Lisa McDonald

From disorder to lasers: High-entropy transparent ceramics hold high potential for optics, photonics applications

By Lisa McDonald / December 17, 2019

High-entropy materials present significant potential for numerous applications due to their unique chemistries, but such materials’ optical properties have not been studied fundamentally yet. Two researchers at Alfred University begin to fill this knowledge gap by investigating a transparent high‐entropy fluoride laser ceramic.

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From grain-sized to centimeter scale—technique makes mass production of metalenses possible

By Lisa McDonald / December 13, 2019

Metalenses, or flat surfaces that use nanostructures to focus light, are poised to revolutionize cameras, sensors, and displays—if the lenses can be mass produced. Researchers at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences found deep-ultraviolet projection lithography can solve this production challenge.

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Ceramic and glass business news of the week

By Lisa McDonald / December 13, 2019

Lucideon to hold refractories training during CeramicsExpo week, 2019 Excellence in Concrete Pavement Awards, and more ceramic and glass business news of the week for December 13, 2019.

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Video: Uncovering the dark side of e-waste recycling

By Lisa McDonald / December 11, 2019

The Basel Action Network is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing pollution dumping in developing countries. Learn what it is doing to prevent recyclers from exporting electronics overseas and find out how its e-waste sting operation in 2015 revealed a shocking betrayal.

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Other materials stories that may be of interest

By Lisa McDonald / December 11, 2019

Used electric vehicle batteries store electricity for homes, hemp fixes bridges, and other materials stories that may be of interest for December 11, 2019.

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Cleaning the planet: A review on MXenes for water treatment and environmental remediation applications

By Lisa McDonald / December 10, 2019

Characteristic MXene properties have led to growing research interest for MXenes in environmental remediation and water treatment applications. A recent review by Hamad Bin Khalifa University and Drexel University researchers discusses current studies on MXenes and suggests ideas for future experiments.

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Sugar is not just for food: Using sucrose as binder for MgO-C refractories

By Lisa McDonald / December 6, 2019

Phenolic resin, a commonly used binder for MgO-C refractories, releases pollutant gases during the heat treatment process. Researchers from two Chinese universities explored whether sucrose could be an environmentally friendly alternative.

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Ceramic and glass business news of the week

By Lisa McDonald / December 6, 2019

Kazuo Inamori receives honorary knighthood, Freeman Technology launches new website, and more ceramic and glass business news of the week for December 6, 2019.

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Video: Foolproof bowling—make a perfect strike every time

By Lisa McDonald / December 4, 2019

What if you could achieve a perfect strike every time you bowled? In today’s video, former NASA engineer Mark Rober teams up with James Bruton, a mechanical and electrical engineer, to create a controllable bowling ball.

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Other materials stories that may be of interest

By Lisa McDonald / December 4, 2019

Perovskite nanocrystals show enhanced durability, freeze batteries in transit, and other materials stories that may be of interest for December 4, 2019.

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