[Images above] Credit: NIST
NANOMATERIALS
A new model predicts squeezed nanocrystal shape when blanketed under graphene
Researchers from Ames Laboratory and Northeastern University developed a model for predicting the shape of metal nanocrystals or “islands” sandwiched between or below 2D materials such as graphene.
ENERGY
Mystery of negative capacitance in perovskite solar cells solved
Researchers at Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne found that the large perovskite capacitances are not classical capacitances in the sense of charge storage, but just appear as capacitances because of the cells’ slow response time.
Australian researchers to develop new tandem PV cell measurement equipment
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation and laser supplier Lastek are developing equipment/procedures to accurately measure performance of multijunction solar cells with help of an LED-based solar simulator. The project will include a study of measurement behaviour of tandem solar cells based on perovskite materials.
ENVIRONMENT
Graphene additives promote ‘eco-friendly’ corrosion protection
Using graphene in conjunction with zinc powder is a promising a way to reduce zinc usage in protection coatings. Learn how developers at The Sixth Element produced a 2K epoxy primer formulation containing graphene, and future applications.
Using bacteria to prevent potholes caused by road salt
Researchers at Drexel University showed how mixing a bit of bacteria into concrete can curtail the formation of calcium oxychloride. Because the bacteria they used occur in nature and are non-pathogenic, the bacteria would be an environmentally safe solution to the problem of road deterioration.
OTHER STORIES
Light-activated wrap designed to fix concrete structures
Researchers at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University created a a glass fiber-reinforced polymer wrap that can fix cracked concrete. The wrap is pre-coated with a proprietary adhesive resin that hardens when exposed to light.
Photons trained for optical fiber obstacle course will deliver stronger cyber security
Researchers from National University of Singapore and Singtel, a communications technology group, used 10 km of Singtel’s fiber network to test quantum key distribution, in which detection of individual photons creates encryption keys for secure communication.
Glass beads offer simple solution to dispensing tiny amounts of solid reagents
Scientists at United States biopharmaceutical AbbVie developed ChemBeads, glass beads coated in solid reagents, to overcome the problems of dispensing miniscule amounts of reagents needed for high-throughput screens. So far the ChemBeads have proven themselves in more than 120 screens, with a greater than 85 percent success rate.
Bioinspired mechanical gradients make engineered wood
Researchers at ETH Zurich developed a technique that shapes delignified wood while it is wet and then densifies and dries it. The technique can turn wood into a versatile engineering material that could make for a sustainable alternative to glass fiber composites.
High-tech material in a salt crust
Forschungszentrum Jülich researchers found they could create nonoxide ceramic powders in atmospheric oxygen by employing a molten salt process that used potassium bromide. They have already produced various MAX phases and other high-performance materials.