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Glass matters

The chemical topology of silica surfaces can significantly impact the effectiveness of various chemical processes, including catalysis, filtration, and nanofabrication. Researchers found that hydrophilic silanol groups attract water molecules, forming a barrier that reactants must overcome to proceed with the desired process.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 12, 2018

The shapes of water

Researchers at Arizona State University have observed a previously unseen property of water, where it changes from one liquid to another under super-cooling and specific conditions. This phenomenon, known as a liquid-liquid phase transition, was only seen in computer simulations until now.

SourceArizona State University·JournalScience·DateMar 8, 2018

Smart glass made better, and cheaper

Researchers at the University of Delaware have developed a new type of smart glass that is more transparent in its transparent state and more reflective in its reflective state. The panels, made from two sheets of plastic separated by a thin cavity, can switch between allowing light in and blocking it out with just the press of a button.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalOptics Express·DateMar 7, 2018

Clever coating opens door to smart windows

Researchers at RMIT University developed an ultra-thin coating that automatically regulates temperature in buildings, reducing energy consumption and emissions. The self-modifying coating can block heat during summer and retain heat inside when it's cold, leading to significant environmental benefits and financial savings.

SourceRMIT University·JournalScientific Reports·DateFeb 25, 2018

Researchers create fiber optic sensors that dissolve in the body

The new bioresorbable optical fiber Bragg gratings can be used to sense pressure at joints or act as tiny probes that can safely reach and assess the heart and other delicate organs. The sensors could also improve laser-based tumor removal techniques by delivering accurate real-time temperature sensing.

SourceOptica·JournalOptics Letters·DateFeb 5, 2018

Physicists have learned to change the wavelength of Tamm plasmons

Researchers from Siberian Federal University and L. V. Kirensky Institute of Physics predicted the structure to control Tamm plasmon wavelength using external fields or heating. They achieved a hybrid Tamm plasmon by incorporating a liquid crystal layer in a multilayer mirror, enabling color change through heating or electrification.

SourceSiberian Federal University·JournalJournal of the Optical Society of America B·DateJan 24, 2018

Gorilla Glass debuts in car windshields

Chemically toughened glass is being explored for use in car windshields, providing strength and durability while reducing weight and cost. This new material has potential applications in wearable electronic devices, hurricane-resistant windows, and pharmaceutical vials.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalChemical & Engineering News·DateJan 17, 2018

Physicists build muscle for shape-changing, cell-sized robots

Researchers have developed a robot exoskeleton that can rapidly change its shape in response to chemical or thermal changes, enabling the creation of autonomous micron-scale machines. The graphene-based bimorph technology allows for the production of tiny robots with electronic, photonic and chemical payloads.

SourceCornell University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 3, 2018

Pop the bubbly and hear the quality

Researchers investigated the sounds made by champagne bubbles to determine if they could infer bubble size and ultimately assess wine quality. By analyzing acoustic properties, they found that bubble size distribution can be obtained from simple measurements, potentially aiding in quality assurance testing of sparkling wines.

Chip-based sensors with incredible sensitivity

Penn State electrical engineers create microchip-based sensors for multiple applications, including motion, temperature, pressure and biochemical sensing, using innovative on-chip glass microspherical shell whispering gallery mode resonators.

SourcePenn State·JournalScientific Reports·DateNov 2, 2017

Understanding how electrons turn to glass

A Japanese team has gained a deeper understanding of the electronic processes guiding liquid-to-glass transitions. By studying an organic metal material with 'frustrated' electrons, they revealed that rapid cooling can create glass-like states similar to conventional glasses.

SourceTohoku University·JournalScience·DateOct 23, 2017

Solution to mysterious behavior of supercooled water

The study reveals that anomalous molecular motions in supercooled water lead to the breakdown of Stokes-Einstein behavior, with regions forming hydrogen bonds heterogeneously. The findings provide insights into the physical implications of this anomaly, which could help explain dynamic behaviors in glassy materials.

SourceOsaka University·JournalScience Advances·DateOct 23, 2017

New technique accurately digitizes transparent objects

A new imaging technique enables precise digitization of clear objects and their surroundings, useful for movie production, virtual reality, and material design. The method uses a robotic arm to record camera locations and combine photographs with CT scans, allowing for pixel-by-pixel comparison and accurate material properties analysis.

SourceOptica·JournalApplied Optics·DateSep 21, 2017

Perovskite solar cells go single crystal

Researchers have successfully grown single crystalline films of perovskite CH3NH3PbI3 on electron-collecting substrates, exhibiting excellent photovoltaic properties. The resulting devices achieve high efficiency rates, closing the gap with traditional silicon-based solar cells and offering a promising solution for renewable energy.

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience Bulletin·DateAug 28, 2017

The breaking point

Researchers developed a new theory to understand how cracks propagate, revealing a nonlinear relationship between forces and material response near the crack's edge. This discovery may lead to better understanding of material failures and development of new strategies for protecting the environment.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalNature Physics·DateAug 23, 2017

The critical point in breaking the glass problem

Researchers from University of Bristol and Johannes Gutenberg Universität Mainz have found a critical point in the glass transition, enabling reconciliation of mutually incompatible interpretations. The study suggests that the thermodynamic and dynamic interpretations are different reflections of the same underlying phenomenon.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalPhysical Review X·DateAug 14, 2017