[Images above] Credit: NIST
NANOMATERIALS
Drexel’s spray-on antennas could be the tech connector of the future
Researchers have developed a method for spraying invisibly thin antennas, made from a type of two-dimensional, metallic material called MXene, that perform as well as those being used in mobile devices, wireless routers, and portable transducers.
How swarms of nanomachines could improve the efficiency of any machine
In new research, scientists have published a paper outlining how small nanomachines consisting of only a few atoms convert energy at the micro level. Their insights could be used to improve the energy efficiency of all kinds of machines, big or small.
ENERGY
Awardees named for first round of HPC4Materials funding
The Department of Energy announced the first round of awardees for the new HPC4Materials Program, a public-private effort aimed at using high-performance computing to advance U.S. industry’s discovery, design and development of materials for severe environments.
Recharging American coal power generation through innovation
The National Energy Technology Laboratory is pursuing ambitious technological innovations that will recharge American coal power generation to enhance grid reliability and resiliency through fuel diversity.
Smart devices could soon tap their owners as a battery source
Scientists have developed a solution for powering the next generation of electronic devices by using Triboelectric Nanogenerators (TENGs). Along with human movements, TENGs can capture energy from common energy sources such as wind, wave, and machine vibration.
$20 million NSF grant for SMART Grid Center builds on NMSU research
The sustainable electric grids of the future will be raised in New Mexico thanks to a $20 million National Science Foundation grant based on smart grid research born at New Mexico State University over the past five years. The grant will expand this research to include scientists across the state.
Perovskite solar cells leap toward commercialization
Scientists believe they’ve found a winning formula in a new method to fabricate low-cost high-efficiency solar cells. They have developed the cells using the materials and compounds that mimic the crystalline structure of the naturally occurring mineral perovskite.
ENVIRONMENT
Powering new markets for battery storage
A new World Bank Group program aims to accelerate the deployment of battery storage for energy systems in developing countries. “Accelerating Battery Storage for Development” will help countries ramp up their use of renewable energy, increase grid stability, and help them leapfrog to a new generation of energy technology.
Spheres can make concrete leaner, greener
Rice University scientists have developed micron-sized calcium silicate spheres that could lead to stronger and greener concrete, the world’s most-used synthetic material. The spheres can be made at low cost and promise to mitigate energy-intensive techniques now used to make cement.
Purdue NSF-funded technology flips the switch on the future for sustainable smart homes
Purdue University researchers have patented a technology taking advantage of the Internet of Things solutions, which have been growing at an astonishing pace. The growth is expected to amount to a $1.3 trillion market opportunity in areas such as consumer electronics and health.
MANUFACTURING
Additive manufacturing and design master’s program awards first degree
The Penn State Additive Manufacturing and Design Masters’ Program has graduated its first student, Rakshith Badarinath. The program educates students and working engineers to become technical experts in additive manufacturing and design.
OTHER STORIES
Oxide materials discovery may advance electronic device development
Materials scientists at the University of California, Irvine and other institutions have made a breakthrough discovery in the study of oxide heterostructures, substances that have the potential to revolutionize advanced electronics, memory technologies, and photovoltaics.
Lehigh University partners with UC Berkeley to turbo boost materials science
With support from the National Science Foundation, Lehigh University is partnering with the University of California at Berkeley to increase the speed of materials discovery and development, with implications in fields including electronics, healthcare, and energy systems.
Rice U. study sheds light on – and through – 2D materials
Researchers at Rice University are using state-of-the-art theoretical methods to compute the maximum optical properties of 55 2-D materials. Their work details the monolayers’ transmittance, absorbance, and reflectance, properties they collectively dubbed TAR.