Articles tagged with Thin Films
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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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
Researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology have developed high-quality GFO epitaxial films exhibiting ferroelectric and ferromagnetic properties at room temperature. They demonstrated room-temperature magnetocapacitance effects, revealing controlled ferroelectric and magnetic ranges.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have created a new way to conceptualize electronic devices by utilizing atomic-scale interference patterns. This approach, known as moire engineering, enables the creation of single-atom thick wires capable of transmitting electricity rapidly.
Researchers at Pennsylvania State University have developed a novel technique for connecting piezoelectric thin films to flexible polymer substrates, reducing substrate clamping and improving material properties. The new method enables the creation of miniaturized piezoelectric devices with enhanced performance and flexibility.
A thin organic coating created through composting improves biochar's ability to store nutrients and promote plant growth, offering an eco-friendly alternative to inorganic nitrogen fertilizers.
Researchers fine-tune DNA-based thin films to achieve a range of refractive indexes four times greater than silicon, enabling the creation of thinner optical fibers. This could lead to applications in photodynamic therapy, optogenetics, and biosensors.
Researchers from University of Groningen have discovered a way to increase charge conductivity in lead-sulphur quantum dots by adding extra sulphur. This breakthrough enables the tuning of electric properties, improving efficiency of quantum dot solar cells above current records.
Glycol ethers added to thin film manufacturing boost perovskite crystal structure and efficiency, increasing solar cell performance.
The RMIT team has developed a nano-hologram that is simple to make, can be seen without 3D goggles and is 1000 times thinner than a human hair. The discovery could transform industries such as medical diagnostics, education, data storage, defence and cyber security with the potential to display a wealth of data.
Scientists at Linköping University have directly observed dislocation-pipe diffusion, a phenomenon that has eluded materials scientists for decades. The movement of atoms between layers of a thin film was captured using high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy.
Scientists developed a simple formula to predict glass transition temperatures for confined liquids, taking into account film thickness and density profile. This approach has important implications for various applications such as photolithography and lab-on-a-chip devices.
Researchers developed a new method to control nanoparticle organization in ultrathin polymer films through entropy-driven segregation. This approach, SCPINS, enables well-controlled nanoparticle organization on a submicron scale without tuning enthalpic interactions through chemistry.
University of Massachusetts Amherst engineers develop a physical processing method to reduce surface roughness in conducting thin films. This approach uses electrical surface treatment to smooth out the metallic surface, reducing its ability to conduct electrical and thermal energy.
A team of chemists created materials that change color or texture in response to environmental changes, inspired by squid, jellyfish, and human skin. These materials can be used for encrypting secret messages, creating anti-glare surfaces, or detecting moisture or damage.
Researchers at Brown University have developed a new method to convert one type of perovskite into another, improving thermal stability and light absorption. The technique uses gas-based methods to flip the chemical switch, preserving the microstructure and morphology of the material.
Researchers at the University of Alberta have invented a new transistor that could revolutionize thin-film electronic devices with its bipolar action architecture. The device has power-handling capabilities up to 10 times greater than commercially produced transistors, making it suitable for flexible electronics applications.
Researchers at HKUST discovered a new type of superconductor, called Ising superconductors, that can withstand strong magnetic fields. These materials have potential applications in quantum computing and may lead to the creation of Majorana fermions.
The NSF-funded Industry/University Collaborative Research Center will design and develop advanced two-dimensional coatings to address fundamental scientific and technological challenges. The Center for Atomically Thin Multifunctional Coatings (ATOMIC) aims to create spin-out companies and solve issues like corrosion, oxidation, and abr...
Researchers at KIT have created a novel solar cell using metal-organic framework compounds, demonstrating high efficiency in producing charge carriers and mobility. The material's photophysical properties are attributed to the formation of indirect band gaps, playing a crucial role in photovoltaics.
Scientists have developed a new way to recover indium from liquid-crystal displays (LCDs), which could help prevent the depletion of this rare metal. The researchers found that crushing and grinding LCD glass into tiny particles and bathing them in sulfuric acid solution can effectively extract indium.
Researchers have developed a novel photoelectrode that solves the problems of inefficient hydrogen generation in acidic electrolytes. The new composite presents high photovoltage and photocurrent densities, as well as chemical protection against corrosion.
A team of Finnish scientists has created a nano-scale map of toner ink thickness on paper, revealing that wood fibers receive relatively thin coatings and roughness dictates ink thickness rather than chemical variations.
Gold nanorods are being investigated for use in biomedical applications due to their surface plasmon resonance, allowing them to absorb and scatter light. The improved method enables large-scale production and controlled shell thicknesses, paving the way for stable gold nanorods with chemically functionalized surfaces.
Scientists at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin have successfully created and tracked magnetic nanovortices with mass, a discovery that challenges previous theories on skyrmions. The researchers used holographic recording techniques to track the movement of these nanovortices, which were found to move along spiral trajectories.
Researchers at INRS have developed a new class of multiferroic materials for solar cells, increasing conversion efficiency to 8.1%. The team's triple-layer coating captures different wavelengths of light, converting more light into electricity.
The University of Houston researcher aims to produce high-efficiency, inexpensive thin film photovoltaics with a goal of achieving 24% efficiency and 20 cents per watt. His innovative approach utilizes roll-to-roll manufacturing technology to create solar cells on low-cost metal substrates.
Researchers investigated the effects of TiOx interlayer thickness on resistive switching performance. The Pt/TiOx (5nm)/ZnO/n+-Si structure exhibits optimal switching characteristics, outperforming other structures.
Researchers successfully fabricated high-quality CrO2 films on TiO2 substrates using a simple route, exhibiting half-metallic ferromagnetism and unique transport properties. The films show narrow crystallinity, low coercive field, and temperature-dependent magnetization following Bloch's T3/2 law.