Basic science

New solid-state NMR strategy cracks open the ‘black box’ of crystal nucleation in glass

By Lisa McDonald / March 28, 2023

The process by which a crystal nucleates and grows within a glass during heat treatments remains a conceptually ill-understood phenomenon. Researchers in Brazil developed a nuclear magnetic resonance strategy combined with atomistic computer simulations that allowed them to shed unprecedented light on the structural changes that take place in a glass during relaxation and crystal nucleation.

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New carbon structures open a realm of possibilities

By Lisa McDonald / March 14, 2023

As applications for carbon nanostructures flourish, the exploration for new carbon structures continues. Today’s CTT highlights three discoveries announced during the past few months.

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Done in a flash—advancements in the understanding of flash sintering mechanisms

By Jonathon Foreman / March 10, 2023

Understanding the underlying mechanisms of rapid and energy-efficient flash sintering is key to tailoring the materials and processes to meet a wide range of performance requirements. Four recent articles in ACerS journals characterize and quantify some of these atomic-level phenomena.

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New ultrafast optical nanoscopy method measures carrier dynamics in wider bandgap semiconductors

By Lisa McDonald / February 21, 2023

To date, efforts to study carrier dynamics in semiconductor materials have primarily focused on narrow bandgap semiconductors. Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, propose a method that combines ultrafast nanoscale measurements and theoretical modeling to probe carrier behavior in semiconductors with wider bandgaps.

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Video: How packaging affects the flavor of milk

By Lisa McDonald / February 15, 2023

While it is well known that packaging material can affect the flavor of food, the effect packaging has on milk has not been fully investigated. Researchers from North Carolina State University and Clemson University investigated the effect of packaging on both whole and skim milk.

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High-speed cameras offer real-time measurements of thermal shock cracking in ceramics

By Lisa McDonald / February 7, 2023

Despite the well-known susceptibility of ceramics to thermal shock, there is little experimental verification of real-time crack growth due to this phenomenon. Researchers in China used digital image correlation to conduct real-time measurements of thermal shock cracking in opaque ceramics.

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Together again for Electronic Materials and Applications 2023 in Orlando

By Eileen De Guire / February 1, 2023

For the first time since 2020, the Electronic Materials and Applications Conference met in person in Orlando, Fla., Jan. 17–20, 2023. Close to 270 attendees from 20 countries attended the three-day conference.

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Improving lifetime predictions for aircraft components: Insights into the internal oxidation processes of ceramic matrix composites

By Lisa McDonald / January 31, 2023

Though ceramic matrix composites for aircraft have entered commercial operation, there still are some knowledge gaps regarding the oxidation of these materials. Two researchers from the University of California, Santa Barbara, conducted an experiment on internal CMC oxidation that provided new insights into the oxidation processes and highlighted deficiencies in the current standard oxidation model.

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Solidifying knowledge of 3D printing: Effect of particle size distribution on curing behavior of ceramic-filled photothermal resins

By Lisa McDonald / January 10, 2023

To improve the mechanical properties of vat polymerized ceramics, researchers have extensively studied a range of factors that affect the photopolymerization process. In a recent study, two University of Stuttgart researchers elucidated the correlations between particle size distribution and polymerization kinetics.

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New research center for solid-state batteries is MUSIC to researchers’ ears

By Lisa McDonald / October 14, 2022

The newly announced Mechanochemical Understanding of Solid Ion Conductors (MUSIC) research center will see the University of Michigan and eight partner institutions explore the use of ceramic ion conductors as replacements for traditional liquid electrolytes. Learn where research on solid-state batteries currently stands.

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