Articles tagged with Materials Engineering
New instruments promise precise measurement and manipulation of tiny nanomaterials used in manufacturing, aerospace and medicine. Researchers can now study the smallest heavy metals with water filters, developing more resilient structures.
Researchers use ENABLE, a markerless motion capture technology, to estimate metabolic cost for movement efficiency improvement in healthcare and rehabilitation. The team validates the system by comparing model outputs with experimental measurements.
Researchers have designed a clay material that can absorb and retain ethylene gas, slowing down the ripening process of fruits and vegetables. This innovation has the potential to reduce food waste and improve fruit flavor by allowing for later harvesting in the ripening process.
Researchers at HKU have discovered a significant piezoelectric effect in ultrathin and ultra-flexible polycrystalline diamond membranes. The finding challenges the long-held assumption that diamonds are non-piezoelectric, opening up new possibilities for medical and energy applications.
Researchers have discovered a new iron–scandium catalyst that stabilizes iron catalysts and enables the growth of centimeter-long carbon nanotubes under high-temperature conditions. The study reveals scandium as a key cocatalyst, improving catalyst lifetime and promoting CNT growth.
Researchers at Penn State developed photomemristors that adjust sensitivity based on light levels, like the human eye. These devices can process light data faster and more accurately than traditional systems in mixed lighting environments.
Ferroelectric thin films' thickness, strain state and domain architecture are influenced by van der Waals forces, which can be controlled through epitaxial growth on MoS2 substrates. This discovery enables the creation of higher-quality, larger thin films with improved performance.
Scientists from the University of Tokyo have successfully synthesized 1-nanometer-wide, single-walled MoS2 nanotubes with well-defined atomic structures. These ultrafine materials could provide a new route toward miniaturized electronic devices and expand nanotube science beyond carbon.
The partnership between ACP Technologies and Oak Ridge National Laboratory has helped move advanced pitch materials from laboratory development to pilot-scale production. The collaboration supported the refinement and demonstration of isotropic and mesophase pitch materials, now being produced at a new continuous pilot facility.
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology developed a new bio-based material using yeast, cellulose, alginate, glycerol, and water. The material can be 3D printed, has customizable properties, and is biodegradable, offering an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional building materials.
Researchers discovered curcumin's ability to stabilize microscopic ceramic parts by physically screening stray light and neutralizing erratic energy sparks. This approach enables the production of complex, ultra-lightweight components for advanced technologies.
Researchers developed a liquid reactive ink that can print copper onto surfaces without oxidation or corrosion, enabling faster, cheaper, and more sustainable electronic production. The breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize the conductive ink industry by replacing expensive metals with copper.
Researchers at the University of Rochester developed a solar-thermal desalination process that produces fresh water in an energy-efficient way, eliminating brine and requiring no chemical additives. The technology extracts nearly 100% of salts in solid form, producing table salt and precious minerals like lithium.
Researchers developed a table-top EUV lithography device to speed up production of semiconductors, overcoming high entry costs and long processing times. The new device uses volumetric 3D patterning, allowing for faster printing of 3D nanostructures in minutes, not days.
The FutuRaM project mapped Europe's 'urban mine', revealing a vast reservoir of metals and minerals essential for clean energy, digital technologies, and modern industry. By 2050, recovery systems could enable the EU to recover between 4.1 and 5.7 million tonnes of critical raw materials annually.
A team at Polytechnique Montréal has developed a new material that enables direct light processing on silicon chips, reducing the need for signal conversion and amplification. This breakthrough could help sustain the next wave of AI at scale by giving light a larger role in data processing.
Advincula received the Frank Tiller Award for his pioneering work on new materials, 3D printed membranes and smart separation surfaces. His research at ORNL focuses on polymer design, synthesis and characterization.
Researchers have developed a chemical upcycling method that converts existing plastics into new materials with rapidly degrading properties. This process has the potential to tackle global plastic pollution issues by replacing non-biodegradable plastics.
The University of Manchester is developing new technologies to recover valuable materials from hard-to-recycle waste, including disposable vapes and cars. The project aims to break down these materials at a molecular level and recover valuable components that can be reused.
Researchers from Tohoku University's Advanced Institute for Materials Research use AI and data science to extract valuable insights from decades-old experiments and scientific literature. This approach accelerates materials design and screening in catalysis, solid-state electrolytes, and hydrogen storage research.
Researchers found that atoms on certain gold surfaces naturally rearrange themselves into protective patterns that suppress reactions with oxygen. This discovery helps explain why gold jewelry and objects can remain untarnished for centuries.
Researchers at UNF will develop a system to spot and fix problems during the printing process, reducing flaws in 3D-printed metal parts. The project aims to dramatically reduce defects, leading to fewer failed builds, lower costs, and more sustainable production methods.
A global study of marine litter has identified food and beverage plastics as the leading contributors to ocean pollution, with plastic packaging, caps, and bottles dominating shoreline debris worldwide. The research highlights the urgent need for reduced plastic production and more efficient waste management practices.
Researchers at Duke University developed a new approach to deliver GLP-1 medications orally that maintains efficacy without requiring fasting. The technique uses an elastin-like polypeptide-based delivery system that protects the peptide from stomach acid and releases it in the intestines, bypassing the stomach's destructive acids.
A new model combines text mining and machine learning to extract service-specific aspects and customer actions from online reviews. The model effectively identifies core technical issues and user love for a platform, enabling targeted decisions for improvement. Researchers validated the model using 231,705 online reviews of Roblox.
TEGNet accelerates optimization in thermoelectric generator design by predicting performance with high accuracy and speed. The AI model enables designers to freely combine independent models for various materials, enabling complex structure exploration and high conversion efficiencies.
Researchers developed a cellulose/MXene sediment aerogel that combines EMI shielding, infrared stealth, and Joule heating within a single porous structure. The aerogel retained high porosity and specific surface area, enabling strong electromagnetic wave attenuation and thermal insulation.
The use of 1H-indole-3-carbohydrazide in perovskite solar cells has successfully alleviated the major obstacle of defect-induced nonradiative recombination, leading to improved stability and power conversion efficiency. This additive achieves a critical balance between high performance and long-term durability.
Researchers have developed a new computational workflow combining generative AI with atomistic simulations to identify promising platinum alloy catalyst structures for hydrogen fuel cells. The method produces high-performing candidates from several material combinations, addressing a longstanding challenge in catalyst design.
A research team has successfully removed the primary obstacle to post-silicon computing by creating a record-breaking electronic connection for atomic-thin materials. The new GaOx layer enables 'hybrid tunnelling' mechanism, reducing contact resistance and allowing transistors to operate at much lower voltages without sacrificing speed.
The HARMONY project has achieved a significant milestone by processing recycled neodymium-iron-boron powder into functional magnet components. The process enables the production of high-quality magnets using industrially relevant methods, reducing dependence on primary raw materials.
A new autonomous laboratory named PoLARIS has identified brighter, lead-free light-emitting nanomaterials in just 12 hours. By analyzing the optical properties and adjusting variables, PoLARIS has improved the brightness of these materials, enabling faster discovery of safer optical nanoplatelets for various applications.
A team of researchers from MIT has directly characterized the three-dimensional atomic structure of a relaxor ferroelectric for the first time. This breakthrough provides a framework for refining models used to design next-generation computing, energy, and sensing devices.
Wagner's research aims to bridge the gap between molecular structure and mechanical properties, using machine learning to analyze entanglements in polymer chains. This could lead to designing more effective biomimetic tissue implants and other cutting-edge biomedical devices.
The Harvard-led team demonstrates a micron-scale photonic device that generates two orders of magnitude more UV light on a chip than previous approaches. By converting red light to UV light through frequency upconversion, the researchers create high-power, low-loss, compact UV sources.
This study investigates the effects of high-volume fly ash on early-age characteristics and hardening properties of concrete. The results show that fly ash can improve fresh concrete workability but delays setting time. However, moderate fly ash replacement achieves excellent long-term strength and stiffness.
Harvard engineers develop new method to preserve long molecular chains in natural rubber, resulting in composite materials that are both stiff and tough. The innovation has the potential to cut waste, reduce tire dust pollution, and open new avenues for high-performance elastomers.
Researchers develop solar-powered technology to convert plastic waste into valuable fuels, including hydrogen and syngas, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and addressing pollution challenges.
New study finds anaerobic digestion of hemp hurd-based bioplastic systems delivers the best environmental outcome, generating up to 6.1 kg less CO2 emissions per 1 kg mulch film treated. The production process significantly affects the final carbon footprint of biocomposites.
Researchers developed a multi-physics machine learning framework that improves stress prediction accuracy by integrating electrical resistivity. The model achieved significant reductions in mean absolute error and improved coefficient of determination, making it a promising approach for real-time monitoring of compressive stress in UHPC.
Engineers at MIT and their collaborators create a new type of soft magnetic hydrogel that can be made into complex, magnetically activated three-dimensional structures. The new gel enables the creation of microscopic, magnetically responsive robots and materials with micron-scale precision.
Researchers find crab shell waste alters microbial communities on biodegradable plastics, reducing breakdown rate. The effect persists even without direct contact, suggesting biochemical compounds released from crab shells trigger changes in the plastisphere.
Researchers investigate whether micro- and nanoplastics contribute to liver disease through oxidative stress, fibrogenesis, and inflammation. They emphasize the need for increased research into plastic-induced liver injury and its potential impact on human health.
New research reveals that the organization of electrons within a material determines its response to light. The study shows that moiré superlattices can be engineered to exhibit unusual properties by controlling electron arrangement.
A new study from Rice University transforms lunar regolith simulant into a valuable building resource, strengthening advanced composite materials by up to 30-40%. The innovative approach reduces dependence on Earth-supplied materials, increasing the feasibility of longer missions and infrastructure development.
A mild chemical strategy enhances interfacial bonding and pore structure in biomass-based magnesium cement materials, leading to improved mechanical strength and thermal insulation. The approach promotes more uniform pore distribution, stabilizes the foam structure within the composite, and reduces environmental burden.
Researchers develop new concept to accurately model wind turbine loads, focusing on local gusts' impact on material fatigue. This enhances turbine design and efficiency by reducing uncertainties in load estimations.
Researchers at Saarland University have developed a new class of miniature actuators using ultrathin silicone film-based pumps. The pumps can operate without motors, compressed air, or lubricants and can be switched on and off as needed.
Researchers at Saarland University have developed energy-efficient geometries for elastocaloric cooling elements using 3D printing. The technology uses shape-memory alloys to release heat when stretched and absorb it when released, promising a cleaner alternative to traditional cooling methods.
Researchers created a new polymer electrode that conforms to the skin, is comfortable, and can pick up ECG signals without gel or adhesives. The technology performed comparably to existing sensors in proof-of-concept testing, showcasing its potential for practical and cost-effective health monitoring applications.
A team at Virginia Tech developed a water-based process to create multilayer bioplastic films that are both high-performing and easier to manufacture. The method avoids toxic solvents and matches current industrial production speeds, making it viable for real-world use.
Researchers from Kumamoto University and partners discovered a method to enhance titanium alloys using high-density pulsed electric current, achieving improved strength and toughness. The technique harnesses an electron wind force to reorganize the internal crystal structure, producing nanoscale martensitic phases that disperse stress ...
Researchers developed a powerful model to understand charge separation at the interface, influencing catalytic activity. The model provides insights into the formation of electric double layers and local electric potential variations.
Researchers at CU Boulder explore entangled particles for strong, adaptable materials. They found a 'two-legged' particle shape with optimal geometry delivers maximum entanglement, combining strength and toughness.
The researchers developed an AI-based method that allows users to input natural language prompts about the materials they want to create and suggests optimal procedures for experiments to produce them. The method has been successfully applied to identify catalysts for turning carbon dioxide and hydrogen into carbon monoxide and water u...