Articles tagged with Thin Films
Researchers developed a bio-eco-friendly ceramic thin film nanogenerator that can convert tiny human movements into electrical energy without breaking down. The technology uses freely bendable piezoelectric ceramic materials to harness biomechanical forces produced by the body.
Stanford engineers discovered that ultra-thin solar cells with nanoscale roughness can absorb more energy than predicted by conventional theory. Light trapping technique increases energy absorption beyond the theoretical limit, opening a new door to designing highly efficient solar cells.
A team of scientists created nano-patterned superconducting thin films that can change their electrical resistance in response to an external magnetic field. The discovery could lead to new electronic devices, as the material's fluctuating response to a magnetic field could result in switchable superconducting wires.
Researchers from Louisiana Tech University are presenting their work on smart nanofilms for regenerative medicine at the 2010 Experimental Biology meeting. Their presentation highlights the first known application of a smart nanofilm sprayed directly on living tissue, showing promising results in wound healing and potential application...
Researchers found that single-walled carbon nanotube coatings can develop irreversible changes when bent, reducing conductivity. They suggest ways to engineer the films to minimize these effects and achieve deformability.
Researchers at UCLA have created a new graphene nanostructure called graphene nanomesh (GNM), which can open up a band gap in graphene and create a highly uniform, continuous semiconducting thin film. This breakthrough has the potential to enable practical application of graphene as a semiconductor material for future electronics.
The researchers used photolithography to define shapes on a thin film of single-crystalline silicon, then applied water droplets to direct self-assembly. The resulting structures offer mechanical bendability and promise efficient solar energy harvesting with thin films.
A University of Pittsburgh-led team creates a nanoparticle-based coating that thwarts the buildup of ice on solid surfaces, offering a potential solution to prevent freezing rain damage. The coating, inspired by water-resistant lotus leaves, uses microscopic ridges to reduce surface area for ice adhesion.
A team of MIT researchers has developed a new approach to designing stretchable electronics by studying the delamination of stickers, which can lead to damage in twisted materials. By controlling the strength of adhesion and elastic properties, they can create devices that allow wires to move with the material without breaking.
Shashank Priya has received a three-year grant to develop high-sensitivity resonant magnetic field sensors using magnetoelectric thin films. The technology has the potential to enhance performance of communication devices such as GPS systems.
Researchers found an unexpected increase in squeeze flow of thin films when film thickness was smaller than 100 nanometers. This phenomenon occurs due to changes in molecular entanglement and polymer chain interaction at the nanoscale.
Researchers at NC State University have discovered a technique to bring nanoparticles to the surface of thin polymer films using heat, allowing for controllable surface patterns. This breakthrough could lead to tiny reusable bar codes and small fluorescent features that turn off with increasing heat or chemical presence.
A new coating made from carbon nanotubes improves the signals received and transmitted by electrodes, potentially advancing electrical nerve stimulation therapy. The coating bolsters both stimulation and receptive capabilities, showing promise in treating diseases such as epilepsy, depression, and chronic leg and back pain.
Researchers at Northwestern University have created semitransparent, highly conductive films from carbon nanotubes with improved conductivity and mechanical flexibility. These films mimic stained glass appearance and could lead to advancements in flat-panel displays, solar cells, and other energy-efficient technologies.
NIST researchers have improved manipulation of block copolymers, a crucial step in creating tiny dots that can be used as electronic components. They developed accurate measurements of thin film polymeric nanostructure and new insights on how to control self-assembly.
Scientists have developed a spectroscopic technique to measure magnetic properties of thin film edges, which become dominant at the nanoscale. The method allows for prediction of behavior in similar structures, impacting nanoscale electronics design.
Researchers at NIST developed a novel annealing process that creates highly ordered nanostructured polymer thin films with controlled patterns. The 'cold zone' annealing system produces defect-free films with sub-30nm features, opening up new possibilities for microelectronics and data storage applications.
Johns Hopkins students develop a thin film drug-delivery system that dissolves in the mouth, coating with a material protecting it in the stomach and releasing the vaccine in the small intestine. The system could make rotavirus vaccine more accessible to children in developing nations.
Researchers at Michigan State University have discovered that nanoparticles can stop thin polymer films from buckling and wrinkling, paving the way for new solutions to prevent wrinkles. The technology has potential applications in cosmetic procedures and medical treatments.
Researchers developed a method to produce silicon dioxide nanocapsules using supercritical carbon dioxide, allowing for controlled delivery of liquids and materials. The resulting nanocapsules have diameters of less than 40 nanometers and walls that are about 2 nanometers wide.
Researchers will develop structural materials with chemical resistance, thermal stability, and fracture resistance, as well as transparent materials that are self-healing and anti-abrasive. The goal is to create lightweight, high-performance materials for ballistic resistant armor and vehicles.
Researchers at PNNL have linked small organic molecules to create larger molecules that transport charge without interfering with blue light emission, enabling efficient white light generation.
Dr. Chen will use his Guggenheim Fellowship to research the structures and properties of ferroelectric and multiferroic thin films with potential applications in various functional devices. He aims to develop theories and multiscale computational models for predicting their behaviors.
University of Washington researchers have found giant raindrops with diameters similar to or greater than the largest ever recorded. The largest ones were at least 8 millimeters in diameter, possibly a centimeter, suggesting unique conditions led to their formation.
Researchers discovered that ferroelectric materials can maintain stability even at incredibly small thicknesses, opening doors to the creation of smaller devices. This breakthrough is significant for applications such as sensors and memory systems.
The team uses heterocycles from DNA to recognize specific complementary groups, creating a reversible surface that can be modified and reused. The new technology has potential applications in body armor and films.
Germanium nanoclusters can now be coated with polymers, making them stable enough to be processed as plastics. This innovation expands the possible uses of semiconductor nanoparticles, including potential applications in displays and tiny building blocks.
Scientists have developed a new technique called COBRA to study the structure of thin films at an atomic level, revealing surprising alignment between film and substrate atoms. The technique provides precise information on atomic positions within films and their interactions with substrates.
Biocompatible thin films have been successfully fabricated on various biomedical substrates using electrostatic self-assembly techniques. These films can inhibit restenosis, a tissue buildup that occurs in blood vessels after trauma, and have potential applications in stents and dialysis tubing.
Giacinto Scoles receives Peter Debye Award in Physical Chemistry for inventing new methods of creating controlled molecular beams, allowing study of chemical reactions in unprecedented detail. These techniques also contribute to the development of better semiconductors with improved performance.
Researchers at the University of Delaware developed a new technique to produce extremely thin alumina films with an electrical storage capacity three times greater than silicon dioxide. These films could potentially eliminate reliability problems in semiconducting circuits by storing more electricity and reducing current-blocking flaws.
A team of Penn State materials scientists has developed a new polymer material that can move significantly when an electric field is applied. The material, Poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) Copolymer, exhibits electrostrictive properties and shows potential for use in artificial muscles, skin, and organs.
Researchers found that liquids behave like soft solids when squeezed into thin films, with implications for fields like tribology, geology, and biology. This understanding could lead to the development of more effective lubricants and insights into natural phenomena like earthquakes.