Articles tagged with Materials Testing
Using a neutron beam, researchers at Ohio State University track lithium atoms in real time as batteries charge and discharge. This technique, called neutron depth profiling, may help explain why rechargeable batteries lose capacity over time.
Researchers have developed the thinnest-possible semiconductor junctions, made in sheets only three atoms thick, allowing for flexible and transparent computing, LEDs, and solar technologies. The discovery enables new kinds of transistors, LEDs, nanolasers, and solar cells to be developed within a single atomic plane.
New research suggests that anticipating experiential purchases can bring more enjoyable anticipation and greater happiness. Studies show that people tend to report higher levels of happiness when thinking about future experiential purchases compared to material ones.
A team of international researchers has successfully isolated thick multilayers of silicene and demonstrated its stability in the presence of oxygen for at least 24 hours. The breakthrough allows scientists to further explore the material's properties, which have made silicene a promising candidate for the electronics industry.
A new study by Washington University in St. Louis found that students who were told they would later teach a passage performed better on recall and organization tasks than those expecting a test. The study suggests that instilling an expectation to teach may be a simple, inexpensive intervention with the potential to increase learning ...
Scientists from South Korea convert used-cigarette filters into a superior carbon-based material for supercapacitors, offering an eco-friendly solution to meet increasing energy demands. The material stores more electrical energy than commercially available options and has potential applications in various devices.
A team of UC Riverside engineers will characterize, analyze, and synthesize van der Waals materials for novel electronic devices, optical detectors, and energy conversion systems. The research aims to produce new material synthesis techniques and enable practical applications in ultra-thin film materials.
Researchers found that experiential products satisfy a different psychological need than life experiences, providing similar levels of happiness. These products allow consumers to utilize and develop new skills and knowledge.
Researchers at Penn State and Cornell University have discovered a new material combination that can control magnetic memory or logic 10 times more efficiently than current methods. The discovery uses topological insulators to manipulate spin orientation, overcoming a key challenge in developing spintronics technology.
The research aims to improve the accuracy of failure and reliability prediction in ultra-high strength steel autobody manufacturing systems. By incorporating material microstructure and micro-damage information, the study may lead to solutions for manufacturers in reducing tool failures and improving product quality.
Researchers at the University of Liverpool have successfully extracted atoms of rare or dangerous elements such as radon from the air using a material called CC3. This new method has potential applications in industries like lighting, medicine, and nuclear waste clean-up.
Researchers have developed a new breed of metamaterials that can twist light's polarization, orders of magnitude stronger than natural materials. The breakthrough could lead to the creation of compact opto-electronic devices, such as light-based computer chips.
A phase-changing material developed by MIT researchers allows robots to transform between a rigid and soft state, enabling them to navigate through tight spaces without damaging organs or vessels. The material can also self-heal and repair damage, making it suitable for applications such as surgical robotics and search-and-rescue opera...
Researchers at Oxford University have developed a new discovery of nano-pixels that can be electrically switched on and off to create high-resolution images. The tiny 'nano-pixels' are just 300 nanometres in size and can be used for applications such as smart glasses, synthetic retinas, and foldable screens.
Researchers at Penn University have proposed a new concept called the anticrystal, which is a theoretical solid with complete disorder. The study suggests that understanding the mechanical properties of materials can be improved by starting with the framework of the anticrystal and adding order.
Scientists have developed a method to create stronger and more ductile metal materials by adjusting the internal structure, similar to bone and bamboo. This technique can be customized for various applications, including improving industrial steel's strength and ductility.
Engineers at MIT and LLNL have created a system to fabricate microstructured materials with great stiffness and strength at ultralow density. The new material has been tested using three engineering materials, metal, ceramic, and polymer, and shown comparable properties.
Researchers have developed a technique to produce soft machines made of elastic materials and liquid metals using a custom-built 3D printer. The technique enables the creation of strain gauges that can detect high strains and deform with almost any material, making it suitable for wearable technology and sensory skin.
Researchers have developed a powerful imaging tool to study electrically anomalous regions called domain walls in ferroelectric materials. The technique, X-PEEM, reveals enhanced electronic conduction properties in tail-to-tail domain walls, which are crucial for improving solar panels and other applications.
Researchers at JCAP devise a method to protect common semiconductors like silicon and gallium arsenide from corrosion in solar-fuel generators. They use a process called atomic layer deposition to form a protective layer of titanium dioxide, allowing the materials to absorb light efficiently while preventing corrosion.
Harvard scientists produce the first realistic simulated shark skin, which reduces drag and increases swimming speed by 6.6% while decreasing energy expenditure by 5.9%. The artificial skin's performance is comparable to that of real shark skin, with improved drag reduction at slower flow speeds.
Researchers at San Francisco State University found that material buyers who purchase life experiences are not happier due to a lack of identity expression. Similarly, spending money on material items does not improve their happiness levels either.
Researchers created a hybrid material that aligns dyes along nanochannels, improving luminescence and optical switching. The material exhibits colour changes depending on light polarisation, opening doors for new photonic and biomedical applications.
Researchers create robust connections between carbon-based materials and metallic leads, revealing their electric and mechanical properties are representative of larger materials. The study paves the way for systematically classifying different metallic species for emerging carbon-based electronic devices.
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital have successfully treated C. difficile infection with frozen fecal material, achieving a 90% success rate and offering a safer alternative to traditional Fecal Microbiota Transplant (FMT). The treatment involves administering the frozen material through a nasogastric tube, which is as effec...
A University of Cincinnati researcher explores the Maya perspective on material objects and finds interesting parallels with today's online culture. The study reveals that the Maya considered material possessions alive and even named them, leading to questions about the nature of reality.
Scientists at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology have developed a chemical crosslinking reaction that ensures good short-term healing properties of the material under mild heating. The self-healing mechanism can be initiated by heat, light or chemical substance.
Researchers are studying ways to selectively use high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete in buildings, exploring its potential to improve strength without increasing costs. The approach focuses on using advanced materials only at vulnerable joints, such as beam-column connections, to enhance structural resilience.
Researchers created logical circuits using living slime molds, which can process information and carry out Boolean logic operations. The slime mold-based system could potentially be used to build low-cost, biological computing devices and sensors.
Researchers at Nanyang Technological University have developed a next-generation solar cell material that can also emit light, doubling its potential applications. The material, made from Perovskite, has been found to be highly luminescent and suitable for both solar energy conversion and light emission.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a novel solar cell architecture based on dense arrays of coaxial p-n junction InGaAs nanowires on InAs stems grown directly on graphene. The resulting ternary InGaAs NW arrays demonstrate a conversion efficiency of 2.51% under air mass 1.5 global solar illumination, representing ...
A new method to tune topological insulators has been found, enhancing surface conduction by applying stress at grain boundaries. This discovery could lead to the development of ultra-energy efficient electronics.
By patterning the surface of nickel ferrite (NFO) thin films, researchers have reduced coercivity by 30-80%, depending on film thickness. This technique improves device performance and reduces energy use in applications like sensors, microwave devices, and antennas.
Scientists at Empa have developed a material that can adapt its vibration properties electronically, allowing for the precise control of wave propagation. This breakthrough enables the creation of mechanical components with freely programmable properties, revolutionizing fields like mechanical engineering and plant construction.
The new journal Frontiers in Materials will utilize the unique Frontiers platform for open-access publishing and research networking. The mission is to empower researchers by promoting constructive criticism and fair evaluation of their work. Key sections for submissions include Biomaterials.
Researchers at NIST and American University suggest changes to the common furniture fire test to make it more realistic, focusing on air flow and foam materials. The modifications aim to identify upholstery materials most likely to prevent smoldering ignition, with potential implications for fire safety regulations.
Research integrates vanadium dioxide onto a silicon chip to create infrared smart sensors that are faster, more energy-efficient, and lighter than conventional sensors. This breakthrough paves the way for multifunctional spintronic devices with enhanced memory capacity, data transfer speed, and computational power.
Researchers at Washington State University have developed a gum-like lithium battery electrolyte that works as well as liquid electrolytes but doesn't create a fire hazard. The new material, which is a hybrid of liquid and solid, contains liquid electrolyte material suspended in solid particles of wax or a similar material.
Researchers at MIT have developed flexible materials with nanoscale wrinkles that can control the wavelengths and distribution of waves, including sound and light. This technology could lead to new diagnostic tools for diseases like cancer and enable advanced noise-cancellation systems.
A computer-based individualized study schedule has been shown to significantly improve students' memory of material presented months earlier. Personalized review helped students remember more material on tests given at the end of the semester and a month later, with benefits also seen in long-term educational outcomes.
A European Union-funded project investigates how pressure vessels in nuclear power stations age and lose their toughness due to neutron radiation. The study highlights the need for monitoring and adapting procedures to ensure safe long-term operation.
Researchers have discovered a new class of high heat-tolerant electronics using supercapacitors made from CCTO, which could compete with existing devices and operate at higher temperatures. The material's permittivity and loss tangent properties are linked, allowing for efficient energy storage.
A team of scientists has discovered that charge carriers in cuprate high-Tc superconductors form nanostripes that can suppress superconductivity. The research uses synchrotron radiation to detect the elusive phenomenon of charge order and measure related nanostructures with high precision.
A UNL-led team discovered that using small amounts of graphene oxide as a template improves carbon nanomaterials, leading to enhanced strength and other properties. The process could lower the cost of making composites significantly by requiring only small quantities of expensive nanoparticles.
Researchers developed new thermoelectric materials with improved performance and reduced thermal conductivity, enabling more efficient conversion of waste heat into electricity. The study uses hybrid organic-inorganic compounds to achieve higher efficiency.
A KAIST research team has developed a flexible piezoelectric energy harvesting device called nanogenerator using biotemplated design. The device converts mechanical energy into electrical energy and can be driven by simple finger movements.
The NREL Electric Calcium Test (e-Ca) detects infinitesimally small amounts of moisture, making it 100 to 1,000 times more sensitive than other commercial tests. The test can detect water vapor transmission rates as low as one ten-millionth of a gram per square meter per day.
Researchers at Florida State University have secured over $1.4 million in funding to develop a system for producing large quantities of buckypaper, a lightweight and high-performance material made from carbon nanotubes. The goal is to make the material more efficient and cost-effective for industries such as aviation and aerospace.
Researchers from Japan have developed a new method to align the individual grains of lithium cobalt oxide in a cathode, resulting in improved Li-ion battery performance. The aligned structure allows for easier access for lithium ions, reducing stress and increasing efficiency, making it a major breakthrough in Li-ion battery technology.
A new form of high-performance solar photocatalyst has been developed by combining TiO2 with metallic oxides, enhancing visible light absorption and efficient utilization of the solar spectrum. The material demonstrates 27 times larger photocatalytic activities than a single-layer TiO2 film.
Researchers have successfully shielded fusion facility walls using lithium vapors, extending protection to 10 times longer than expected. The breakthrough could alleviate concerns about plasma contamination and aborting fusion reactions in future devices.
Researchers at NIST have engineered a self-correcting crystal material that enables tunable dielectrics for microwave and advanced communication devices. The new material has perfect faults, reducing power loss and increasing efficiency.
Using genetic algorithms, researchers at Columbia University have developed an inverse design framework to create novel nanostructured materials. The study shows the potential of machine learning and
Large areas of vinyl flooring in daycares and schools are found to contain phthalates, which have been linked to reproductive and developmental problems. The study uses X-ray fluorescence analysis to verify the presence of these chemicals and highlights the need for further research on their indoor exposure.
Researchers used an X-ray laser to create movies of copper atoms' arrangement changes after extreme shock, pinpointing the breaking point of permanent deformation. This experiment enables direct comparison with complex computer simulations and helps predict material strength in extreme conditions.
Researchers in the US and China have grown two types of topological insulator materials on smooth and rough surfaces, showing promise for high-speed computing. The discovery could lead to faster, more efficient computers without energy dissipation.
Scientists have developed a way to generate electric current by rubbing or tapping paper made of everyday materials, such as polytetrafluoroethylene and plastic sheets. The created energy can be used to power devices like LED arrays, e-ink displays, and sound buzzers.
Researchers in Singapore create conductive nano-filaments in amorphous titanium dioxide thin films for resistive switching applications. The high density of uniformly distributed nano-filaments implies the possibility of making high-density memory cells, offering great advantages over current technology.
Researchers in Spain have created a 'Terminator' polymer that spontaneously regenerates itself, displaying impressive 97% healing efficiency. The material could enhance the security and lifetime of plastic components in various industries.
Researchers combine protein sequencing, amino acid composition and RNA analysis to develop unique materials with self-healing properties. Novel proteins like Suckerin-39 allow for reshaping and remolding of elastomers.