[Images above] Credit: NIST
NANOMATERIALS
Nanotube crystal enables direct observation of electron transfer in solids
Tokyo University of Science researchers developed crystalline nanotubes with a special double-walled structure that enables them to directly observe electron transfer in solids using X-ray crystal structure analysis.
Physicists create five-lane superhighway for electrons
Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers created a five-lane superhighway for electrons in rhombohedral pentalayer graphene by adding a layer of tungsten disulfide. This discovery could open the door to ultra-efficient electronics.
Unlocking the transformative potential of 2D materials for next-generation electronics
Researchers from the City University of Hong Kong developed a hydromechanical strategy for aligned 2D material synthesis, pushing forward high-performance devices with as-grown 2D Van der Waals dielectrics.
Nanostring sensor loses ‘almost no energy’ while vibrating
Researchers from Delft University of Technology and Brown University engineered string-like resonators of silicon nitride capable of vibrating longer at ambient temperature than any previously known solid-state object—approaching what is currently only achievable near absolute zero temperatures.
Gold nanoparticles that selectively emit left-/right-handed light
Researchers found that the visible luminescence from chiral gold nanoparticles caused by irradiation with near-infrared femtosecond pulses depends on the chirality of the nanoparticles and yields high selectivity for left- or right-handed circularly polarized light. This finding could advance the use of circularly polarized light for practical applications.
ENERGY
Proof-of-concept shows path to easier recycling of solar modules
Researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory showed how femtosecond lasers can be used to form glass-to-glass welds for solar modules. The welds would eliminate the need for plastic polymer sheets, thus making the panels easier to recycle.
Three-year underground hydrogen storage assessment expands future opportunities
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management completed a three-year study on the viability, safety, and reliability of storing pure hydrogen or hydrogen-natural gas blends in different types of underground environments.
BIOMATERIALS
Nanoparticles: Risk for babies in the womb
An interdisciplinary team led by Empa researchers is analyzing the risks of nanoparticles for babies in the womb. Using a lab model, they determined that certain nanoparticles impair the release of chemical messengers in the placenta and thus the formation of blood vessels.
ENVIRONMENT
Rocks beneath our feet could be the key to carbon-neutral cement
Researchers reported a way to turn the mineral olivine, which also forms the green gemstone peridot, into an alternative for cement and other construction materials. They launched a startup to commercialize their patented process.
Eggshell waste can recover rare earth elements needed for green energy
Researchers from Trinity College Dublin and the Science Foundation Ireland Research Center in Applied Geosciences discovered that calcium carbonate in eggshells can effectively absorb and separate rare earth elements from water.
MANUFACTURING
World’s purest silicon chip could make quantum computers error-free
Researchers developed a new method to purify silicon for quantum computer chips, which could significantly reduce the error rate of quantum computers. They used a technique called ion beam implantation to accelerate silicon-28 ions onto commercially available silicon chips, implanting the silicon-28 and replacing the silicon-29 ions.
Lithography-free method yields durable antireflective glass
Scientists from research center ICFO and photonics materials manufacturer Corning developed a new method for fabricating antireflective surfaces. The method involves using thermally dewetted silver as an etching mask to create nanohole structures on glass surfaces, significantly reducing light reflection.
Researchers create ultrathin night-vision lenses that fit regular glasses
The ARC Center of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems in Australia devised a way to create ultrathin night-vision lenses using nonlocal metasurfaces that can fit into standard spectacles.
Researchers use machine learning to detect defects in additive manufacturing
Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign developed a new method based on deep learning to detect defects in additively manufactured components.
Reverse particle grading strategy for design and fabrication of porous SiC supports
Researchers led by Nanjing Tech University proposed a reverse particle grading strategy based on the linear packing model, which enabled the preparation of porous silicon carbide tubular supports with both high porosity and mechanical strength.
OTHER STORIES
Fatigue-free ferroelectrics promise enhanced device performance
Researchers led by Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering created a fatigue-free ferroelectric material based on sliding ferroelectricity. They used the chemical vapor transport approach to construct the bilayer 3R-MoS2 dual-gate device.
Sorting complex light beams: A breakthrough in optical physics
Harbin Institute of Technology researchers developed a method for sorting and distinguishing various types of vector structured beams, promising significant advancements in optical communication and quantum computing.
Understanding the atomic density fluctuations in silica glass
Researchers led by Waseda University achieved the first direct observation of atomic density fluctuations in silica glass using an innovative energy-filtered angstrom-beam electron diffraction technique.
Scientists develop ‘X-ray vision’ technique to see inside crystals
New York University researchers created a new way to visualize crystals by peering inside their structures, akin to having X-ray vision. Their new technique, aptly named “Crystal Clear,” combines the use of transparent particles and microscopes with lasers to see each unit that makes up the crystal and create dynamic 3D models.
Researchers demonstrate new way to ‘squeeze’ infrared light
Researchers demonstrated that a specific class of thin oxide membranes can confine, or “squeeze,” infrared light far better than bulk crystals, which are the established technology for infrared light confinement.
For students: International Youth Forum on Functional Glass and Optoelectronic Materials
The ACerS Glass & Optical Materials Division and the Chinese Ceramic Society are organizing the International Youth Forum on Functional Glass and Optoelectronic Materials in Qinhuangdao, China, from Aug. 29–Sept. 1, 2024. Ph.D. students and young scholars under the age of 45 can apply for funding by submitting a CV and abstract to xinwang@siom.ac.cn before July 31.