Phys.org May 13, 2022 Researchers at the University of Illinois explore the creative process in the context of higher education, advertising and leadership and offer some concrete ways to facilitate idea generation, both individually and in groups. Research shows that groups with diverse disciplines, backgrounds, beliefs, knowledge, and skills produce the strongest, most unique results. According to the researchers it is important to carefully define the challenge, task or problem including gathering key data and outlining boundaries, and any other constraints. Establishing three key guidelines is essential: Focus on the quantity of ideas generated, not their quality; Avoid criticism, judgment, […]
Low-cost battery-like device absorbs CO2 emissions while it charges
Science Daily May 19, 2022 The most advanced carbon capture technologies currently require large amounts of energy and they are expensive. Researchers in the UK have designed a supercapacitor that consists of two electrodes of positive and negative charge. They found that alternating from a negative to a positive voltage improved the supercapacitor’s ability to capture carbon. When the electrodes become charged, the negative plate draws in the CO2 gas, while ignoring other emissions, such as oxygen, nitrogen, and water. Using this method, the supercapacitor both captures carbon and stores energy. They have developed a technique to understand the mechanism […]
A metasurface-based light-to-microwave transmitter for hybrid wireless communications
Phys.org May 13, 2022 Realizing signal conversion between optical and microwave frequencies typically requires a complicated relay to perform multiple operations, which will consume additional hardware/time/energy resources. An international team of researchers (China, Singapore) has reported a light-to-microwave transmitter based on the time-varying and programmable metasurface integrated with a high-speed photoelectric detection circuit into a hybrid. Such a transmitter can convert a light intensity signal to two microwave binary frequency shift keying signals by using the dispersion characteristics of the metasurface to implement the frequency division multiplexing. In demonstration the system allowed dual-channel data transmissions in a light-to-microwave link. They […]
More efficient optical quantum gates
Phys.org May 13, 2022 Progress in optical quantum information processing is hampered by the low efficiency of the two-qubit quantum gates realized so far. Researchers in Germany demonstrated an optical two-qubit gate with an average efficiency above 40%, thus outperforming the previous record by a factor of almost 4. They accomplished this with electromagnetically induced transparency. Incoming photons are converted into polaritons in highly excited Rydberg state. Any two atoms in such a state have a strong interaction, even at large separations. When two photons enter the resonator, both become polaritons and their Rydberg components interact. When the excitations leave […]
Multisensory hybrid material as smart electronic skin
Nanowerk May 16, 2022 Researchers in Austria proposed a simplified design with biocompatible materials for an efficient electronic skin. They demonstrated that it can deliver multi-stimuli sensitivity with high spatial resolution. While the piezoelectricity of ZnO provided sensitivity to external force, the thermoresponsiveness of the hydrogel core provided sensitivity to surrounding temperature and humidity changes. The hydrogel core exerted mechanical stress onto the ZnO shell, which was translated to a measurable piezoelectric signal. A localized force sensitivity was achieved with very low cross talk. They demonstrated the sensor’s sensitivity to humidity was above and below the hydrogel’s lower critical solution […]
Official measures of research ‘impact’ are failing to keep pace with socially networked academics
Phys.org May 18, 2022 Academics are frequently encouraged to use social media to facilitate public engagement and enhance research impact, as it offers the potential to connect with more diverse, non-academic audiences. However, little is known about the relationship between the use of social media and academics’ own perceptions of research impact and public engagement in practice. Researchers in the UK analyzed the responses from a survey of academics which includes what academics perceive to be examples of high-impact interactions through social media, and how this is mediated by different platforms. The findings have practical implications for social media training […]
On-chip photodetection: Two-dimensional material heterojunctions
Phys.org May 13, 2022 Chip-integrated two-dimensional material photodetectors implemented with the configuration of metal-semiconductor-metal suffer from high dark currents and low responsivities at high operation speed. An international team of researchers (China, Belgium, Spain, Finland) has developed a van der Waals PN heterojunction photodetector, composed of p-type black phosphorous and n-type molybdenum telluride, integrated on a silicon nitride waveguide. The built-in electric field of the PN heterojunction significantly suppresses the dark current and improves the responsivity. The dark current is lower than 7 nA, which is more than two orders of magnitude lower than those reported in other waveguide-integrated black phosphorus […]
Rigid waterproof coating for paper aims to reduce our dependence on plastic
Science Daily May 13, 2022 Researchers in Japan developed an easy silica–resin coating technique to compensate for paper’s weaknesses, including its lack of water resistance and strength, and proposed its use as an environmentally friendly alternative to plastic. When they dispersed 2 nm anatase TiO2 nanoparticles on the paper’s cellulose fibers it exhibited moderate photocatalytic effects such as methylene blue degradation and antibacterial activity. The porous silica–resin film which has high adsorptive capacity efficiently captured organic pollutants until they decomposed via photocatalytic reactions. As a result, the stable silica–resin–TiO2 composite coating protected paper from the environment for an extended period, […]
Scientists Have Powered a Basic Computer With Just Algae For Over 6 Months
Science Alert May 13, 2022 An international team of researchers (UK, Italy, Norway New Zealand) has developed a bio-photovoltaic energy harvester system using photosynthetic microorganisms on an aluminium anode that can power a microprocessor widely used in Internet of Things applications. The proposed energy harvester has operated the microprocessor for over six months in a domestic environment under ambient light. It is comparable in size to an AA battery, and is built using common, durable, inexpensive, and largely recyclable materials… read more. TECHNICAL ARTICLE
Synthesis of two-dimensional holey graphyne
Science Daily May 18, 2022 While it is possible to overcome limitations of graphene by doping or functionalizing there is also much interest in the search for new types of 2D carbon allotropes. Recently researchers found a top-down way to produce graphene oxides by creating many holes in its structure. An international team of researchers (South Korea, USA – University of Puerto Rico) has developed a bottom-up approach for creating “holey-graphyne” (HGY) constructing the topologically 2D carbon material atom by atom. It consists of alternately HYG linked between benzene rings and C≡C bonds, composed of a pattern of six-vertex and […]