Researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology developed a simple sol-gel method to synthesize highly pure bifunctional solid acid-base catalysts with desirable properties. The new method produces SrTiO3 nanoparticles with high surface area, showing 10 times higher catalytic activity than commercially available titanates.
A new 'best practice' protocol has been developed by researchers at University of Bath to standardize data collection and reporting in piezoelectric materials. This is crucial to ensure reproducibility in energy harvesting research, which is hampered by inconsistent experimental reports.
Researchers developed a self-powered, hybrid nanogenerator sensor that can monitor performance in boxing and cricket, providing accurate data on accuracy, power, and speed. The device has the potential to explore other applications in sports, paving the way for more efficient practices and improved player performance.
Researchers find quasiparticles called ferrons that carry waves of polarization and heat in ferroelectric materials. The ferron's behavior is sensitive to an external electric field, turning the material into a thermal switch.
Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University developed a compact vibration energy harvester that amplifies electric power generated from human walking motion by about 90 times. The device can generate electricity from non-stationary vibrations, including walking motion, to power small wearable devices.
MIT researchers create a low-power, sound-harvesting camera that captures color photos and transmits data wirelessly. The autonomous device can run for weeks without power, enabling scientists to explore remote oceans and monitor climate change impacts.
The study reveals a new pathway to develop lead-free ferroelectric materials with strong piezoelectric properties. The novel hybrid improper ferroelectric material combines rotation and tilting of oxygen octahedra to produce polarization, enabling the creation of powerful piezoelectric systems.
Researchers at Rice University have discovered piezoelectricity in two-dimensional materials across phase boundaries. The discovery enables the creation of ultra-sensitive temperature or pressure sensors and tiny actuators, revolutionizing electronic applications.
Researchers at Ohio State University have developed a more efficient wind sensor for drones, balloons, and autonomous aircraft. The sensor uses smart materials to measure wind speed and direction, improving safety and efficiency in autonomous flight.
A research team at Seoul National University developed a stretchable piezoelectric displacement sensor with high sensitivity and tensile properties using a kirigami design cutting. The sensor was successfully applied in various fields such as healthcare and sports equipment, including wireless haptic gloves for VR technology.
Researchers at City University of Hong Kong developed a simple exfoliation method to prepare ultrathin films of small intestine tissues, which exhibit piezoelectricity. The team's findings reveal the hierarchical structure of collagen fibers as the key to generating the piezoelectric effect.
Ritsumeikan University researchers create a novel thin-film flexible piezoelectric-photovoltaic device that can generate electricity from indoor lighting. The device's performance is improved through strain-induced polarization in the ZnMgO layer, increasing open-circuit voltage and overcoming charge recombination issues.
Researchers at NTU Singapore have developed a flexible and durable fabric that harnesses energy from human movements, providing a potential solution for wearable power sources. The fabric generates enough electricity to light up LEDs and charge capacitors, demonstrating its potential for use in smart textiles and wearable electronics.
MIT researchers develop an interactive design pipeline enabling users to create customized robotic hands with tactile sensors. The platform streamlines the process, allowing users to adjust palm and fingers and integrate tactile sensors, resulting in complex tasks like picking delicate items or using tools being performed flawlessly.
A physicist at TU Graz has developed a three-in-one hybrid material that reacts to force, moisture and temperature with high spatial resolution. The smart skin has potential applications in robotics, smart prosthetics and healthcare, and its production can be easily scaled and implemented.
Researchers at MIT have created a paper-thin loudspeaker that produces sound with minimal distortion while using a fraction of the energy required by traditional loudspeakers. The device, which is as thin as a dime and weighs about the same, can generate high-quality sound on any surface it is bonded to.
Researchers from Osaka University report a new technique for tracking the synthesis of core–shell bimetallic nanoparticles in real time, allowing for fine-tuning of nanomaterial preparation. The technique uses a piezoelectric resonator to monitor particle shape changes and track interdiffusion of metals.
Researchers have found a new method to induce the piezoelectric effect in materials that are otherwise not piezoelectric. This breakthrough could lead to the development of biocompatible materials with properties similar to common lead-containing materials, and has the potential to expand the design of new electromechanical devices.
Regrowing healthy cartilage in damaged joints is a promising approach to treating arthritis. UConn bioengineers successfully regrowed cartilage in a rabbit's knee using piezoelectricity, a phenomenon that also exists in the human body.
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a retrofitted commercial refrigeration container to keep COVID-19 vaccines at ultra-low temperatures during transport. They've also identified and improved the usability of data to accelerate innovation in the bioeconomy, and investigated piezoelectric materials for radiation-...
Researchers have developed heat-resistant piezoelectric sheet sensors that can detect driver impairment, including drowsiness and sudden illnesses. These sensors, attached to seats, can signal a future smart car to take action, potentially preventing accidents.
Researchers at Penn State have found that the conventional wisdom about the relationship between domain size and piezoelectricity in ferroelectric materials is not always correct. In contrast to existing data suggesting smaller domains lead to higher piezoelectricity, this new study shows larger domain sizes can actually result in bett...
A team of researchers at EPFL and Purdue University has developed a magnetic-free optical isolator using integrated photonics and micro-electromechanical systems. This device can couple to and deflect light propagating in a waveguide, mimicking the effects of magnet-driven isolators without requiring magnetic fields.
UNSW researchers stabilize a new intermediate phase in a room-temperature multiferroic material under stress, boosting electromechanical response by double its usual value. This breakthrough has exciting implications for next-generation devices and provides a valuable technique for international material scientists.
A team of researchers at CÚRAM has developed an implantable stimulator device that combines with body power to speed up treatment of musculoskeletal diseases. The device, powered by walking, controls tendon cell function and repair through electrical stimulation.
Scientists have created two types of composites based on PVDF polymers and a PVDF-based copolymer with magnetic nanoparticles, showing enhanced magnetoelectric response. The addition of barium titanate particles significantly amplifies the effect.
Researchers at Tel-Aviv University developed a new biological material that generates electric currents and voltage through mechanical force, enabling the creation of implantable devices without batteries. The material, similar to collagen, is non-toxic and piezoelectric, with potential applications in medicine and energy harvesting.
Researchers at GIST discovered a correlation between S-polymorph phases and high piezoelectric response in lanthanum-doped bismuth ferrite thin films. The study suggests that ultrafast piezoelectric devices with sub-microsecond response times can be created using strain engineering.
Scientists at the University of Houston have demonstrated giant flexoelectricity in soft elastomers, paving the way for improved robot movement range and self-powered pacemakers. The breakthrough could also enable human-like robots to perform physical tasks with greater flexibility.
A new low-cost, environmentally friendly sensor has been developed by University of Limerick researchers that can detect damage in pipelines and leaks as small as 2mm. The sensor uses highly sensitive eco-friendly crystals and has the potential to save water and reduce environmental impact.
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.
A new piezoelectric material developed by Penn State researchers remained effective at elevated temperatures, allowing for the creation of self-powering sensors and energy harvesters. The material performed well beyond 482 F (250 C), enabling potential applications in aerospace, automotive, and wearable devices.
A research team at KAIST has developed a highly deformable ceramic piezoelectric material that can convert mechanical stimuli into electrical signals. The material's elastic strain limit is three times greater than that of bulk zinc oxide, making it suitable for advancing high-performing haptic technology.
A new type of ultra-efficient, nano-thin material has been developed by RMIT University that can convert mechanical pressure into electrical energy. The material is 800% more efficient than other piezoelectrics and can be easily fabricated through a cost-effective method using liquid metals.
A new study suggests that piezoelectric tiles could generate significant power, especially in crowded areas like Delhi and Mumbai. Researchers found that over 40% of respondents walked for more than three hours a day and were willing to produce their own electricity using their feet.
Researchers create biosensors using piezoelectric materials to detect specific viruses, including HPV and influenza A. Magnetostrictive materials are also being investigated for sensing bacterial infections.
Researchers have discovered ultra-high piezoelectric coefficients in hydrogen-bonded ferroelectrics, exceeding that of PZT by more than 3 times. The phenomenon is sensitive to strain and can be tuned to room temperature by applying a fixed strain.
Scientists have developed a way to produce nylon fibers that are piezoelectric, generating electricity from simple body movement. This breakthrough technology could lead to smart clothes that monitor health and charge devices without external power.
The new Underwater Backscatter Localization (UBL) system uses piezoelectric materials to reflect modulated signals, providing positioning information at net-zero energy. In shallow water, the researchers employed frequency hopping and reduced bitrate to overcome reflection issues, enabling precise tracking of moving objects.
Researchers developed a new technology called PLUS to produce high-resolution 3D images of defects in metallic structures. This innovation uses non-destructive techniques to study structural integrity and identify potential flaws.
A research team created dual-mode sensors that capture texture and force, enabling precise measurement of movement magnitude, load, rate, duration, and direction. These sensors could aid people with severe injuries and contribute to advanced robotics.
Scientists at Helmholtz Zentrum München and TUM developed the world's smallest ultrasound detector, leveraging silicon photonics technology to achieve super-resolution imaging. This innovation enables high-sensitivity detection in smaller sizes than previously possible, opening up new avenues for sensing and imaging applications.
Physicists at the University of Warwick demonstrate that applying a noble metal to a crystal's surface can excite its structure, enabling new electrical effects such as converting movement and heat into electricity. This technique has great potential for use in sensors, energy conversion, and mobile technologies.
North Carolina State University researchers have developed a novel ultrasonic imaging device that can optically display an acoustic signal on the surface of a piezoelectric transducer. This approach eliminates electrical signal processing altogether, resulting in reduced costs and increased efficiency. The technology has the potential ...
Researchers have created an optical switch that can direct high-frequency gamma radiation by switching the acoustic field. This effect demonstrates controlled transparency of a resonant medium for gamma radiation, which may be useful for controlling generated radiation in modern synchrotron sources and X-ray lasers.
Scientists combine piezoelectric aluminium nitride with ultralow-loss silicon nitride integrated photonics to create a hybrid circuit for on-chip acousto-optic modulation. The technology enables wideband actuation with ultralow electrical power, opening up new possibilities for precision-demanding applications.
A new study applies liquid-metal synthesis to create atomically-thin tin-monosulfide with excellent electronic and piezoelectric properties, enabling flexible nanogenerators for wearable electronics and biosensors. The resulting material displays high durability and flexibility, making it suitable for commercial implementation.
Researchers at Mainz University have developed a technique that can halve the energy required to write data to servers by utilizing piezoelectric crystals. This innovation enables complex server architectures and reduces energy consumption, which is projected to increase significantly in the IT sector.
A team of UConn engineers has developed a scaffold that generates a controllable electrical field to encourage bone growth, providing a new approach for treating serious injuries. The device uses non-toxic poly(L-lactic acid) polymer and remotely-controlled ultrasound to stimulate bone regeneration.
Researchers at Rice University found evidence of piezoelectricity in lab-grown molybdenum dioxide flakes due to trapped electrons in defects. The material exhibits strong piezoelectric response comparable to conventional materials like molybdenum disulfide.
An international team of researchers found that applying AC electric fields to certain materials makes internal crystal domains bigger and the crystal transparent. The crystals also exhibit ultrahigh piezoelectricity and high transparency after polishing.
Researchers develop a cost-effective laboratory device called ElectroPen, which applies short bursts of electricity to temporarily open cell walls. The device is built using inexpensive components, including a piezoelectric crystal taken from a butane lighter, and can be assembled in just 15 minutes.
Researchers at Hokkaido University have discovered a new way to start chemical reactions using mechanical force, eliminating the need for organic solvents. The method, called mechanoredox reaction, generates highly reactive radicals that undergo bond-forming reactions with high efficiency.
A new material phase has been discovered that enables unique control over material properties, including electrical conduction. This discovery paves the way for manipulating these properties using temperature, pressure, and electric fields, opening up exciting opportunities for ultrathin energy and electronics technologies.
The MIT team has created a submerged system that harnesses the vibration of 'piezoelectric' materials to generate power, transmit data, and receive signals without batteries. This technology enables long-term underwater sensing for climate change research, marine life tracking, and potential applications on other planets.
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology have developed micro-bristle-bots that harness vibration to move and interact with their environment. The bots can be controlled by adjusting vibration frequencies and can potentially be used for tasks such as repairing injuries inside the human body or sensing environmental changes.
Researchers at Osaka University created a new process for producing palladium nanoparticles that enhance hydrogen sensing sensitivity. The new method uses piezoelectric resonance to optimize deposition time, leading to devices that may be vital to the transition to a hydrogen energy ecosystem.
Researchers introduce trace amounts of samarium into PMN-PT crystals, significantly enhancing their piezoelectric properties. The results show nearly double the performance of traditional materials.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have developed a method to 3D print piezoelectric materials that can be custom-designed to convert movement, impact, and stress into electrical energy. The new printing technique enables the creation of smart materials with high sensitivities, flexibility, and programmable properties.
Researchers developed flexible piezoelectric acoustic sensors for improved speaker recognition, achieving sensitivity over two times higher than conventional sensors. These sensors enable 97.5% accurate speaker recognition and diverse voice detection in various environments.