Articles tagged with Materials Testing
Researchers have discovered that boron nitride nanotubes can create even stronger and more stable materials when combined with lightweight polymers than previously thought. The unique properties of boron nitride nanotubes make them an attractive alternative to carbon nanotubes for aerospace and other industries.
A new neutron study at Oak Ridge National Laboratory reveals promising results that could drastically boost the performance of solid-state electrolytes in lithium-ion batteries, leading to safer and more efficient batteries. The study found a common rule governing how dopants redistribute vacancies in garnet structures, enabling materi...
A recent study shows that material purchases provide repeated doses of happiness over time, whereas experiential purchases offer a more intense but fleeting experience. Researchers found that people felt more satisfaction with experiential purchases six weeks after Christmas.
Researchers have successfully synthesized a two-dimensional sheet of boron, known as borophene, with metallic properties at the nanoscale. The material's unique atomic configuration and anisotropy result in a high tensile strength, making it a promising candidate for applications in electronics and photovoltaics.
Researchers at the University of Luxembourg have discovered a high-k-material that enables better energy storage devices, which could lead to smaller, faster and more efficient electronics. The material's unique dielectric properties allow it to generate strong electric fields, making it suitable for capacitors.
UCSB researchers are working on developing next-generation materials and design systems with $6 million in National Science Foundation funding. They aim to create higher-performance aircraft engines and more efficient natural gas-based power plants.
Researchers from Cardiff University and Charles Owen Inc. have developed a novel 3D-printed material called C3, which can improve the safety of athletes and others by better absorbing and dissipating impact. The material has been awarded $250,000 to further develop its potential.
Researchers at Penn State have discovered a new material that is both highly transparent and electrically conductive, potentially replacing indium tin oxide in display technology. The new material, a correlated metal, has a structure that allows it to behave like a liquid, resulting in high optical transparency and conductivity.
Researchers have developed a hybrid material that can change shape in response to different stimuli, such as light and heat. The material combines photo-responsive fibers with thermo-responsive gels to create a composite that is both highly reconfigurable and mechanically strong.
Researchers at Rice University and Swansea University have developed a new class of superhydrophobic nanomaterials that are inexpensive, nontoxic, and can be applied to various surfaces via spray- or spin-coating. The coating is equivalent in performance to commercial coatings that employ hazardous fluorocarbons.
Research found that young men with greater interest in babies showed smaller increases in testosterone in response to sexually explicit stimuli, indicating a 'slow' life-history strategy. In contrast, men who didn't like babies as much were more physiologically aroused by novel sexual stimuli.
Hitachi and Tohoku University's Advanced Institute for Materials Research have developed a basic technology to reduce internal resistance in all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries, allowing them to operate at temperatures up to 150°C. This breakthrough enables the thermally durable battery to be used in various applications, such as lar...
Researchers have developed a new method using microwaves to produce BiVO4 nanoparticles for cleaning wastewater, which is 20 times faster and saves energy compared to traditional methods.
A team of researchers developed a unique sensing device using chewing gum and carbon nanotubes that can track breathing and detect humidity changes. The flexible sensor, which can withstand bending and stretching up to 530% strain, has the potential to monitor body functions around the clock.
Researchers at Hiroshima University have developed a new ultra-thin layered membrane that separates salt from seawater to produce fresh water through reverse osmosis. The membrane is heat-resistant and resistant to chlorine, making it suitable for desalination plants.
Penn State researchers develop a new symmetry operation that can reduce the number of measurements needed to find new materials. This technique uses distortion symmetry groups to analyze physical systems under stress or forces, enabling faster discovery of advanced materials with unique properties.
Scientists at Jülich and Aachen have developed a method to control the conducting properties of topological insulators more precisely. By stacking materials instead of mixing, they optimized conductivity and reduced energy requirements. This breakthrough could lead to faster and more efficient computers and mobile phones.
JURECA's massive computing power of 2.2 quadrillion operations per second enables researchers in life sciences, earth system sciences, and other fields to tackle complex issues. The system's flexibility allows for various applications, including brain research, medicine, and materials research.
Scientists at University of Copenhagen discover heart urchin shell has a structure that nears theoretical ideal for foam structure strength. The shell's unique porosity and strut arrangement make it up to six times stronger than chalk, despite being lighter.
Researchers at UTA are using a next-generation positron beam facility to investigate the properties of graphene, a versatile pure carbon material 200 times stronger than steel. The team is analyzing the microscopic interaction of graphene with other materials to translate its exceptional properties into real-life applications.
Scientists create ultra-thin FeSe films using electrochemical etching, increasing superconducting transition temperature from bulk form to 40K. This method enables exploration of nontrivial physical phenomena in 2D materials, previously difficult to address.
By 'crumpling' hybrid nanostructures, researchers increased surface area and improved SERS detection sensitivity. The new design enables enhanced nanoplasmonic sensing applications for environmental analysis, pharmaceuticals, and biomedical research.
Researchers have found that repeated small stretching of nanoscale metal pieces can eliminate crystal defects in its crystalline structure, strengthening the material. This phenomenon is counterintuitive, as it is opposite to what one sees in larger metal crystals.
Scientists have successfully controlled a phase transformation from layered SrNbO3.4 to perovskite SrNbO3 at the atomic scale using focused electron beams, paving the way for precise control of phase transformations in materials design and nanodevice fabrication.
New research shows that candle soot can be used to power the lithium batteries in electric cars, offering a cost-effective and scalable solution. The discovery opens up possibilities for using carbon in more powerful batteries, which could drive down production costs and increase efficiency.
The University of Texas at Arlington will build a unique, arc-heated wind tunnel to study heat shield materials for hypersonic vehicles and spacecraft. The $1.01 million grant will enable researchers to create high-temperature flows and test new thermal protection systems.
Scientists have developed a new hydrogel coating that can neutralize both mustard gas and nerve agent VX in under 20 minutes. This breakthrough could lead to the creation of protective clothing and paints that safeguard against chemical warfare agents.
Seventy-five years after the start of the WWII Blitz, Herbert Mason's portrait of St. Paul's Cathedral stands as an enduring symbol of Britain's resilience amidst destruction. The iconic image has been widely reproduced and continues to have a lasting impact on visual shorthand for momentous events.
Researchers at University of Waterloo's Institute for Quantum Computing have controlled the orbital angular momentum of neutron waves for the first time. This breakthrough enables probing of material properties like magnetism and crystalline structure, opening doors to deeper studies of superconducting and chiral materials.
Researchers developed a four-dimensional printing technology using smart shape-memory materials to create complex self-folding structures. The technology enables sequential folding and unfolding of 3-D objects in response to stimuli like temperature, moisture, or light.
A team of physicists has discovered stable ferroelectricity in a few nanometers thick strontium titanate film, contradicting expected behavior. This finding could lead to new materials for nanotechnology devices.
A team of researchers from Michigan State University has manipulated vanadium dioxide to make it usable in small devices, allowing for smart antennas with tunable properties. This technology could enable applications such as switching between communication bands or precise microsurgery.
The university will conduct critical defense research, including designing and developing next-generation armor and high-velocity sprayed materials for military equipment. The $20.4 million agreement will support 30 research projects over three years.
Scientists at Sichuan University develop an alloy combining diamond and cubic boron nitride, exhibiting superior hardness and wear resistance when cutting through steel and granite. The novel process enables mass production of the alloy, which could revolutionize various industrial materials processing.
Researchers at Northwestern University and the University of Illinois have developed a new assembly method that uses strategic 'Kirigami cuts' to create complex 3D structures out of silicon and other materials. The technique enables the production of mostly closed 3D shapes with limited ability to achieve spatially extended devices.
Scientists at SISSA and Northwestern University propose a new model for creating multiferroic materials that combine magnetism and ferroelectricity in the same substance. Theoretical study shows promise for controlling ferroelectricity with magnetism, paving the way for new technologies.
Researchers manipulated a steel gray mineral to create holes in thin films, which showed magnetic properties at their edges. The discovery raised the metal-to-insulator phase transition temperature of the film.
A Florida State University engineer has developed a highly efficient and low-cost LED technology using organic and inorganic materials. The new material requires only one layer to create the desired product or effect, making it simpler to manufacture than existing products.
A £6.65 million grant will support a programme at the University of Liverpool and University College London to design and test new materials at the atomic level. The project aims to address challenges in sustainable energy production, battery technologies, and solar energy efficiency.
Researchers at Northwestern University discovered that graphene oxide exhibits remarkable plastic deformation before breaking, unlike its more perfect counterpart graphene. This unique property may unlock the secret to scaling up graphene oxide.
The Louisiana Tech University will contribute to a $20 million NSF grant focused on multi-scale replication and forming technologies, as well as adaptive manufacturing of small numbers of application-specific structures using laser-based 3D printing. The university's faculty and infrastructure will support the success of this project.
Researchers at Harvard have engineered a new soft actuator that utilizes unstable responses to create fast-moving instabilities. These snap-through instabilities can trigger large changes in internal pressure, shape, and exerted force without significant volume change, enabling fast, untethered motion for soft robots.
Researchers from KIT developed a process to transfer scale structure of reptiles to components of electromechanical systems. The results show that narrow scale structures increase friction under both lubricated and non-lubricated conditions, while wide scales reduce friction by more than 40%.
A recent study assesses e-waste recycling's economic potential and finds it worth billions of euros, with potential revenues expected to rise from €2 billion in 2014 to €3.5 billion by 2020. The recycling industry also aims to reduce environmental pollution by conserving virgin resources.
Researchers at Drexel University have developed a method to combine disparate elemental layers into stable materials with uniform properties. By sandwiching two-dimensional sheets of elements, they created new layered materials that may expand options for faster, smaller, and more efficient energy storage.
Researchers at Disney Research have developed a method to create 3D-printed objects with varying levels of elasticity, enabling the creation of deformable toys and soft robots. By controlling the small-scale structure of the material, they can produce complex microstructures that mimic the properties of metamaterials.
Researchers from NC State University developed a new method to bind nanoparticles using oily liquid shells, mimicking the formation of sandcastles. The technique creates ultraflexible microfilaments and networks with reversible binding, enabling dynamic reconfigurable multifunctional materials.
New York University researchers have developed a method to prompt microparticles to form ordered structures, opening the door for improved materials used in consumer products. The technique, centered on DNA-coated colloids, allows for the creation of new compounds with unique properties.
Researchers designed a more efficient jumping robot using 3D printing techniques and combining hard and soft materials. The robot's unique design, inspired by nature, allows for improved durability and control.
Scientists at Hiroshima University successfully compounded ultra-thin all-inorganic molecular nanowires composed of Mo and Te, exhibiting high activity as an acid catalyst. The wires' diameters were only 1.2 nm, making them a promising material for heterogeneous catalysts, thermochromic materials, and semiconductors.
Researchers create film using zeolites and cellulose to trap sulfur-containing compounds responsible for bad food smells. The material reduces odors to levels undetectable by humans, potentially solving issues with transporting and storing stinky edibles.
Researchers have developed a method to visualize plant branching structures using MRI, gaining insights into the design of lightweight materials. The technique allows for non-invasive visualization of vascular tissues under stress, enabling optimization of branched, fibre-reinforced components in various industries.
USC Viterbi researchers have developed new layered semiconducting materials that can be adjusted to achieve unique electronic and optical properties. These materials have potential applications in LIDAR systems, infrared thermal imaging technology, and flexible night vision glasses.
A new polymer-piezoelectric hybrid material has been designed to perform computations based on changes in the environment or movement, potentially responding to human vital signs. The material system is small and flexible, allowing it to be integrated into fabrics or shoes.
Scientists at the University of Cambridge developed a method to combine multiple functions in a single material by integrating structure at the nanoscale. This approach enables the creation of multi-functional artificial muscles that can move, sense, and report on their environment.
Researchers at the University of Houston have developed a new formula to calculate the maximum efficiency of thermoelectric materials, which could lead to breakthroughs in clean energy generation. The formula takes into account temperature-dependent properties and can determine whether devices are efficient enough to be worth pursuing.
Researchers have developed a prototype coating for wind turbine blades that mimics the intricate structure of an owl's wing, reducing noise production by up to 30dB. The coating, made of 3D-printed plastic, has shown promising results in wind tunnel tests, potentially leading to more efficient and quieter wind turbines.
A research team at Georgia Institute of Technology has realized a nonlinear material with opposite refractive indices at the fundamental and harmonic frequencies of light, as predicted theoretically. This discovery has significant implications for controlling light in information processing, sensing, and signal generation.
Researchers at the University of Bristol have designed a smart materials system inspired by biological chromatophores, mimicking squid skin's camouflage abilities. The artificial skin, made from electroactive dielectric elastomer, can effectively copy biological patterns and even mimic complex dynamic patterning seen in real cephalopods.
The research develops a system to produce soft materials with dynamically controllable and reversible surface properties. By manipulating the spacing and shapes of embedded particles, the material's surface can change from smooth to ridged or bumpy, creating complex patterns that could guide fluids.