Research on testing materials and how they perform. Covers spacecraft shielding, manufacturing challenges, metallic glass in space, and recyclable materials.
Researchers found that silver nanoparticles in antimicrobial plastic can form in foods and beverages, especially in sweetened products. The study suggests that long-term storage of these packaged items could lead to the transfer of silver ions into food and drinks, potentially harming human health.
A new piezoelectric material developed by Penn State researchers remained effective at elevated temperatures, allowing for the creation of self-powering sensors and energy harvesters. The material performed well beyond 482 F (250 C), enabling potential applications in aerospace, automotive, and wearable devices.
Researchers from the University of the Basque Country have developed a novel non-destructive analytical strategy to characterize Martian samples. The proposed method utilizes Raman spectroscopy to identify molecular compositions and geochemical properties of unknown samples.
A new road-making material is made by mixing shredded single-use face masks with processed building rubble, adding stiffness and strength. The study found that using this material can prevent up to 3 million masks from going to landfill.
Researchers created a new solar cell design using 3D nanocomposites, increasing efficiency by a factor of five. The unique architecture helps overcome material limitations, enabling easier manufacturing and improved durability.
Researchers have discovered a new mechanism that can increase the strength and toughness of high entropy alloys, enabling applications in transportation, energy, and defense industries. The discovery opens doors to lighter, safer, and more energy-efficient materials.
Researchers from Nagoya University have developed a new class of super-hard composite materials by adding zirconium atoms to aluminum oxide and tungsten carbide. The resulting materials exhibit exceptionally high bending strengths greater than 2 gigapascals, making them stronger than previous CMCs.
Researchers at the University of York have discovered a solar absorber material called antimony selenide that can self-heal broken bonds. This ability eliminates problematic electronic states and has important implications for applications in optoelectronics and photochemistry.
A new research project at Aarhus University aims to create novel, biodegradable materials for sustainable electronics. The project, led by Assistant Professor Shweta Agarwala, uses materials science and printed electronics to develop materials that can replace traditional silicon-based components.
Researchers have used lasers to create bubble microrobots that can form inseparable shapes and control their movement. The robots can manipulate small pieces into interconnected structures with unbreakable connections.
Researchers have developed a new metamaterial that can be reprogrammed after creation, offering potential for dynamic materials with adaptive stiffness and strength. This breakthrough has far-reaching implications for industries ranging from healthcare to aerospace.
A new type of ultra-efficient, nano-thin material has been developed by RMIT University that can convert mechanical pressure into electrical energy. The material is 800% more efficient than other piezoelectrics and can be easily fabricated through a cost-effective method using liquid metals.
A University of Wyoming research team has resolved the controversy over the energy gap of chromium tribromide, a van der Waals material, revealing an energy gap value of around 0.3 electron volts. The study uses scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy to measure atomic resolution images and electronic properties.
Researchers at NC State University developed a framework to predict organic solar cell stability using elastic modulus and glass transition temperature. The most stable cells contain highly rigid materials with low miscibility, resulting in reduced diffusion and increased stability.
David Wetz, UTA professor of electrical engineering, has received a DURIP grant to study the insulation properties of epoxy and additively manufactured materials in compact high-voltage systems. The goal is to identify new ways to improve dielectric properties, reducing system size and weight.
A new 2D compound made of antimony and indium selenide exhibits unique properties depending on its polarization by an external electric field. This allows for potential applications in solar energy and quantum computing, with the material being relatively simple to make.
Professor Andreas Walther receives EUR 2 million in EU funding to develop metabolic mechanical materials that can adapt, learn, and interact. The goal is to create a form of coevolution between synthetic materials and living cells, blurring the boundaries between animate and inanimate matter.
Engineers at Northwestern University have developed a new technique using kirigami cuts to create complex 3D structures and nanoscale tools. The technique, inspired by traditional Japanese paper-folding practices, enables the creation of unusual shapes and functions.
Researchers tested mask materials' effectiveness in blocking droplets carrying coronavirus. While masks blocked most droplets, distances under 6 feet still allowed many to escape, posing a risk of illness. Masks can offer protection but not complete protection when combined with distancing.
A research team in South Korea developed a self-healing colorless polyimide material that can repair cracks and damaged functions without high-temperature heat. The material, created by mixing linseed oil-loaded microcapsules with silicone, offers advantages such as accelerated healing process and local damage repair at room temperature.
A new study from the UBC Sauder School of Business finds that crowdfunding activates an interdependent mindset in consumers, making them more responsive to social good options. Researchers conducted experiments where participants were offered products with different benefits, including social good and performance benefits.
Researchers at Penn State have created multilayered quantum anomalous Hall (QAH) insulators, enabling the realization of the QAH effect over a broader range of conditions. This allows for the construction of high-speed electronic highways with minimal energy loss, which could significantly improve information transfer speed.
Researchers found a non-destructive way to analyze bitumen in Ancient Egyptian embalming materials, providing insights into its origin and processing. The method revealed that a mummy in a French museum could have been partially restored with pure bitumen.
A UVA-led team has been awarded $600,000 to develop a new coating that will enable a niobium alloy to perform at 1800°C. The HERO coating aims to increase the materials' temperature tolerance by 200 degrees Celsius, addressing a critical challenge in turbine engine technology.
NIST researchers use atomic force microscopy with a nanocylinder tip to measure polymer curing rates and diffusion in 3D printing. The study reveals that controlling light exposure conditions is crucial to uniform part production.
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a soft robotic material that can walk at human speed, pick up cargo, and transport it to a new location. The material is activated by light and responds to external magnetic fields, making it ideal for use in aquatic environments.
Researchers from the University of Exeter have developed a new theoretical approach to force light to travel through electromagnetic materials without reflection. This discovery could pave the way for more efficient communications and wireless technology.
Researchers report a 50-year review of nature's contributions to human societies, revealing an imbalance between agricultural growth and declining regulatory ecosystem services. The study highlights the need for adaptations and substitutes, but notes they come at a cost.
Thermoelectric materials work by exploiting heat flow, providing emission-free energy. New materials are needed to improve cooling efficiency and control, expanding the existing market.
Researchers at Tokyo Medical and Dental University have developed a cross-linker for dental cement that breaks down under UV light, making treatments easier to reverse. This breakthrough enables non-permanent adhesion to the tooth surface without damaging enamel.
Researchers Marco Fielder and Arun Nair found that water and mineral content variations significantly impact collagen fibril behavior, leading to bio-composites with improved mechanical stability. Composites with 40% mineralization were twice as strong as those without minerals, regardless of water content.
Researchers have developed a self-repairing gelatin-based film that can mend cracks in minutes and preserve electrical functionality. The film, which incorporates glucose, can be used to enhance the durability of touchscreen and flexible display devices.
Researchers at Lancaster University have discovered a crystalline material that can capture and store solar energy for several months at room temperature. The energy is released on demand as heat, providing a promising solution for renewable heating systems and environmentally-friendly applications.
Researchers at Dartmouth College have discovered a class of molecular materials that can be used to make temporary adhesives that don't require force for removal. These non-permanent glues offer expanded design strategies for bonding surfaces together and can lead to new manufacturing techniques and pharmaceutical design.
Researchers at RIKEN develop a material that can change from soft to hard and back again in response to temperature changes, mimicking the properties of sea cucumbers. The material's structure is manipulated using electrostatic repulsion and gold nanoparticles, enabling rapid and reversible shape shifts.
Researchers from the University of the Basque Country found that pyroclastic materials protecting Pompeii paintings also cause damage when exposed to air and humidity. The study identified fluorine ions in the salts responsible for damage, suggesting a link between volcanic origin and salt crystallization.
Princeton University researchers have developed a new method to design and control complex mixtures with multiple phases, mimicking the arrangement of Russian matryoshka dolls. This approach uses graph theory to predict final arrangements of phases in a mixture when surface energies are known.
Researchers have discovered a class of flexible molecular sieves that can selectively separate gases, such as propylene from propane. This breakthrough has the potential to improve the efficiency of gas purification processes in the manufacture of high-quality plastics.
Researchers at CCNY have overcome barriers for bio-inspired solar energy harvesting materials by using small cross-linking molecules to stabilize supra-molecular assemblies. This breakthrough could transform sustainable solar energy technologies and improve their efficiency.
Researchers used materials informatics to develop new TADF materials, increasing efficiency by 20-40% and lifetimes up to 10 times longer. Co-Host technology improved electric charge balance, expanding recombination sites and enhancing colors for full-color displays.
Researchers have created a magnetic switch that requires less energy to alter its orientation, a potential breakthrough in storing data in personal electronics. The new technology uses voltage instead of current to reorient magnetic materials, resulting in significant energy savings.
A team of scientists from Tokyo Institute of Technology devised a strategy to automate the novel material development process using robotics and artificial intelligence. The CASH setup enables fully autonomous materials research, making it possible to test and optimize new compounds at an unprecedented scale.
Researchers developed a high-throughput approach to analyze interactions between materials and viruslike particles, identifying competitive adsorbents of Lassa and Rubella viruses. The study aims to expand to SARS-CoV-2 and evaluate viral infectious lifetime on the materials.
Researchers at Penn State discovered that biochars made from cotton gin waste and guayule bagasse can adsorb pharmaceutical compounds, including sulfapyridine, docusate, and erythromycin. The study found that temperature increases during the pyrolysis process enhanced the biochar's capacity to adsorb contaminants.
Researchers have successfully developed a new class of hybrid glass materials that combine the properties of organometallic networks with those of conventional glasses. These materials exhibit improved mechanical properties, such as impact and fracture toughness, and can be tailored for specific applications.
Researchers from Imperial College London and their colleagues have discovered new green materials that can convert indoor light into energy, potentially powering smart devices without toxic chemicals. The materials, inspired by perovskites, show promise for commercial applications and could enable battery-free wearables and IoT devices.
A research team at Pohang University of Science & Technology developed a technique for predicting the phase and properties of high-entropy alloys using AI. The technique, which uses deep learning, improves the accuracy of phase prediction and provides guidance on key design parameters.
Researchers at the University of Chicago have made significant breakthroughs in designing brain-like devices by predicting design rules for energy-efficient transition states. The study, published in npj Computational Materials, highlights the potential of oxide materials to mimic the behavior of neurons and synapses in the human brain.
Researchers at the University of Córdoba have developed a biocide additive that can be incorporated into traditional materials used in cultural heritage restoration. The new material, featuring carbendazim-clay complexes, shows improved antimicrobial effectiveness and long-lasting properties compared to existing solutions.
Researchers have designed a highly sensitive implantable sensor that can monitor various forms of nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide in the body. The device is made from biodegradable materials, including magnesium and silicon, which dissolve at a slow pace allowing it to function during recovery periods.
Researchers developed a new method to optimize materials exhibiting metal-insulator transitions (MIT) using Bayesian optimization and latent-variable Gaussian processes. The approach identified 12 previously unidentified MIT materials with optimal functionality and synthesizability.
Researchers have discovered a new form of calcium carbonate that is soft and absorbent, found in mussel shells. They tested its ability to absorb oils and dyes, finding it highly effective but limited by scalability and cost, for potential use in marine pollution cleanup.
Scientists at the University of Turku discovered that titanium is key to hackmanite's glow and developed a material with a longer afterglow. The study reveals complex composition differences in natural minerals and their role in luminescence, offering valuable insights for synthetic materials development.
Researchers developed a method to analyze glyphosate and AMPA in oat-based food samples, detecting glyphosate in all 13 samples and AMPA in three. The results show that glyphosate levels were well below the EPA tolerance limit, but AMPA levels were lower.
The National University of Singapore team developed a new sensor material called TRACE with significantly less hysteresis, enabling more accurate wearable health technology and robotic sensing. The breakthrough improves the reliability of data readouts, allowing for wider applications in healthcare and robotics.
A team of researchers tested the effectiveness of different fabrics at filtering ultrafine particles, comparable to coughing or heavy breathing. Most fabrics commonly used for non-clinical face masks were found to be effective, with N95 masks being highly effective.
Researchers developed two analytical models to evaluate retro-reflective materials' reflection directional characteristics, achieving more accurate results than traditional methods. The study aims to mitigate urban heat islands and reduce building energy consumption.
A liquid nanofoam material with nanopores creates a large surface area, making it pliable and deformable for effective protection. The material outperformed traditional foam in laboratory tests, offering potential to be used in helmets and other safety devices.
A team of West Virginia University researchers are developing a protective jacket for tank cars that haul hazardous materials to prevent spills and leaks caused by accidents. The new composite material, made up of glass and polymer, improves fatigue, puncture, and fire resistance qualities.
Researchers at Penn State have developed new methods to enhance light emission and increase signal strength in 2D materials. By altering the atomic makeup and physical shape of these materials, they created new types of materials that can attract different molecules and induce superconductivity. These advancements have significant impl...