiffness per unit mass density across more than three orders of magnitude in density.
NRL researchers develop harder ceramic for armor windows
The NRL research team has developed a method to fabricate nanocrystalline spinel that is 50% harder than current spinel armor materials, offering improved protection and weight savings. The new material demonstrates increased hardness even at extremely small grain sizes, making it suitable for high-performance applications.
Engineers develop new materials for hydrogen storage
Engineers at UC San Diego have created new ceramic materials that can store hydrogen safely and efficiently. The compounds are manufactured using a simple, low-cost combustion synthesis method, reducing production time and cost compared to traditional methods.
'Universal ripple' could hold the secret to high-temperature superconductivity
UBC researchers have discovered a universal electronic state that controls the behavior of high-temperature superconducting copper-oxide ceramics. The work reveals the existence of 'charge-density-waves', which carry the seeds of superconductivity emerging in these materials.
How to make ceramics that bend without breaking
Scientists at MIT have created tiny ceramic objects that can bend up to 7% without cracking, overcoming the material's brittleness. The flexible ceramics have potential for biomedical applications, such as triggering actions in microdevices.
Made-to-order materials
Researchers at Caltech have developed a method to create nanostructured, hollow ceramic scaffolds with remarkable strength and resistance to failure. The small building blocks of the structure exhibit unusually high tensile strength despite being over 85% air.
New nuclear fuel-rod cladding could lead to safer power plants
Researchers at MIT are developing a ceramic compound called silicon carbide (SiC) as an alternative to traditional zircaloy cladding for nuclear fuel rods. SiC shows promise in reducing the risk of hydrogen production by a thousandfold, while also potentially allowing for longer use of fuel rods and reduced spent fuel volume.
'Long-awaited explanation' for mysterious effects in high-temperature superconductors
A new model explains how pseudogap states form in high-temperature superconductors, featuring two competing electron orders: d-wave superconductivity and quadrupole density wave. This breakthrough sheds light on the high transition temperatures of ceramic copper oxide bonds.
Super-nanotubes: 'Remarkable' spray-on coating combines carbon nanotubes with ceramic
Researchers have developed a spray-on mixture of carbon nanotubes and ceramic that has unprecedented ability to resist damage while absorbing laser light. The composite absorbs 97.5% of the light and tolerates 15 kilowatts of laser power per square centimeter for 10 seconds.
SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·DateApr 17, 2013
Researcher finds faster, more efficient technique for creating high-density ceramics
A researcher at North Carolina State University has created a more efficient method for producing high-density ceramic materials. The new technique, known as selective-melt sintering, allows for the creation of ceramics with no porosity and increased strength in just under a second.
Scientists evaluate different antimicrobial metals for use in water filters
Researchers studied adhesion of E. coli to silver- and copper-coated porous clay ceramic surfaces, with silver nanoparticles showing highest affinity for bacteria. Copper may be a less expensive alternative to colloidal silver as a disinfectant coating.
Direct digital: Novel casting process could transform how complex metal parts are made
A Georgia Tech research team has developed a novel technology that allows for the direct digital casting of complex, costly metal parts. The new method, called Large Area Maskless Photopolymerization (LAMP), uses high-resolution optics and precision motion systems to achieve extremely sharp features, reducing prototype development time...
Nanocrystals make dentures shine
Researchers from Jena University developed a new type of glass ceramic that can be used in dentistry due to its high strength and optical characteristics. The material, which is composed of nanocrystals, achieves a strength five times higher than comparable denture ceramics available today.
SourceFriedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena·JournalJournal of Biomedical Materials Research·DateJan 5, 2012
Nanotubes key to microscopic mechanics
Carbon nanotubes have been used to increase the electrical conductivity of silicon nitride by 13 orders of magnitude, enabling the production of intricate micro-components without compromising production time or integrity. The resulting nanocomposite materials offer improved wear resistance and preservation of mechanical properties.
ORNL discovers amazing electrical properties in polymers
Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have discovered a non-polar polymer material exhibiting up to 10 times the measured electro-active response as compared to strong piezoelectric materials. This finding has the potential to revolutionize the field of electro-active devices, including sensors, actuators, energy storage devices,...
Lehigh University ceramics researchers shed light on metal embrittlement
Ceramics researchers at Lehigh University have obtained unprecedented atomic-scale images of grain boundaries in metals, revealing a bilayer phase transition that weakens the material. This discovery paves the way for scientists to prevent liquid metal embrittlement by strengthening chemical bonds.
Parabolic mirrors concentrate sunlight to power lasers
A team of researchers has proposed a method to harness parabolic mirrors to drive solar-powered lasers, achieving an impressive 35% conversion rate. The new solar lasers would concentrate light with a small parabolic mirror, strike a ceramic disk, and emit laser light of a specific wavelength.
SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalJournal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy·DateSep 12, 2011
Lehigh University leads Department of Defense MURI grant for atomic-scale interphase research
Researchers at Lehigh University are studying the impact of grain-boundary interphases on material properties. They aim to control the transition between different interphase structures to prevent abnormal grain growth and improve material quality.
Ceramic coatings may protect jet engines from volcanic ash
Researchers have discovered a new class of ceramic coatings that could offer jet engines special protection against volcanic ash damage. The coatings were tested and found to resist damage caused by ash deposits, with one coating offering sufficient protection against small amounts of ash ingested by the engine over time.
Winners of inaugural defense fellowships to further research at NTU
Nanyang Technological University (NTU) has been awarded two inaugural defense fellowships to attract young and promising post-doctoral fellows to spearhead research in defense science and technology. The winners are Dr Oleg Vasylkiv and Dr Edwin Teo Hang Tong, who will pursue cutting-edge research at NTU.
New forms of highly efficient, flexible nanogenerator technology
Researchers developed a bio-eco-friendly ceramic thin film nanogenerator that can convert tiny human movements into electrical energy without breaking down. The technology uses freely bendable piezoelectric ceramic materials to harness biomechanical forces produced by the body.
SourceThe Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)·JournalNano Letters·DateNov 11, 2010
Corning, GE Healthcare to receive Technical Achievement Award from Ceramic Society
The American Ceramic Society has awarded Corning Inc. and GE Healthcare with the 2010 Corporate Technical Achievement Award for their development of Gorilla Glass and the Gemstone CT Scan Scintillator, respectively. These products have enabled significant advancements in smartphone technology and medical imaging, respectively.
A step toward lead-free electronics
A new material has been found to have piezoelectric properties similar to lead zirconium titanate (PZT), a commonly used material in electronic devices. The development is significant as it could pave the way for 100% lead-free electronics, reducing toxicity and environmental concerns.
Certain doped-oxide ceramics resist Ohm's Law
Researchers at the University of Sheffield discovered that certain doped-oxide ceramics exhibit non-Ohmic behavior, with electrical resistance changing in response to voltage. The effect is consistent regardless of temperature or atmosphere, but time and final-state resistance are temperature-dependent.
The American Ceramic Society announces 2010 Distinguished Life Members and class of Fellows
The American Ceramic Society has announced two new Distinguished Life Members, L. David Pye and Louis J. Trostel Jr., who have made significant contributions to the field of ceramic and glass materials. The organization also elevated 19 new members to Fellow status, recognizing their expertise in academia, research labs, industry, and ...
Synthetic bone graft recruits stem cells for faster bone healing
Researchers have created a material for bone grafts that attracts stem cells and growth factors to promote bone regrowth and integration. The synthetic graft heals similarly to natural bone implants in animal tests, suggesting potential as a replacement for traditional grafts.
SourceQueen Mary University of London·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 2, 2010
Research: Electric fields make ceramic production quicker, cheaper, better
A small electric field accelerates ceramic product formation at lower temperatures and strengthens the material. The researchers achieved a 63% reduction in grain size, resulting in a stronger ceramic product.
Printed origami offers new technique for complex structues
The University of Illinois team developed a novel method for creating complex three-dimensional structures using printed origami techniques. The technique allows for the rapid assembly of biocompatible devices, microscaffolding, and other microsystems, with potential applications in biomedical devices, electronics, and more.
SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateApr 14, 2010