Articles tagged with Thin Films
A recent study presents an exciting new way to measure the crackling noise of atoms in crystals, enabling the investigation of novel materials for future electronics. The method allows researchers to study individual nanoscale features and identify their effects on material properties.
Researchers developed a nanoscale material technique called inverse thermal degradation (ITD) to control high-temperature flames and tune material properties. By regulating oxygen access, ITD allows for smoldering rather than bursting into flames, producing carbon tubes with desired characteristics.
A HKUST research team has developed a novel technique to self-assemble a thin layer of amino acids with ordered orientation, demonstrating high piezoelectric strength. The technique enables the production of biocompatible and biodegradable medical microdevices, such as pacemakers and implantable biosensors.
Researchers create a nanocapsulation strategy to solubilize insoluble aromatic polymers in water, enhancing their processing and development. The approach uses bent aromatic amphiphiles to form micelle-like nanocapsules that encapsulate hydrophobic molecules.
Researchers develop nanofilms that mimic the nanostructures of butterfly wings, creating vibrant colors without absorbing light. These films can be used on buildings, vehicles, and equipment to reduce energy consumption and preserve color properties, with potential applications in energy sustainability and carbon neutrality.
Researchers have successfully grown high-quality single-crystalline T-Nb2O5 thin films with two-dimensional vertical ionic transport channels, enabling fast and dramatic changes in electrical properties. The material undergoes a significant electrical change upon Li insertion, allowing it to switch from an insulator to a metal.
Scientists verify that amorphous materials can host unique topological properties, applicable to sensing technology and IoT development. They successfully demonstrated the anomalous Hall effect and Nernst effect in iron-tin amorphous thin films.
Scientists at the University of Tokyo develop a technique to create nano-sized quantum sensors on measurement targets, enabling high-resolution magnetic field imaging with applications in superconductors and electronic devices. The breakthrough uses boron vacancies or lattice defects in hexagonal boron nitride film, allowing for easy d...
A team at the University of Minnesota discovered a way to control heat flow in materials 'on the fly' using a simple process. This record-setting discovery could lead to developing more energy-efficient and durable electronic devices.
Researchers at The University of Tokyo have developed a new atomic layer deposition (ALD) technique for depositing thin layers of oxide semiconductor materials, resulting in high carrier mobility and reliability. This breakthrough enables the production of devices with normally-off operation, high mobility and reliability.
Researchers have developed a simple method to produce large and very clean 2D samples from a range of materials using three different substrates. The kinetic in situ single-layer synthesis (KISS) technique allows for the production of air-sensitive 2D materials, overcoming the drawbacks of previous methods.
A University of Minnesota team creates high-quality metal oxide thin films from historically difficult-to-synthesize metals using a breakthrough method that stretches the metals at the atomic level. This innovation paves the way for scientists to develop better materials for various next-generation applications.
Researchers developed a 'dip-and-peel' strategy to create flexible gel films with high conductivity, inspired by the milk-skin effect. These gels have potential applications in wearable electronics and solid-state batteries.
Researchers from TIFR Hyderabad create molecular strainers that can filter particles as small as hydrogen molecules, offering a new basis for designing more efficient filtration processes. The study's findings provide insights into the movement of molecules through sieves and open up avenues for further exploration in industries.
Researchers developed 'smart' coatings that monitor strain on implants to prevent infection and provide early failure warning. The coatings, inspired by dragonfly and cicada wings, integrate flexible sensors with antibacterial surfaces.
Researchers at Colorado State University propose using ultrathin films of molybdenum disulfide to improve solar cell efficiency. The material displays unprecedented charge carrier properties that could lead to drastic improvements in solar technologies.
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology developed a new recycling method for solar cells that uses acidic solutions to separate precious metals. The process recovers up to 100% of the silver and 85% of the indium, making it more environmentally friendly and cost-effective than traditional methods.
Imperial College London physicists have recreated the famous double-slit experiment, showing light behaves as both particles and waves in time. This experiment could lead to ultrafast optical switches and control over light in space and time.
Researchers at Drexel University discovered that a thin MXene coating can enhance a material's ability to trap or shed heat. The coating, which is 200-300 times thinner than a human hair, can be used for both localized thermal management and large-scale radiative heating and cooling systems.
A team of researchers at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin has developed a new method for producing perovskite solar cells using a slot die coater, resulting in high-power conversion efficiencies. The best cells were scaled up to mini-module size and tested for outdoor stability, showing promising results.
Researchers developed an in situ technique to observe material behavior under various stresses, including shear stress. This allows for precise understanding of how materials respond and identify preferred slip planes.
TUS researchers develop novel method to create multi-walled CNT wiring on plastic films under ambient conditions, enabling flexible devices and energy conversion devices. The proposed method produces high-quality wires with varying resistance values.
A new crosslinking strategy for organic-inorganic hybrid dielectric layers improves TFT performance by reducing leakage current and increasing stability. This approach enables low-power driving and easy manufacturing through solution processing, contributing to next-generation flexible electronic devices.
Researchers at MLU and partners developed a new process coating implant materials with a gene-activated biomaterial that induces stem cells to produce bone tissue. This method, published in Advanced Healthcare Materials, stimulates bone healing in a targeted manner with fewer side effects than existing methods.
Researchers at KAUST have developed a rapid and sensitive soil moisture sensor using metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) to optimize water usage in agriculture. The MOF-based sensor shows high sensitivity and selectivity for water even in the presence of metal ions, enabling precise irrigation management.
Researchers discovered a size threshold beyond which antiferroelectric materials become ferroelectric, losing energy storage advantages. At thicknesses below 40 nm, the material becomes completely ferroelectric, while above 270 nm, ferroelectric regions appear.
Researchers have developed a shellac-based coating to improve the gas barrier properties of moulded pulp materials, making them suitable for food packaging. The coating, combined with nanofibrillated cellulose, provides superior water resistance and thermal stability, while preserving environmental sustainability.
Researchers developed an elastic material using liquid metal that resists both gases and liquids, offering a trade-off between elasticity and gas resistance. The material, created with gallium-indium alloy, has been tested to prevent the escape of oxygen and liquids, showing promising potential for use in high-value tech packaging
Researchers have developed a chemical variation that significantly improves the stability of perovskite thin films in solar cells, achieving efficiencies of up to 24.6%. The new coating, b-pV2F, wraps around individual microcrystals like a soft shell, reducing thermal stress and increasing efficiency.
Researchers have developed flexible polysulfate compounds that can form thin films, enabling the creation of energy-storing capacitors that withstand extreme temperatures and electric fields. These new materials could lead to cheaper, simpler, and more durable power systems in electric cars and other applications.
Researchers at Drexel University have developed a thin film device that can dynamically control electromagnetic wave shielding using MXene materials. The device can convert from shielding to quasi-electromagnetic wave transmission by electrochemical oxidation, making it suitable for various security applications.
Researchers identify the (100) facet as prone to degradation, while the (111) facet is more stable and resistant to moisture and heat. By using facet engineering, they develop strategies to grow the stable (111) facet, leading to exceptionally stable perovskite films.
Researchers at EPFL have developed a new thin-film circuit that produces finely tailorable terahertz-frequency waves, enabling precise control over frequency, wavelength, amplitude, and phase. This breakthrough has significant implications for future electronics, telecommunications, spectroscopy, and quantum applications.
Researchers from Nara Institute of Science and Technology have developed a straightforward means of fabricating high-quality soft semiconductors for advanced electrical circuits. The new method offers superior control over the resulting semiconductor film morphology, critical to its electrical properties.
A University of Minnesota-led team has discovered a new method for making thin films of perovskite oxide semiconductors, enabling the creation of freestanding membranes with unique properties. The breakthrough technology could lead to the development of faster, more efficient electronic devices and components.
A new form of thin-film device technology using alternative semiconductor materials could contribute to a more sustainable IoT. Wireless power harvesting from the environment using photovoltaic cells and RF energy harvesters is being explored.
Researchers at Exciton Science have created perovskite solar cells with 21% efficiency, the best results ever recorded for a non-halide lead source. The novel use of lead acetate enables scalable and industrial-scale manufacturing.
Researchers created a protective coating of glass, gallium-oxide to reduce vibrations in graphene devices. The oxide improves device performance and provides a new method of protection.
Researchers at ETH Zurich developed a gold-based transparent coating that absorbs infrared radiation selectively, heating up to 8 degrees Celsius. The coating is thinner, pliable, and more efficient than traditional antifogging methods, requiring minimal gold material costs.
Researchers at Oxford University and Exciton Science created stable perovskite solar cells with comparable stability to commercial silicon photovoltaics. The new synthesis process led to thin films of greater quality, reduced defects, and enhanced stability.
Experimental physicists discovered that water impurities become entrapped within icicles, creating chevron patterns and ripple effects. The study reveals that internal patterns are connected to external shapes, leading to a deeper understanding of natural ice formations.
Researchers developed a process using nanoscale structures to improve reverse osmosis processes for seawater desalination. The polyamide membrane showed superior water permeance and comparable salt rejection.
Scientists at Tel Aviv University have developed a method to create the thinnest possible ladder steps made of distinct electric potentials, which can be used as independent information units. The discovery enables the creation of novel devices with potential applications in electronics and optomechanics.
Researchers at TU Wien found that ceramic coatings do not fatigue under extreme load conditions, but instead break down due to fracture toughness. The discovery changes the approach to measuring and improving thin film durability.
Researchers have developed a method for centimeter-scale color printing using grayscale laser writing, achieving vivid and fine-tunable colors. The technique leverages pixelated optical cavities to generate transmission colors with a transmission efficiency of 39-50%.
Researchers at Monash University found that electric fields and applied strain can turn magnetism on and off in two-dimensional metal-organic frameworks. This discovery could lead to applications in magnetic memory, spintronics, and quantum computing.
Researchers review emerging field of 2D ferroelectric materials with layered van-der-Waals crystal structures, offering new properties and functionalities not found in conventional materials. These materials show easily stackable nature, making them attractive as building blocks for post-Moore's law electronics.
A europium-based thin-film coating has been developed to convert UV light to red light, accelerating plant growth. The technology was tested on Swiss chard plants and Japanese larch trees, showing a 1.2-1.4 times greater plant height and biomass in winter conditions.
A research team at UNIST has developed a perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell with a special textured anti-reflective coating, increasing its power conversion efficiency to 23.50%. The device maintains its initial efficiency for 120 hours, outperforming existing devices which drop to 50% after 20 hours.
Kyusang Lee's new sensor system uses artificial intelligence to process different types of signals, mimicking human biology, and can detect viruses. The system meets challenges of data bottlenecks, energy consumption, and data protection, making it a breakthrough in the Internet of Things.
Researchers from Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology have developed a method to eliminate residual organic metal-binding ligands from transition metal oxide thin films, resulting in improved device stability and performance. The technique achieved a 20-fold enhancement in electrical conductivity and a 17.6% increase in efficiency.
A team at Nagoya University has created a new type of mechanochromic material, fluorenylidene-acridane (FA), which changes color in response to mechanical pressure. The material's unique properties allow it to be quantitatively analyzed, enabling the measurement of its color change and structural changes with high spatial resolution.
A team of University of Missouri researchers is working to understand why solid-state lithium-ion batteries struggle with performance issues. They will use a specialized electron microscope and thin film polymer coatings to study the interface between the battery cathode and electrolyte, with the goal of developing an engineered interf...
Scientists developed a cellulose nanofiber-carbon fiber composite film with excellent in-plane anisotropic thermal conductivity, improving heat dissipation in thin-film devices. The material also exhibits recyclability and can be reused after burning the cellulose matrix.
Scientists at Drexel University have created a new secondary-ion mass spectrometry technique to study the atomic layers of MXenes and MAX phases. The technique allows for deeper understanding of the materials' structure and composition, leading to breakthroughs in their properties and potential applications.
Researchers from Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology developed a method to control active layer morphology in organic solar cells using water treatment. This approach led to more uniform thin films and higher power conversion efficiencies compared to non-treated samples. The study paves the way for large-scale, efficient organi...
Researchers found that fatty acids in cooking emissions form a stable film on surfaces, protecting trapped pollutants from breakdown. This film can become rougher and attract water, trapping toxins underneath.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a method to create a thin film coating on lithium anodes using powder brushing, which improves battery life and capacity. The coated anodes retained 70% more capacity after 340 charge-discharge cycles than off-the-shelf batteries.
Scientists have analyzed the interaction between highly charged ions and graphene at a femtosecond scale, revealing complex processes involved in material response. The study provides fundamental new insights into how matter reacts to short and intense radiation exposure.
Scientists develop a new model to predict when a droplet will splash upon hitting a solid surface, considering factors like wettability and roughness. The study could enable advances in agriculture, epidemiology, and printing technology.