[Images above] Credit: NIST
NANOMATERIALS
New tech delivers high-tech film that blocks electromagnetic interference
Researchers developed a cost-effective process to make strong, flexible films that allow light in but keep electromagnetic interference out. Their process uses a combination of carbon nanotubes, MXenes, and polyelectrolytes.
ENERGY
A solar cell that does double duty for renewable energy
Researchers have developed an artificial photosynthesis device called a “hybrid photoelectrochemical and voltaic cell” that turns sunlight and water into two types of energy—hydrogen fuel and electricity.
ENVIRONMENT
Rare earths could be common in New Zealand
A stepped-up search for rare earth elements in New Zealand found more than 20 locations where the valuable minerals might be found. Almost all are on the South Island and concentrate on the West Coast and Fiordland.
MANUFACTURING
XJet gears up for another year of rapid growth—starting at formnext 2018
XJet will demonstrate its Carmel 1400 AM system at formnext on November 13, 2018. The company’s proprietary NanoParticle Jetting technology enables the manufacture of highly complex parts with superfine details, smooth surfaces, and accuracy.
Inside these fibers, droplets are on the move
In a potentially game-changing advance, MIT researchers have incorporated microfluidics systems into individual fibers, making it possible to process much larger volumes of fluid, in more complex ways. In a sense, the advance opens up a new “macro” era of microfluidics.
OTHER STORIES
Northrop Grumman Corporation will release its proprietary developed, vetted, and certified Selective Laser Sintering additive manufactured Nylon 12 database to America Makes and its membership community to further commercialization of Nylon 12 material within the additive manufacturing material supply chain.
2-D magnetism: Atom-thick platforms for energy, information and computing research
A class of 2-D magnetic materials, known as van der Waals materials, may offer one of the most ambitious platforms yet to understand and control phases of matter at the nanoscale. Researchers have outlined four major directions for research into magnetic van der Waals materials.
A high-performance sensor for touchscreens
Researchers from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology report a bending-insensitive, transparent nanoforce touch sensor that can be mass-produced. The sensor has high sensitivity and transparency without performance degradation in bending situations.
Atomic path from insulator to metal messier than thought
In studying the ultrafast phase transition of vanadium dioxide, researchers have found its atomic theatrics are much more complicated than they thought. The ultrafast view of atomic motions in vanadium dioxide lays groundwork for advances in computer hardware.
Under pressure, opposites attract
Researchers have uncovered a new material that can produce both magnetism and superconductivity. The finding potentially brings scientists a step closer in their search for a superconductor that can operate at room temperature, opening up myriad new applications.