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NTUsg researchers develop flexible piezoelectric crystal

Researchers at NTU Singapore have created a new material that can flex and bend 40 times more than its competitors, opening the way to better micro machines. The hybrid material generates electricity effectively when bent, potentially recharging batteries in gadgets from everyday movements.

SourceNanyang Technological University·JournalNature Materials·DateFeb 8, 2021
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

CMOS-compatible 3D ferroelectric memory with ultralow power and high speed

A POSTECH research team has developed a CMOS-compatible 3D ferroelectric memory with ultralow power consumption and high speed. The new material and structure ensure low power consumption and high speed, achieving speeds several hundred times faster than conventional flash memory.

SourcePohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)·JournalScience Advances·DateJan 18, 2021

Seeking answers in ferroelectric patterning

Ferroelectric materials display unique patterns due to non-equilibrium dynamics and topological defects, driving subsequent evolution. A new study finds phase separation kinetics as a common framework for understanding these patterns.

SourceARC Centre of Excellence in Future Low-Energy Electronics Technologies·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 18, 2020
Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

Reviewing multiferroics for future, low-energy data storage

A new UNSW study comprehensively reviews the magnetic structure of bismuth ferrite (BiFeO3), a multiferroic material that displays both magnetic and electronic ordering at room temperature. This unique property allows for low-energy switching in data storage devices, making it a promising material for future, low-energy data storage.

SourceARC Centre of Excellence in Future Low-Energy Electronics Technologies·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateOct 22, 2020

Toward an ultrahigh energy density capacitor

Berkeley Lab researchers introduce isolated defects to a type of commercially available thin film, creating a top-performing energy storage material. The new material has more than twice the energy storage density of previously reported values and 50% higher efficiencies.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalScience·DateAug 19, 2020

Over $10 million awarded to Penn State for energy center

The US Department of Energy has awarded Penn State over $10 million to develop new ferroelectric memory materials that can be stacked in the third dimension above processor chips. This breakthrough technology aims to mitigate the von Neumann bottleneck, allowing for seamless communication between memory and computation.

SourcePenn State·DateJul 16, 2020
CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

Science snapshots July 2020

A Berkeley Lab-led team has gained insight into bacterial DNA packing, enabling potential control over microbial behavior. Researchers at JBEI have developed synthetic biology tools unlocking complex plant engineering, allowing for more sophisticated traits in plants. High-performance windows with reduced energy consumption will be ins...

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 1, 2020

After a century of searching, scientists find new liquid phase

Researchers have discovered a new liquid phase of matter, the ferroelectric nematic, which exhibits strong polar ordering and can be controlled by electric fields. This discovery opens up new possibilities for technological innovations, including advanced display screens and reimagined computer memory.

SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 10, 2020

Toward a more energy-efficient spintronics

Researchers at Spintec Laboratory and CNRS/Thales Laboratory developed a non-magnetic system to detect spin information at low power. This breakthrough enables the creation of ferroelectricity-based spintronic devices that consume significantly less energy than traditional systems.

SourceCNRS·JournalNature·DateApr 22, 2020

Unique material could unlock new functionality in semiconductors

Researchers synthesized a unique organic-inorganic hybrid crystal with controllable ferroelectricity and chirality, enabling new electrical, magnetic, or optical properties. This discovery could lead to advancements in communication and computing technologies.

SourceRensselaer Polytechnic Institute·JournalScience Advances·DateFeb 28, 2020
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Perovskite solar cells: Possible aspects of high efficiency uncovered

Researchers have made a breakthrough in understanding the crystalline structure of hybrid halide perovskites, which could lead to improved stability and efficiency. The study found that ferroelectric effects are possible in these materials, which could increase their efficiency.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie·JournalAngewandte Chemie·DateNov 13, 2019

Nylon as a building block for transparent electronic devices?

Researchers at Max Planck Institute create high-performance nylon capacitors using a new method, paving the way for flexible and transparent electronic devices. The thin films are several 100 times thinner than human hair and can be used in wearable electronics.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Polymer Research·JournalScience Advances·DateAug 16, 2019
Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

When human expertise improves the work of machines

Researchers develop a technique called dimensional stacking to improve data analysis for materials scientists. By organizing data based on physical and chemical properties, machines can gain insights into complex materials like ferroelectrics. This approach shows that human experience still has a role in the age of machine intelligence.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·Journalnpj Computational Materials·DateAug 15, 2019

Emerging device by the fusion of IGZO and ferroelectric-HfO2

Researchers have successfully developed a ferroelectric FET with ferroelectric-HfO2 and ultrathin IGZO channel, demonstrating nearly ideal subthreshold swing and mobility higher than poly-silicon. The device achieves low-power, high-speed, and high-capacity memory capabilities.

SourceJapan Science and Technology Agency·DateJun 18, 2019

How spin dances with dipole

Researchers have discovered three key paths for coupling magnetism and ferroelectricity, enabling the interaction between spin moments and electric dipoles in solids. This breakthrough has significant implications for materials science and engineering.

SourceScience China Press·JournalNational Science Review·DateMar 21, 2019

Ferroelectric polymers made more versatile

Scientists from the University of Groningen created block copolymers from PVDF that preserve its ferroelectricity while allowing tunable characteristics. These copolymers enable various applications, including flexible organic electronics and energy storage.

SourceUniversity of Groningen·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 5, 2019

Laser-fabricated crystals in glass are ferroelectric

A team of researchers has demonstrated that laser-generated crystals in glass can be manipulated to control their ferroelectric domain structure. This allows for the creation of new optical devices with high efficiency and low loss links, crucial for future quantum information transfer systems.

SourceLehigh University·JournalMRS Communications·DateJan 29, 2019
Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.

Nanosized ferroelectrics become a reality

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.

SourceUniversity of Groningen·JournalNature Materials·DateOct 22, 2018

Modeling crystal behavior: Towards answers in self-organization

A new model by the University of Tokyo Institute of Industrial Science has shed light on the physical principle behind controlling crystal materials. The findings have practical benefits for applications such as non-volatile memory devices and electro-mechanical actuators.

SourceInstitute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 17, 2018
Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

Relax, just break it

Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory used novel tools to study local order in relaxor ferroelectrics, revealing a correlation between butterfly-shaped diffuse scattering and piezoelectric behavior. This discovery could lead to the development of non-lead-based materials with improved properties.

SourceDOE/Argonne National Laboratory·JournalNature Materials·DateJul 19, 2018

Rutgers physicists create new class of 2D artificial materials

A Rutgers-led international team of scientists has verified a 53-year-old theory on ferroelectric metals, creating a new class of two-dimensional artificial materials that exhibit ferroelectric-like properties at room temperature. These findings have the potential to spawn a new generation of multi-functional devices and applications.

SourceRutgers University·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 11, 2018

Designing a new material for improved ultrasound

Researchers at Penn State designed a new material with twice the piezo response of existing commercial ferroelectric ceramics. The material's unique structure increases its dielectric properties and piezoelectric effect, making it suitable for medical ultrasound applications.

SourcePenn State·JournalNature Materials·DateMar 22, 2018
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

Missing link between new topological phases of matter discovered

The study reveals that bismuth doping in PbSnSe films causes a ferroelectric phase transition, changing the allowable energy levels of electrons. This effect enables the development of new functionality, including lossless conduction of electricity.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 17, 2017

Nagoya-led team flips the switch on ferroelectrics

Researchers at Nagoya University have created a way to manipulate the domain structure of lead zirconate titanate films, a crucial step for future electronic and electro-mechanical devices. By controlling the switching of domains, they can potentially accelerate the development of next-generation technologies.

SourceNagoya University·JournalScientific Reports·DateAug 28, 2017

Scientists help thin-film ferroelectrics go extreme

Researchers at Berkeley Lab expand the temperature range of ferroelectric materials by creating a polarization gradient in a thin film. This enables devices to operate reliably in extreme environments, reducing power consumption and component count.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 10, 2017

A new approach to improving lithium-sulfur batteries

Lithium-sulfur batteries show promise for high-energy storage, but rapid capacity fade hinders their use. A new approach using ferroelectric nanoparticles improves cycle stability by entrapping polysulfides.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateMar 6, 2017
Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

Designing new materials from 'small' data

A Northwestern University and Los Alamos National Laboratory team developed a novel workflow to design new materials with useful electronic properties. By combining machine learning and density functional theory calculations, they created design guidelines for ferroelectricity and piezoelectricity.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 17, 2017
Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

Physicists 'dissolve' water in an emerald

Researchers successfully confine individual H?O molecules within nanosized cavities in beryl crystals, exhibiting ferroelectric properties. This discovery could have implications for various fields, including biology, chemistry, and geology.

SourceMoscow Institute of Physics and Technology·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 5, 2016

Study yields new knowledge about materials for ultrasound and other applications

Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have discovered the key to piezoelectric excellence in relaxor-based ferroelectrics, enabling more detailed electrical signals and better images in medical ultrasound. The findings may provide knowledge needed to accelerate the design of functional materials for diverse applications.

SourceDOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory·JournalScience Advances·DateOct 3, 2016
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.

Cooling chips with the flip of a switch

Researchers at Penn State University have developed a unique blend of ferroelectric polymers that can hold absorbed heat even after the external field has been switched off. This allows the material to generate cooling when the field is turned on, but no subsequent heating when the field is turned off.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateApr 5, 2016

Crystal and magnetic structure of multiferroic hexagonal manganite

This review article presents an extended study on the crystal and magnetic structure of multiferroic hexagonal manganite RMnO3, which exhibits ferroelectric and magnetic orders. The research highlights the importance of strong interactions between these orders, leading to unique properties.

SourceInternational Union of Crystallography·JournalActa Crystallographica Section B·DateFeb 22, 2016

Researchers develop hack-proof RFID chips

A new type of RFID chip is virtually impossible to hack, preventing identity theft and high-tech burglaries. The chip uses ferroelectric crystals to thwart power-glitch attacks and features a bank of capacitors as an on-chip energy source.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·DateFeb 3, 2016

Superlattice design realizes elusive multiferroic properties

Researchers at Northwestern University have successfully created a multiferroic material by sandwiching a polar metallic oxide between an insulating material. This breakthrough design strategy realizes elusive multiferroic properties, offering potential applications in low-power electronics, logic processing, and memory storage.

SourceNorthwestern University·DateAug 21, 2015

Electronic circuits with reconfigurable pathways closer to reality

Researchers at EPFL have developed a way to control the formation of conductive pathways in ferroelectric materials, allowing for the creation of adaptable electronic circuits. This technology has the potential to miniaturize devices and enable resilient circuits that can function even with damaged components.

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateJan 26, 2015
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

Oxides discovered by CCNY team could advance memory devices

Researchers have discovered new complex oxides that exhibit both magnetic and ferroelectric properties, combining characteristics of logic circuits and spintronics. The findings, published in Scientific Reports, bring scientists closer to creating ultra-efficient memory devices with massive storage capacities.

SourceCity College of New York·JournalScientific Reports·DateSep 17, 2014

Nearly everyone uses piezoelectrics -- Be nice to know how they work

Researchers at NIST and Simon Fraser University have discovered the origin of distinct differences in relaxor behavior compared to ferroelectric PZT. The study found that random electric fields vary randomly from unit cell to unit cell in relaxors, leading to a greater piezoelectric effect.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 30, 2014

Potential future data storage at domain boundaries

Researchers have discovered a physical phenomenon that could prove suitable for use in further data aggregation, allowing information to be stored in the tiniest of spaces. The discovery was made using advanced electron microscopes and computer simulations, and involves ferroelectric polar properties within antiferroelectric materials.

SourceForschungszentrum Juelich·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 14, 2014
Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.

Chaotic physics in ferroelectrics hints at brain-like computing

Researchers at ORNL led by Sergei Kalinin discovered complex and unpredictable patterns on ferroelectric material's surface when written in dense arrays. The study suggests the possibility of memcomputing, where information storage and processing occur on the same physical platform.

SourceDOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory·JournalNature Physics·DateNov 18, 2013

Bottom-up approach provides first characterization of pyroelectric nanomaterials

For the first time, researchers have observed how reducing dimensions affects ferroelectrics' susceptibility to size- and strain-induced effects. This work provides a detailed modeling and experimental study of pyroelectricity, with direct implications for next-generation devices.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJan 8, 2013

Ferroelectrics could pave way for ultra-low power computing

Researchers at UC Berkeley have demonstrated negative capacitance in ferroelectric materials, a phenomenon that can amplify charge for a given voltage. This breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize computing by enabling the creation of low-power transistors without compromising performance.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateSep 12, 2011

Controlling magnetism with electric fields

Researchers developed a multiferroic material that reacts to both magnetic and electric fields at room temperature, fulfilling a long-held dream. The material's ferromagnetic properties were demonstrated using X-ray magnetic circular dichroism, paving the way for more efficient data storage and logical switches.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalNature Materials·DateAug 23, 2011
AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

'Wonder material' graphene tapped for electronic memory devices

Researchers have developed a graphene-based device that stores information in ferroelectric material, increasing fidelity and reducing operating voltage. The device's high-speed performance is expected to overcome issues associated with traditional memory devices.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateJul 29, 2011

Rare coupling of magnetic and electric properties in a single material

Scientists have found a new mechanism that couples electric and magnetic properties in a material, enabling faster and energy-efficient logic, memory, and sensing technology. This breakthrough could lead to the development of multiferroic materials, which are rare in nature but can display both ferromagnetic and ferroelectric properties.

SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJul 25, 2011
Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

World record data density for ferroelectric recording

Scientists at Tohoku University have recorded data at a world-record density of 4 trillion bits per square inch using the ferroelectric data storage method. This density is eight times that of today's most advanced magnetic hard-disk drives.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateAug 17, 2010

The Materials Research Society's Von Hippel Award to L. Eric Cross

L. Eric Cross is recognized for his leadership in the science and applications of ferroelectric materials, with current work on flexoelectric composites offering a new generation of lead-free transducers. He has also made significant contributions to sonar undersea transducers and medical ultrasound machines.

SourcePenn State·DateAug 12, 2010
GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.