Articles tagged with Electrostatics
Researchers at Binghamton University have developed a new type of microelectromechanical system that uses electrostatic levitation to provide a more robust system, reducing damage to MEMS switches in cell phones and power lines.
A new capacitive sensor design created by Binghamton University professor Ron Miles allows for efficient sound sensing in devices without significant electrostatic forces. The flexible sensor can move with small air movements, addressing issues with existing sensors and expanding possibilities for applications.
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology have discovered the electron transfer mechanism underlying contact electrification, a process that generates electricity through friction between surfaces. The study's findings suggest temperature plays a crucial role in the phenomenon, with performance degrading above 300°C.
Researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science have created a novel method for cooling ions using electrostatic fields, allowing them to reach temperatures near absolute zero. This breakthrough enables the study of large biological molecules and nanoparticles, with potential applications in medicine and materials science.
The Graz University of Technology team uses computer simulations to propose a fundamentally new concept for controlling electronic properties of materials. Collective electrostatic effects are used to intentionally manipulate material properties, demonstrating its potential in solar cells and three-dimensional materials.
Researchers studied halogen-bonding interactions in co-crystals with bromide ions, leading to honeycomb structures and variable geometry. The findings suggest potential gas storage applications and facilitate directional multidentate interactions.
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology found that Titan's non-silicate granules become electrically charged when kicked up by wind, causing them to cling together and resist further motion. This property helps explain the formation of large sandy dunes on Titan's surface, which are unlike anything seen on Earth.
Associate Professor Niveen Khashab's team created self-assembled toroids using a combination of materials and weak chemical bonds. The microstructures held their shape for months, providing insights into the formation of complex biological structures.
Researchers developed a bio-inspired robot that uses electrostatic forces to perch on different surfaces, reducing energy costs and increasing mission durations. The robot can resume flight after perching, making it suitable for applications such as surveying or detecting hazardous chemicals.
Researchers used DREEM to visualize how DNA wraps around TRF2, forming T-loops that protect chromosome ends. The new technique provides insights into telomere maintenance and structure-function relationships.
Researchers create soft gripper that uses electroadhesion to pick up fragile objects of arbitrary shape and stiffness. The new technology mimics muscle function, gripping onto objects with electrostatic forces.
Researchers from Imperial College London have discovered a method to heat ions directly using high-intensity lasers, potentially leading to faster and more efficient fusion reactions. The technique, which uses electrostatic shockwaves to accelerate ions, could be used at many laser facilities worldwide.
Researchers develop new hydrogel with electrostatic repulsion properties, inspired by articular cartilage and maglev trains. The material easily deforms under shear forces but resists compressive forces.
Researchers have developed a new model that explains the interface losses between organic semiconductors and metals, enabling the introduction of an insulating layer to improve electrical contact. The model suggests varying energy barriers can lead to lower losses and more efficient organic electronic devices.
Researchers at Disney Research have created electrostatic loudspeakers that can be printed in any shape using 3D technology, enabling objects to produce sound and even ultrasound. The technology has potential applications in interactive systems, toys, and games.
Researchers found that spider webs are more effective at capturing charged insects, with positively charged insects attracting the negatively charged web. This discovery suggests that electrostatic charges may have driven the evolution of specialized webs.
A new soft x-ray electrostatic precipitator device effectively captures and kills airborne pathogenic bacteria, viruses, ultrafine particles, and allergens. It has multiple potential applications, including indoor air purification and protection of vulnerable populations.
Researchers develop method to measure individual particle charge, allowing for precise control over nano particles' behavior. This enables improved understanding of nanoscale phenomena and potential applications in medicine.
The team's proof-of-concept motor utilizes carbon-based switches to activate artificial muscles, which then rotate a shaft without external electronics or hard metal parts. The device has the potential to open doors for softer, lighter electrostatic motors with applications in prosthetics and soft robots.
A Boston University-led team has identified the structural basis of acetoacetate decarboxylase (AADase), a key enzyme in carbohydrate metabolism. The discovery corrects previous assumptions about enzyme structure and provides new insights into predicting enzyme functions, enabling the development of novel biofuels.
Researchers analyze chlorotrinitromethane molecule to reveal extremely short carbon-clorine single bond of 1.69 Angstroms, breaking previous measurements. Theoretical calculations confirm electrostatic interactions between atoms contribute to this unusual bond length.
Researchers at Northwestern University have discovered that electrostatic interactions alone can give rise to helical shapes in molecules, shedding light on how nature generates chirality. Their work shows that this phenomenon is a result of simple interactions and has implications for understanding complex phenomena.
Researchers have invented a new DNA microarray technique that uses electrostatic repulsion to read and evaluate DNA or RNA assays without chemical labeling or sophisticated instrumentation. The technique can be carried out in minutes and has the potential to revolutionize medical diagnostics.
The GLAST team is testing the satellite in a 'clean room' to prevent contamination due to dust and humidity. The clean environment ensures the sensitive instruments are protected during development, construction, and testing.
Physicist Lawrence Schein's research uses nano-coating technology to reduce toner adhesion, enabling simplified and cheaper color laser printers. Current models are more expensive and up to three times larger than black-and-white models.
Researchers have developed nanoscale helical 'nanosprings' from zinc oxide that exhibit piezoelectric and electrostatic polarization properties. These structures could be used as sensors to detect small fluid flows, strain forces, and air flows, and as actuators in micro-systems. The new materials also display unusual electrostatic pol...
Researchers used an electrostatic field to control the self-assembly of fine granular material, creating regularly spaced arrays and complex patterns. The ability to manipulate these patterns could lead to new materials with unique properties.
Researchers at Howard Hughes Medical Institute developed a new parallel focusing method to solve the Poisson-Boltzmann equation, enabling efficient simulation of complex biomolecules. This approach allows for high-resolution modeling of molecules like microtubules and ribosomes, providing insights into their collective properties and p...
A new technology, developed by Ohio University engineers, uses membranes to capture fine air pollutants and toxic heavy metals from industrial exhaust. The membrane electrostatic precipitator can help coal, steel, paper, and other industries meet EPA emissions regulations and make high-sulfur coal a more viable energy source.
Researchers measured electrostatic properties of a protein surface using a surface-force apparatus, providing the first direct comparison between localized measurements and theoretical predictions. The study verified the accuracy of measurement technique and demonstrated that current models are reasonably accurate for predicting electr...
The Sandia chuck uses a thin layer of helium gas to cool silicon wafers, utilizing electrostatic attraction to seal the wafer to a bottom plate. The device features a patterned silicon wafer with tiny islands that support the wafer and allow for rapid clamping and release.