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Flat-pack lens boosts solar power

Micro-machining enables the creation of almost flat Fresnel lenses that significantly increase solar panel efficiency. The new design allows for a more precise focus of incident light, resulting in a four-fold increase in peak power compared to traditional panels.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Precision Technology·DateFeb 10, 2014

A step closer to composite-based electronics

A new study demonstrates that electrical resistivity in composite materials follows a staircase-like pattern with increasing conducting particle concentration. The findings, published in European Physical Journal B, use percolation theory to explain the discrete series of resistances observed.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateNov 25, 2013

Surprise superconductor

Scientists found superconductivity in carbon disulfide at -449°F, a highly disordered state that defies conventional understanding of superconductivity. The discovery could lead to new insights into the interplay between superconductivity, magnetism, and structural disorder.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 1, 2013

Switching the state of matter

Researchers at RIKEN have created a new transistor that uses electrostatic accumulation of charge on a strongly-correlated material to trigger bulk switching of electronic state. The device operates at room temperature and requires only 1V to switch the material from an insulator to a metal.

SourceRIKEN·JournalNature·DateJul 26, 2012

Nature of bonding determines thermal conductivity

Phase change materials exhibit surprisingly low thermal conductivity in both crystalline and amorphous states. The researchers found that resonance bonding between atoms in the crystalline state impairs heat conduction. This property makes phase change materials suitable for developing fast, non-volatile, and energy-saving main memories.

SourceHelmholtz Association·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateMay 3, 2011

Charge it: Neutral atoms made to act like electrically charged particles

Researchers from NIST have created a new method to make neutral atoms behave as if they are charged particles in an electric field. This allows for the simulation and study of fundamental electrical phenomena, including superconductivity and the quantum Hall effect. The synthetic electric fields mimic the behavior of charged particles ...

Nanotubes find niche in electric switches

Researchers at Rice University and the University of Oulu discovered that carbon nanotube brush contacts can significantly reduce resistance in electrical commutators, leading to improved performance and reduced energy loss. The study found a 10-fold decrease in resistance compared to traditional copper-carbon composite brushes.

SourceRice University·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateMar 10, 2009

Hurricane Ivan helps student study sinkholes

A Ph.D. student at Virginia Tech is using electrical resistivity to measure changes in underground water movement in sinkholes. He measured a rapid change in water movement under a sinkhole during Hurricane Ivan's downpour, finding preferential flow paths and potential contaminants.

Titania nanotubes make supersensitive hydrogen sensors

Researchers at Penn State have developed a new type of sensor that can detect hydrogen levels with incredible sensitivity. The titania nanotube sensors are 200 times more sensitive than previously used materials and offer several advantages, including high response rates and minimal interference from other gases.

SourcePenn State·JournalSensors and Actuators·DateJul 29, 2003