News 2019
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Physics - Materials Science - 13.08.2019 
How do atoms vibrate in graphene nanostructures?
Innovative new electron spectroscopy technique pushes the limits of Nanospectroscopy for materials design In order to understand advanced materials like graphene nanostructures and optimize them for devices in nano-, optoand quantum-technology it is crucial to understand how phonons - the vibration of atoms in solids - influence the materials' properties.
Chemistry - Materials Science - 12.08.2019
Environment - Materials Science - 12.08.2019 
Mapping the Energetic Landscape of Solar Cells
A new spectroscopic method now makes it possible to measure and visualise the energetic landscape inside solar cells based on organic materials. It was developed by a research team led by Yana Vaynzof, a physicist at Heidelberg University. This novel visualisation technique enables scientists to study the physical principles of organic photovoltaics with extreme precision and to better understand processes such as energetic losses.
Physics - Materials Science - 09.08.2019 
Scientists can now control thermal profiles at the nanoscale
At human scale, controlling temperature is a straightforward concept. Turtles sun themselves to keep warm. To cool a pie fresh from the oven, place it on a room-temperature countertop. At the nanoscale - at distances less than 1/100th the width of the thinnest human hair - controlling temperature is much more difficult.
Materials Science - Physics - 09.08.2019
Materials Science - 06.08.2019
Materials Science - Environment - 05.08.2019
Materials Science - Health - 05.08.2019
Physics - Materials Science - 01.08.2019 
From Japanese basket weaving art to nanotechnology with ion beams
Ultradense arrays of magnetic quanta in high-temperature superconductors The properties of high-temperature superconductors can be tailored by the introduction of artificial defects. An international research team around physicist Wolfgang Lang at the University of Vienna has succeeded in producing the world's densest complex nano arrays for anchoring flux quanta, the fluxons.
Materials Science - Physics - 31.07.2019 
’Frustrated’ ions for solid-state batteries
By Susanne Eigner An international team involving researchers from TU Graz has published research into a new solid-state electrolyte for batteries. The material exhibits one of the fastest lithium mobility processes ever measured in a lithium-ion conductor. Solid-state batteries are currently the most promising technology helping to pave the way for the breakthrough of electric mobility.
Materials Science - Environment - 29.07.2019
Materials Science - Computer Science - 29.07.2019
Environment - Materials Science - 29.07.2019 
Unravelling corrosion
ETH researchers have succeeded in elucidating how and at what rate steel corrodes in a variety of porous materials. Their findings help enable the breakthrough of new, environmentally friendly types of cement. The rate at which steel corrodes in concrete or other porous materials is crucial to a large number of technological applications, such as underground pipelines or steel-reinforced concrete bridges.
Physics - Materials Science - 26.07.2019
Physics - Materials Science - 26.07.2019 
Yellow is not the new black: discovery paves way for new generation of solar cells
By stabilizing perovskites -man-made crystals that can convert sunlight into electricity- they absorb sunlight and can be used in efficient solar panels. Perovskites are semiconductor materials that have many applications. They show particular promise in harvesting solar energy. Currently, most solar cells are made with silicon crystals, a relatively straightforward and effective material to process for this purpose.
Physics - Materials Science - 26.07.2019
Physics - Materials Science - 24.07.2019
Computer Science - Materials Science - 19.07.2019
Physics - Materials Science - 19.07.2019 
Better thermal conductivity by adjusting the arrangement of atoms
Adjusting the thermal conductivity of materials is one of the challenges nanoscience is currently facing. Together with colleagues from the Netherlands and Spain, researchers from the University of Basel have shown that the atomic vibrations that determine heat generation in nanowires can be controlled through the arrangement of atoms alone.
Physics - Materials Science - 17.07.2019 
First-ever visualisations of electrical gating effects on electronic structure could lead to longer-lasting devices
Scientists have visualized the electronic structure in a microelectronic device for the first time, opening up opportunities for finely tuned, high-performance electronic devices. Physicists from the University of Washington and the University of Warwick developed a technique to measure the energy and momentum of electrons in operating microelectronic devices made of atomically thin - so-called 2D - materials.
Materials Science
Results 81 - 100 of 187.
Innovative new electron spectroscopy technique pushes the limits of Nanospectroscopy for materials design In order to understand advanced materials like graphene nanostructures and optimize them for devices in nano-, optoand quantum-technology it is crucial to understand how phonons - the vibration of atoms in solids - influence the materials' properties.
Supercapacitors turbocharged by laxatives
An international team of scientists, including a professor of chemistry from the University of Bristol, has worked out a way to improve energy storage devices called supercapacitors, by designing a new class of detergents chemically related to laxatives. Their paper, published today , explains why these detergents, called ionic liquids, are better electrolytes than current materials and can improve supercapacitors.
An international team of scientists, including a professor of chemistry from the University of Bristol, has worked out a way to improve energy storage devices called supercapacitors, by designing a new class of detergents chemically related to laxatives. Their paper, published today , explains why these detergents, called ionic liquids, are better electrolytes than current materials and can improve supercapacitors.
A new spectroscopic method now makes it possible to measure and visualise the energetic landscape inside solar cells based on organic materials. It was developed by a research team led by Yana Vaynzof, a physicist at Heidelberg University. This novel visualisation technique enables scientists to study the physical principles of organic photovoltaics with extreme precision and to better understand processes such as energetic losses.
At human scale, controlling temperature is a straightforward concept. Turtles sun themselves to keep warm. To cool a pie fresh from the oven, place it on a room-temperature countertop. At the nanoscale - at distances less than 1/100th the width of the thinnest human hair - controlling temperature is much more difficult.
Bending the rules: A revolutionary new way for metals to be malleable
For nearly 100 years, scientists thought they understood everything there was to know about how metals bend. They were wrong. Materials science and engineering researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have demonstrated that the rules of metal-bending aren't so hard and fast after all. They described their findings Aug.
For nearly 100 years, scientists thought they understood everything there was to know about how metals bend. They were wrong. Materials science and engineering researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have demonstrated that the rules of metal-bending aren't so hard and fast after all. They described their findings Aug.
How can robots land like birds?
Birds can perch on a wide variety of surfaces, thick or thin, rough or slick. But can they find stable footing if a branch is covered in Teflon? In the interest of making better robots, Stanford researchers found out. Under the watchful eyes of five high-speed cameras, a small, pale-blue bird named Gary waits for the signal to fly.
Birds can perch on a wide variety of surfaces, thick or thin, rough or slick. But can they find stable footing if a branch is covered in Teflon? In the interest of making better robots, Stanford researchers found out. Under the watchful eyes of five high-speed cameras, a small, pale-blue bird named Gary waits for the signal to fly.
Five cool things our surface scientists do
Surface science can make a big difference to our health, well-being and environment. Our surface scientists at Durham have been working on a whole range of applications that have already changed our lives in some way (think mobile phones and puddles) and could make a real difference to people around the world, particularly in developing countries.
Surface science can make a big difference to our health, well-being and environment. Our surface scientists at Durham have been working on a whole range of applications that have already changed our lives in some way (think mobile phones and puddles) and could make a real difference to people around the world, particularly in developing countries.
Lessons of conventional imaging let scientists see around corners
UW graduate students (left to right) Xiaochun Liu, Ji-Hyun Nam and Toan Le work with assistant professor and principal investigator Andreas Velten (right) in the Computational Optics lab. Their project is designed to create non-line-of-sight images using reflected laser light. Photo: Bryce Richter Along with flying and invisibility, high on the list of every child's aspirational superpowers is the ability to see through or around walls or other visual obstacles.
UW graduate students (left to right) Xiaochun Liu, Ji-Hyun Nam and Toan Le work with assistant professor and principal investigator Andreas Velten (right) in the Computational Optics lab. Their project is designed to create non-line-of-sight images using reflected laser light. Photo: Bryce Richter Along with flying and invisibility, high on the list of every child's aspirational superpowers is the ability to see through or around walls or other visual obstacles.
Ultradense arrays of magnetic quanta in high-temperature superconductors The properties of high-temperature superconductors can be tailored by the introduction of artificial defects. An international research team around physicist Wolfgang Lang at the University of Vienna has succeeded in producing the world's densest complex nano arrays for anchoring flux quanta, the fluxons.
By Susanne Eigner An international team involving researchers from TU Graz has published research into a new solid-state electrolyte for batteries. The material exhibits one of the fastest lithium mobility processes ever measured in a lithium-ion conductor. Solid-state batteries are currently the most promising technology helping to pave the way for the breakthrough of electric mobility.
Generating energy from wastewater
A new battery made from affordable and durable materials generates energy from places where salt and fresh waters mingle. The technology could make coastal wastewater treatment plants energy-independent and carbon neutral. Salt is power. It might sound like alchemy, but the energy in places where salty ocean water and freshwater mingle could provide a massive source of renewable power.
A new battery made from affordable and durable materials generates energy from places where salt and fresh waters mingle. The technology could make coastal wastewater treatment plants energy-independent and carbon neutral. Salt is power. It might sound like alchemy, but the energy in places where salty ocean water and freshwater mingle could provide a massive source of renewable power.
Digitizing and replicating the world of materials
A team of EPFL researchers has set itself the lofty goal of building the biggest-ever database that digitizes the visual appearance of all natural and synthetic materials in the world.
A team of EPFL researchers has set itself the lofty goal of building the biggest-ever database that digitizes the visual appearance of all natural and synthetic materials in the world.
ETH researchers have succeeded in elucidating how and at what rate steel corrodes in a variety of porous materials. Their findings help enable the breakthrough of new, environmentally friendly types of cement. The rate at which steel corrodes in concrete or other porous materials is crucial to a large number of technological applications, such as underground pipelines or steel-reinforced concrete bridges.
Crystal With a Twist: Scientists Grow Spiraling New Material
With a simple twist of the fingers, one can create a beautiful spiral from a deck of cards. In the same way, scientists at Berkeley Lab and UC Berkeley have created new inorganic crystals made of stacks of atomically thin sheets that unexpectedly spiral like a nanoscale card deck. Their surprising structures, reported in a new study in the journal Nature, may yield unique optical, electronic and thermal properties, including superconductivity, the researchers say.
With a simple twist of the fingers, one can create a beautiful spiral from a deck of cards. In the same way, scientists at Berkeley Lab and UC Berkeley have created new inorganic crystals made of stacks of atomically thin sheets that unexpectedly spiral like a nanoscale card deck. Their surprising structures, reported in a new study in the journal Nature, may yield unique optical, electronic and thermal properties, including superconductivity, the researchers say.
By stabilizing perovskites -man-made crystals that can convert sunlight into electricity- they absorb sunlight and can be used in efficient solar panels. Perovskites are semiconductor materials that have many applications. They show particular promise in harvesting solar energy. Currently, most solar cells are made with silicon crystals, a relatively straightforward and effective material to process for this purpose.
Yellow is not the new black: discovery paves way for new generation of solar cells
A study led by KU Leuven for the first time explains how a promising type of perovskites - man-made crystals that can convert sunlight into electricity - can be stabilised. As a result, the crystals turn black, enabling them to absorb sunlight. This is necessary to be able to use them in new solar panels that are easy to make and highly efficient.
A study led by KU Leuven for the first time explains how a promising type of perovskites - man-made crystals that can convert sunlight into electricity - can be stabilised. As a result, the crystals turn black, enabling them to absorb sunlight. This is necessary to be able to use them in new solar panels that are easy to make and highly efficient.
Developing technologies that run on light
Researchers are designing a nanoscale photon diode - a necessary component that could bring us closer to faster, more energy-efficient computers and communications that replace electricity with light. The future of faster, more efficient information processing may come down to light rather than electricity.
Researchers are designing a nanoscale photon diode - a necessary component that could bring us closer to faster, more energy-efficient computers and communications that replace electricity with light. The future of faster, more efficient information processing may come down to light rather than electricity.
AI Advances 3D Printing With Soft Materials
Additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, is a burgeoning technology increasingly being leveraged in the biomedical space. And it's not just for devices - 3D printing is being used increasingly to print organic tissues and soft materials, such as elastomers. While 3D printing soft materials, such as with silicone or proteins, offers many distinct advantages, it introduces many complicated variables to consider when creating new parts or materials.
Additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, is a burgeoning technology increasingly being leveraged in the biomedical space. And it's not just for devices - 3D printing is being used increasingly to print organic tissues and soft materials, such as elastomers. While 3D printing soft materials, such as with silicone or proteins, offers many distinct advantages, it introduces many complicated variables to consider when creating new parts or materials.
Adjusting the thermal conductivity of materials is one of the challenges nanoscience is currently facing. Together with colleagues from the Netherlands and Spain, researchers from the University of Basel have shown that the atomic vibrations that determine heat generation in nanowires can be controlled through the arrangement of atoms alone.
Scientists have visualized the electronic structure in a microelectronic device for the first time, opening up opportunities for finely tuned, high-performance electronic devices. Physicists from the University of Washington and the University of Warwick developed a technique to measure the energy and momentum of electrons in operating microelectronic devices made of atomically thin - so-called 2D - materials.
