Articles tagged with Thin Films
Scientists at Empa have pushed flexible solar cell efficiency to a new limit, achieving 21.4% conversion rate. The study's findings also show that the technology remains stable after exposure to combined heat and illumination.
A new approach to generating quantum-entangled photon pairs uses nonlinear metasurfaces to enhance and tailor photon emissions. The researchers achieved a five-order-of-magnitude increase in the brightness of entangled photons, with a highly configurable platform that can control entanglement and direction.
Osaka University researchers have created an adhesive-free method to strongly combine copper foil with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), reducing transmission losses in electronic circuits. The heat-assisted plasma treatment technique improves adhesion strength without adding intermediate layers.
Researchers developed a method to scale up nanocages to trap noble gases like krypton and xenon. The team used commercial materials and found the optimal temperature range for trapping gas atoms inside the cages.
Scientists created a reliable true random number generator using atomically thin two-dimensional films, overcoming long-term stability issues and power consumption concerns. The innovation uses memristors to produce fluctuating electronic signals with an exceptionally high degree of randomness.
Berkeley Lab researchers developed a method to increase the efficiency of LED devices by applying mechanical strain to thin semiconductor films. This approach reduces exciton annihilation, allowing for high-performance LEDs even at high brightness levels.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab and UC Berkeley capture the first direct image of quantum spin liquid particles, called spinons and chargons. The discovery advances research on quantum computing and exotic superconductivity.
Researchers at Osaka University have developed a new method for detecting single DNA molecules directly from individual cells, eliminating the need for subsequent steps. The 3D-integrated nanopore allows for efficient delivery of released DNA molecules to the sensing zone, enabling robust detection and analysis.
Researchers at GIST develop a non-contact, nondestructive approach to characterize crystal structures in thin films, shedding light on surface symmetries in SrRuO3. The technique offers a platform for structural characterization of surfaces and interfaces using optical techniques.
Researchers explore joining topological insulators with magnetic materials to achieve quantum anomalous Hall effect, promising building blocks for low-power electronics. The 'cocktail' approach allows tuning of both magnetism and topology in individual materials, enabling operation closer to room temperature.
Siddha Pimputkar, an assistant professor at Lehigh University, has received the American Association for Crystal Growth (AACG) Young Scientist Award for his outstanding contributions to crystal growth. His research focuses on synthesizing bulk and thin-film single-crystal nitrogen-containing materials.
Researchers at GIST discovered a correlation between S-polymorph phases and high piezoelectric response in lanthanum-doped bismuth ferrite thin films. The study suggests that ultrafast piezoelectric devices with sub-microsecond response times can be created using strain engineering.
Researchers developed an ultra-compact thin film that can be used on standard glasses to see clearly in the dark. The technology has the potential to transform infrared light into visible images at room temperatures.
Researchers created a responsive porous SiO2 thin film with an extremely thin thickness of 8nm, controlling surface charge and selective ion permeation in response to pH changes.
Scientists from Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology have successfully developed a new humidity measurement technique for anion conducting polymer thin films. The study revealed high hydroxide ion conductivity of 0.05 S cm^-1, comparable to thick membrane forms.
Researchers discovered that optimally designed surfaces can accelerate virus decay, rendering them less likely to contribute to disease spread. The optimal design combines surface wettability and physical texture, creating a thin film that evaporates quickly.
Researchers at BESSY II discover that low-intensity blue light can alter the properties of MoS2 layers, making them metallic and catalytically active. This finding could enable the production of hydrogen as an energy carrier with no CO2 emissions.
Researchers at Peter the Great Saint-Petersburg Polytechnic University are developing thin films made from biological macromolecules such as proteins and amino acids. These unique materials exhibit self-organization ability and can be assembled into certain structures, potentially solving energy efficiency limitations in modern electro...
Researchers from Shanghai Jiao Tong University have successfully designed and fabricated a microcavity on a lithium niobate chip, achieving integrated light source in the communication band. The innovative technology realizes the potential of lithium niobate thin films for efficient optoelectronic integration.
Researchers at the University of Maryland have developed a new method for creating high-quality, high-performance solid-state electrolyte thin films. This 'printing and radiative heating' approach enables rapid production of dense and uniform films with superior ionic conductivity.
A team at HZB explores compositions of CsPb(BrxI1?x)3 for their potential to improve the stability and efficiency of solar cells. The study reveals tunable optical band gaps between 1.73 and 2.37 eV, making these mixtures suitable for multi-junction solar cell applications.
Researchers from Tohoku University developed a new method for creating MOF thin films with designable pores, opening up its use for humidity sensing, gas sensing and resistive switching devices. The 'layer-by-layer' method involves sequential immersing of substrates into ingredient solutions.
Scientists at the University of Tokyo have created a new method for printing organic transistors, which could lead to the development of new display technologies and wearable electronic products. The breakthrough uses a lyophobic surface and a special U-shaped metal-film pattern to create uniformly grown semiconductor films.
A KAUST team engineered self-powered devices using a conducting polymer containing PEDOT:PSS chains, which exhibited improved thermoelectric behavior. The researchers discovered that polyethylenimine coating enhanced the device's lifetime and energy harvesting capabilities.
PSI scientists investigate strontium-iridium oxide, an antiferromagnetic material, to systematically control its magnetic and electronic properties. By manipulating thin films, they can fine-tune the material's properties, leading to potential applications in data storage.
A team of researchers suggests using two thin films of different materials to create affordable and efficient solar cells. The proposed configuration achieves a 34% efficiency rate, surpassing the efficiency of individual components.
Researchers at RUDN University have developed a new type of two-dimensional nanofilm from calixarene molecules, which can be used as protective coatings in electronics. The films' stability was found to depend on the length of hydrocarbon chains in the original macromolecules.
Researchers at the University of Rochester have created the smallest electro-optical modulator yet, a key component of photonics-based chips. The breakthrough uses lithium niobate to control how light moves through its circuits, paving the way for larger-scale photonic integrated circuits with improved performance.
Researchers at UC San Diego developed a new method to fabricate perovskites as single-crystal thin films, resulting in flexible single-crystal films with controlled area, thickness, and composition. These single-crystal films showed greater efficiency and enhanced stability than polycrystalline counterparts.
A team of scientists has found that iron-platinum thin films exhibit minimal expansion when heated, making them suitable for HAMR memories. The discovery was made using ultrashort X-ray pulses to measure the crystal lattice's response to laser excitation.
A new microscopy technique reveals the interactions between particles in thin film coatings as they dry, shedding light on their properties and behavior. The research has implications for pharmaceutical devices used to deliver drugs.
Researchers at University of Vermont develop nanocage tool that can select and activate specific polymer chains in a lab, opening doors to new possibilities for precision chemistry and industrial applications.
Scientists have developed a novel thin-film technology using bronze and brass alloys, which are composed of non-toxic earth-abundant materials. The new method allows for the creation of efficient CZTSSe solar cells with diverse applications, including electronic devices and vehicles.
Researchers developed a new process using biodegradable chitosan nanoparticles to fabricate self-cleaning antireflective glass surfaces. The eco-friendly approach eliminates microplastic waste, a significant environmental concern.
Scientists developed a new approach to create metal-metal composites with a 3-D interconnected structure in thin films. The heat-driven process, called thin-film solid-state interfacial dealloying (SSID), has potential applications in catalysis, energy generation and storage, and biomedical sensing.
Researchers developed a new technology to produce flexible 3D medical devices by selectively bonding polymeric thin films using plasma. This method overcomes limitations of existing flexible 3D structures, enabling mass production with customized shapes and wire patterns.
Scientists from NUST MISIS and University of Rome Tor Vergata developed a new approach to design perovskite solar cells using MXene, increasing efficiency by more than 25% compared to original prototypes. The innovative material enhances charge extraction through interfaces.
Scientists use Coherent Hard X-ray Scattering to study thin film growth, producing a 'movie' that depicts the process more accurately than traditional techniques. The research could improve the performance of organic solar cells and provide insights into the quality of films.
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed an online tool to evaluate the moisture durability of a building's envelope, enabling better-informed decisions for energy efficiency. Additionally, the lab has pioneered a new technique using pressure to manipulate magnetism in thin film materials used in electronic devices.
Researchers demonstrate a way to boost smart glass window tinting rates by analyzing single-particle resolution optical imaging. The study finds that optimizing thin film architectures can increase tinting speeds and reduce inefficiencies.
Researchers at Osaka University have discovered that zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films exhibit the fastest excitonic radiative decay rate ever recorded, surpassing thermal dephasing rates. This breakthrough could lead to the development of ultra-fast and energy-efficient photonic devices with non-thermogenic properties.
Researchers at Linköping University have developed a theoretical model that simulates the degradation of hard cutting materials. The model, published in Materials journal, enables the manufacturing industry to save time and money by developing tools with greater hardness and resistance.
Researchers have developed a new tabletop method to characterize ultrafast magnetic storage devices, which could lead to faster information processing technologies. The method uses high-harmonic generation of laser light in iron thin films to measure electron spin on a quadrillionth-of-a-second time scale.
Researchers from ITMO University create sensors that can detect and analyze nano-objects using inkjet printing technology. The sensors work by measuring changes in color caused by the attachment of nanoscale objects to a transparent film.
Scientists improved graphene's response to light by 600% using self-assembling wire-like nanostructures. The new design enhances light absorption and charge transfer, enabling faster detection of low-level light in various applications.
Researchers at the University of Groningen have successfully created nanosized ferroelectric materials using hafnium oxide, which can store information like magnetic bits. The discovery could lead to more efficient and compact computer memory by leveraging the unique properties of these materials.
The study introduces a fluorinated electron-acceptor unit that precisely controls the energy levels within an organic semiconductor, leading to improved hole and electron injection and transport. The resulting thin film solar cell exhibits high photovoltaic performance with a power conversion efficiency of up to 3.12%.
Researchers have characterized the electrochemical properties of polyaniline and polyaspartic acid thin films using NMR techniques. They found that PASP outpaces polyaniline in catalyzing hydroquinone and catechol oxidation, suggesting its potential as a catalyst.
Researchers have designed a novel photoluminescent material that emits blue light when excited and is stable under ambient conditions. The material, Cs3Cu2I5, has potential applications in optical and electronic devices, including white luminescent films and blue LEDs.
Researchers at Aalto University developed a method to control the fabrication of carbon nanotube thin films, producing colored thin films for various applications. The breakthrough uses aerosols of metal and carbon, with small doses of carbon dioxide tuning the growth of nanotubes.
Scientists have developed BiSb alloys with a colossal spin Hall effect and high electrical conductivity, making them suitable for ultra-low-power SOT-MRAM devices. The breakthrough could accelerate the development of non-volatile memories for IoT applications.
Researchers at Purdue University have developed a new fabrication method for tiny electronic circuits that can peel off from a surface, enabling objects to sense their environment or be controlled through stickers. The technology has potential applications in various fields, including the Internet of Things (IoT) and medical devices.
Researchers have developed copper nitride semiconductors that can replace toxic materials in photovoltaic cells, offering a brighter future for solar energy. The unique nitriding technique and fluorine doping enable efficient p-type and n-type conduction, promising scalable and low-cost manufacturing routes.
Researchers at NIST have developed a nanoscale coating for solar cells that absorbs up to 20% more sunlight, increasing efficiency and reducing costs.
A composite thin film made of two different inorganic oxide materials significantly improves the performance of solar cells by optimizing its ability to absorb and convert sunlight into electricity. The material achieves a record power conversion efficiency of up to 4.2%, making it promising for future solar technologies.
Researchers at Lomonosov Moscow State University have developed protein-dendrimer films with self-assembly properties, retaining enzyme activity and function. The films show promise as biosensor materials and bioactive dressings for medical applications.
Researchers at Rutgers University have developed a new method for processing nanomaterials that could lead to faster and cheaper manufacturing of flexible thin film devices. The 'intense pulsed light sintering' method uses high-energy light to fuse nanomaterials in seconds, retaining conductivity while reducing temperatures.
Researchers have created a stable thin film made from iron, cobalt, and manganese that boasts an average atomic moment potentially 50% greater than the Slater-Pauling limit. The new alloy features a magnetization density of 3.25 Bohr magnetons per atom, besting the previously considered maximum of 2.45.
Developed in Brazil, the device measures temperatures in a wide band between 80-750 kelvin using spectroscopy and has applications in manufacturing and biological processes. It can be used in electronic equipment identification and detection of viral or bacterial infections.
Researchers at Aalto University have developed a new breed of 'memristors' that can store data for more than 10 years without power and work with low voltages. These ferroelectric tunnel junctions have the potential to revolutionize neuromorphic computing and enable efficient IoT processing.