Nanowerk September 7, 2021 An international team of researchers (USA – MIT, Japan) has demonstrated that when two single sheets of boron nitride are stacked parallel to each other, at room temperature, the material becomes ferroelectric, in which positive and negative charges in the material spontaneously head to different sides, or poles. Upon the application of an external electric field, those charges switch sides, reversing the polarization. Twisting the boron nitride sheets by a small angle changes the dynamics of switching because of the formation of moiré ferroelectricity with staggered polarization. The coupling between vertical polarization and horizontal motion is […]
Author Archives: Hema Viswanath
Researchers reveal a novel metal where electrons flow with fluid-like dynamics
Phys.org September 6, 2021 An international team of researchers (USA -Boston College, Florida State University, UT Dallas, Switzerland) found that a strong interaction between electrons and phonons alters the transport of electrons from the diffusive, or particle-like, to hydrodynamic, or fluid-like, regime in a synthesis of Niobium and Germanium (NbGe2). Electrical resistivity measurements showed a higher-than-expected mass for electrons, and X-ray diffraction revealed the crystal structure of the material. The mass of electrons in all trajectories was three times larger than the expected value. The strong electron-phonon interaction was responsible for the heavy electron behavior. In future work the team […]
Researchers use gold film to enhance quantum sensing with qubits in a 2D material
Phys.org September 3, 2021 The photoluminescence and the contrast of the optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) of hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) spin defects are relatively low so far, which limits their sensitivity. An international team of researchers (USA – Purdue University, Australia) used a gold film to increase the brightness of spin qubits by up to 17-fold. The gold film supports the surface plasmon that can speed up photon emission and hence more signals. They improved the contrast of their magnetic resonance signal by a factor of 10 by optimizing the design of a microwave waveguide substantially improving the sensitivity […]
Researchers use organic semiconductor nanotubes to create new electrochemical actuator
Phys.org September 3, 2021 To improve the movement and response time for electrochemical actuator devices that operate in liquid a team of researchers at the University of Houston has developed electrochemical actuator that uses specialized organic semiconductor nanotubes (OSNTs). The device demonstrated excellent performance, low power consumption/strain, a large deformation, fast response, and excellent actuation stability. The enormous effective surface area of the nanotubular structure which facilitates the ion transport and accumulation results in high electroactivity and durability. The work provides new opportunities for next-generation actuators that can be utilized in artificial muscles and biomedical devices…read more. TECHNICAL ARTICLE
Stretching the capacity of flexible energy storage (w/video)
Nanowerk September 8, 2021 In spite of the excellent electrical and electrochemical properties, two-dimensional transition metal carbide (MXene) is often limited by the high stiffness for the direct implementation in next-generation stretchable and wearable energy storage devices. After screening for the thickness, researchers in China identified the crumpled MXene film of ∼3 μm in thickness as the optimal choice to mitigate the crack formations under large and repetitive mechanical strains. The as-prepared symmetric supercapacitor demonstrated a high specific capacitance of ∼470 mF cm–2, ultrahigh stretchability up to 800% area strain, and >90% retention of the initial capacitance after 1000 stretch–relaxation […]
Tapping into magnets to clamp down on noise in quantum information
Phys.org September 3, 2021 Building on their earlier efforts to create a superconducting circuit integrated with magnetic elements, a team of researchers in the US (Argonne National Laboratory, University of Illinois) is investigating whether magnons could partner with microwave photons to ensure that microwaves can only travel in one direction, thereby essentially eliminating noise. They will be testing known and new material systems to find candidates that can handle an ultracold environment and operate in a real quantum device. According to the researchers if they are successful, it is possible to have magnetic structures directly integrated with quantum circuitry. The […]
Water-repellent nanomaterial inspired by nature
Science Daily September 7, 2021 Using colloidal gels of fullerite C60 and C70 nanocrystals researchers at the University of Central Florida have developed superhydrophobic films and coatings. They demonstrated that despite the high surface energy of these van der Waals molecular crystals their gelation can create films having self-affine fractal surfaces with multiscale roughness. In experiments when submerged in water the material stayed dry up to 3 h even at a water depth of two feet and exhibit the plastron effect. According to the researchers non-wettable films of such materials are unique as fullerites get photosensitized instantaneously generating extremely high […]
Top 10 Science and Technology Inventions for the Week of September 03, 2021
01. Nanoscale systems for generating various forms of light 02. Discovery of two-phase superconductivity in CeRh2As2 03. Exploring quantum correlations of classical light source for image transmission 04. Light-induced shape shifting of MXenes 05. New family of ferroelectric materials raises possibilities for improved information and energy storage 06. Novel physics gives rise to the highest coherence for microscopic lasers 07. Physicists mix classical light with half a photon on a qubit 08. Quantum emitters: Beyond crystal clear to single-photon pure 09. Quantum networks in our future 10. Researchers develop novel analog processor for high performance computing And others… ‘Charging room’ […]
Quantum networks in our future
Science Daily August 31, 2021 While components of the quantum Internet are under development, the control plane remains undefined. An international team of researchers (Canada, USA – industry) outline their vision for a software-defined quantum network that enables a flexible experimental platform for developing quantum applications for industry. The quantum Internet, like the classical Internet, will be a network of networks. Operation of an industrial quantum network is viewed as a networked control problem, and they propose a time-sensitive network control plane to enable a quantum software-defined network. Measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution is used as an example implementation since it […]
‘Charging room’ system powers lights, phones, laptops without wires
Science Daily August 30, 2021 An international team of researchers (Japan, USA – University of Michigan) has shown that multimode quasistatic cavity resonance can provide room-scale wireless power transfer. The approach uses multidirectional, widely distributed currents on conductive surfaces that are placed around the target volume. It generates multiple, mutually unique, three-dimensional magnetic field patterns. They demonstrated the technology in a purpose-built aluminum test room measuring approximately 10 feet by 10 feet. They wirelessly powered lamps, fans and cell phones that could draw current from anywhere in the room regardless of the placement of people and furniture. Devices harness the […]