science wire

INBUILT project launches to transform European sustainable building practices, testing the suitability and lifetime impacts of natural and recycled materials Published on Friday 2 February 2024 Last

Two outstanding publications by young researchers were honored with the Empa Research Award. The recipients, Amogh Kinikar and Shih-Chi Yang, wrote their award-winning papers during their doctoral studies at Empa.

Their new technique can produce furniture-sized aluminum parts in only minutes. MIT researchers have developed an additive manufacturing technique that can print rapidly with liquid metal, producing large-scale parts like table legs and chair frames in a matter of minutes. Their technique, called liquid metal printing (LMP), involves depositing molten aluminum along a predefined path into a bed of tiny glass beads.

The "LifeScope3D" research platform has been opened. It offers various new high-tech devices for bio-research at TU Wien, which are available to TU Wien scientists but also external institutions.

A new Imperial spinout company will use generative AI to help companies design higher performing materials for applications such as batteries.

One year ago, Caltech's Space Solar Power Demonstrator (SSPD-1) launched into space to demonstrate and test three technological innovations that are among those necessary to make space solar power a reality.

Do you always have to optimize everything? This is common practice in technology. In nature, however, "good enough" is sometimes better than "perfect".

In late November, researchers from Switzerland and abroad convened at Empa with experts from the pharmaceutical company CSL Vifor for a joint workshop on nanomedicines.

Eight stakeholders from business, science and the public sector launched the first project for wireless charging of electric vehicles in Switzerland at the end of November 2023.

The advance opens a path to next-generation devices with unique optical and electronic properties. Two-dimensional materials, which are only a few atoms thick, can exhibit some incredible properties, such as the ability to carry electric charge extremely efficiently, which could boost the performance of next-generation electronic devices.

When we last checked in with Caltech's Kerry Vahala three years ago, his lab had recently reported the development of a new optical device called a turnkey frequency microcomb that has applications in digital communications, precision time keeping, spectroscopy, and even astronomy. This device, fabricated on a silicon wafer, takes input laser light of one frequency and converts it into an evenly spaced set of many distinct frequencies that form a train of pulses whose length can be as short as 100 femtoseconds (quadrillionths of a second).

Yaroslav Romanyuk has been working at Empa for around 15 years on complex thin-film technologies for solar cells, printed circuits, novel solid-state batteries and other applications.

A doctoral researcher studying architecture at ETH Zurich is using 3D printing to produce lightweight insulation building components from cement-free mineral foams derived from recycled industrial waste. These could cut heating and cooling costs for buildings, and encourage more efficient use of construction materials.

LISA: Innosuisse funding for battery research Empa will collaborate with Battery Consult AG, a research and development company specializing in salt battery technology, and the Swiss Innovation Park

As Americans gear up for winter, many will face one of their toughest foes: ice. From delaying flights to making roads slippery, ice accumulation on surfaces wreaks havoc in many ways.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology Zack Cordero's research focuses on extending the lifespan of reusable rockets, while simultaneously reducing the risk of catastrophic failure.

The Nano Summit highlights nanoscale research across multiple disciplines at MIT.

Salt batteries can store summer heat to be used in winter, but which salt works best for the purpose? On 19 December, Lian Blijlevens will defend her PhD thesis on her research into salt for heat storage at Radboud University.

By Teju Hari Krishna +61 450 501 248 A new research hub hosted by Monash University at the Faculty of Engineering will foster research and commercialisation of 2D materials like graphene with a vast range of applications including in water treatment, batteries, coatings, paints and sensors.

Passionate about materials science "from the atom to the system," Elsa Olivetti brings a holistic approach to sustainability to her teaching, research, and coalition-building.

Each researcher selected has authored multiple papers which rank in the top 1 per cent by citations for their field(s) Office of Research Ten University of Waterloo faculty members have been named on the annual Highly Cited Researchers(TM) 2023 list from Clarivate.

An effort led by U-M could enable industrial competitors to collectively build a predictive model that speeds the development of advanced solar cells Clare Langhan, a University of Michigan PhD candi

Non-toxic and scalable water-based flow batteries would be a good solution for storing renewable energy in urban areas - if it weren't for their very low energy density.

Graphene disruption opens doors to a sustainable future for concrete says James Baker, CEO Graphene@Manchester James Baker wide Originally published on ME Construction News Watching concrete dry may not be the most exciting pastime - unless it's Graphene enhanced.

The Empa research group led by Maksym Kovalenko is researching innovative materials for the batteries of tomorrow. Whether it's fast-charging electric cars or low-cost stationary storage, there's a promising material or a novel manufacturing process for every application. What are the hallmarks of a good battery? Is it its capacity? How fast it charges? Or its price? The answer depends on where the battery is used, says Empa researcher Kostiantyn Kravchyk.

Waterloo team takes on Battery Workforce Challenge to advance vehicle electrification By Nicola Kelly Faculty of Engineering A team from the University of Waterloo has won a place in the Battery Workforce Challenge.

The low-cost FibeRobo, which is compatible with existing textile manufacturing techniques, could be used in adaptive performance wear or compression garments. Instead of needing a coat for each season, imagine having a jacket that would dynamically change shape so it becomes more insulating to keep you warm as the temperature drops.

Empa and Kyburz Switzerland AG are looking for ways to recycle end-of-life lithium-ion batteries in an efficient and resource-saving way. A specially developed experimental facility breaks down the old batteries into their components so that materials can be recovered as clean as possible. Everyone is familiar with this phenomenon from their cell phone or laptop: Over time, the capacity of the battery decreases, so that you have to reach for the charger more and more often.

MIT PhD candidate Alexander O'Brien is working to deliver the next generation of fusion devices through research on additive manufacturing of metal-ceramic composites.

An interactive architectural installation combined textile arts and engineering on a desert landscape.

Three research groups at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel are working together in a major European project exploring new alternatives to concrete.

At a glance Light alloys are ideal in aircraft and car manufacturing - providing lightweight materials that improve the vehicle's efficiency, while reducing emissions However, they are quick to corrode. Previously, corrosion performance was managed using chemical surface treatments but these treatments are now banned due to carcinogenic qualities, and industry is facing huge, unexpected costs in maintain materials - until an efficient alternative is found.

Environmentally friendly, ubiquitously available and recyclable: Clay is a clean alternative among building materials. Empa researcher Ellina Bernard is trying to find out how the coveted material can actually be used to build in a sustainable and stable way. Her research project is being funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) with an Ambizione grant.