Nanotechweb February 28, 2018 The factors that determine whether a system will be superconducting and at what temperature remain hard to pin down. However, advances in nanotechnology have given some good pointers where to look, as well as providing promising systems for exploiting superconductivity in real-world applications. Although studies of nanostructures have made huge contributions to advancing understanding of superconductivity, many aspects of the phenomenon remain a marvelous mystery and a great stimulant for further research. Equally as fascinating again is the creativity in applying superconductors in such a diverse array of fields, and here without a doubt the tiny […]
Tag Archives: Advanced materials
New graphene laser technique opens door for edible electronics
Eurekalert February 28, 2018 An international team of researchers (USA – Rice University, Israel) reports a method of using multiple pulsed-laser scribing to convert a wide range of substrates into laser-induced graphene (LIG). With the increased versatility of the multiple lase process, highly conductive patterns can be achieved on the surface of a diverse number of substrates in ambient atmosphere. The use of a defocus method results in multiple lases in a single pass of the laser, further simplifying the procedure. Any carbon precursor that can be converted into amorphous carbon can be converted into graphene using this multiple lase […]
Many colors from a single dot
Science Daily February 19, 2018 The mechanism underlying the tunable emission appears to be very much dependent on the internal structure of the carbon dots, which differs amongst various preparation techniques. An international team of researchers (the Netherlands, China) studied the emission of individual carbon dots and compared it to the emission of the whole sample and showed that the emission colour of the individual carbon dots can be tuned from blue to red by changing the excitation wavelength, suggesting that multiple colour sites are present and active within a single nanoparticle. These findings demonstrate that it is viable to […]
Researchers demonstrate graphene as a source of high-speed light pulses
Phys org February 5, 2018 An international team of researchers (South Korea, USA – Columbia University, MIT, Cornell University, Stanford University, SLAC, University of Minnesota, Spain, Japan) encapsulated graphene in hexagonal boron nitride which allows the graphene to reach temperatures that are high enough to emit bright light in the visible and near infrared range, with good stability (estimated device lifetimes of at least 4 years), and fast cooling. As a result, the device generates ultrafast light pulses with a duration as short as 90 picoseconds and a modulation rate that is several orders of magnitude faster than conventional thermal […]
Clemson researchers blaze new ground in wireless energy generation
EurekAlert February 5, 2018 Researchers at Clemson University have invented a wireless triboelectric nanogenerator (W-TENG) based on their earlier invention U-TENG. W-TENG is made of a multipart fiber, made of graphene and poly-lactic acid, and Teflon. The device generates a max voltage of 3000 volts – enough to power 25 standard electrical outlets. Because the voltage is so high, the W-TENG generates an electric field around itself that can be sensed wirelessly. Its electrical energy can be stored wirelessly in capacitors and batteries. According to the researchers the device has applications in outer space, the middle of the ocean or […]
Antiferromagnets prove their potential for spin-based information technology
Science Daily January 29, 2018 Using antiferromagnets as active elements in spintronics requires the ability to manipulate and read-out the Néel vector orientation. An international team of researchers (Germany, Czech Republic, UK) has demonstrated current-induced switching of the Néel vector for metallic thin films of Mn2Au which orders antiferromagnetically at high temperatures. They measured ten times larger magnetoresistance as observed for CuMnAs, used as a preferred material that has several disadvantages… read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLE
Inverse-design approach leads to metadevices
Science Daily January 22, 2018 Researchers in at Northwestern University essentially input the behavior they wanted into a computer and the computer optimized a structure that has the required behavior and then it came out at the other end of a three-dimensional printer. They used computer modeling, optimization software, and complex algorithms to build metadevices that could bend or focus millimeter waves but that avoided problems with conventional approaches, such low efficiency, narrow bandwidth, and the bulkiness of the devices. The research could prove revolutionary for consumer products, defense, and telecommunications… read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLE […]
Magnetosensitive e-skin senses objects without touching (w/video)
Nanotechweb January 22, 2018 A device that can manipulate virtual objects needs to have two basic functions: the “touch” function and being able to detect the position of an object in space. An international team of researchers (Germany, Austria) synthesized very thin foils upon which they patterned two Wheatstone bridges accommodating a set of eight magnetic field sensors, each with a well-defined magnetic anisotropy axis. By using this configuration, and the intrinsic properties of the sensors themselves, the whole circuit can output two signals associated with the x and y in-plane components of the external magnetic field. The software processes […]
Creating surfaces that repel water and control its flow
Science Daily, December 13, 2017 To gain better control over the flow of water on superhydrophobic materials, scientists have been etching paths into coatings for the liquid to follow. And although water will take the designated path, it can leave behind a wet trail as the rolling droplets have a different contact angle at the front and back. An international team of researchers (China, US – UMass Amherst) has developed a technique to make the tracks hydrophobic which is critical for keeping water droplets’ spherical shape and minimizing the difference in the front and back contact angles. Testing showed that […]