[Images above] Credit: NIST
NANOMATERIALS
A new form of carbon sparks exciting possibilities
Researchers created a new form of carbon called graphullerene. It is a 2D carbon sheet constructed from zero-dimensional carbon superatoms known as fullerenes. Unlike other carbon-based materials, graphullerene is thermally conductive but electrically insulating.
Researchers find thermal limits of advanced nanomaterials
Researchers in the joint college of engineering of Florida A&M University and Florida State University completed the first-ever study on how purified boron nitride nanotubes remain stable in extreme temperatures in inert environments.
Two-dimensional oxides open door for high-speed electronics
An international team of scientists developed a technique for creating 2D oxides using confinement heteroepitaxy. The research draws on previous work at The Pennsylvania State University using confinement heteroepitaxy to create atomic thin metals.
ENERGY
A promising cathode material for magnesium rechargeable batteries
Researchers at Tokyo University of Science evaluated a novel cathode material with a spinel structure, Mg1.33V1.67−xMnxO4, and determined a specific composition that could open doors to high-performance magnesium rechargeable batteries.
‘Game-changing’ findings for sustainable hydrogen production
University of Surrey researchers found that nitrogen-doped and phosphorus-doped nanocarbons do well converting methane into hydrogen. Crucially, these catalysts demonstrated a strong resistance to carbon poisoning, which is a common issue with catalysts in this process.
ENVIRONMENT
Perovskite thermochromic windows reduce energy load and carbon emission in buildings
According to a researchers led by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, using thermochromic windows in office buildings improves energy efficiency across all climate zones in the U.S. by modulating the temperature inside, leading to a massive savings.
Can clay capture carbon dioxide?
Researchers led by Sandia National Laboratories used powerful computer models combined with laboratory experiments to study how a kind of clay can soak up carbon dioxide and store it.
MANUFACTURING
New crystal growth orientation method manipulates properties of materials
Texas A&M University researchers discovered a new method based on simple heat treatments to grow single crystals and simultaneously control their growth orientation without melt processing.
OTHER STORIES
High thermal conductivity of cubic silicon carbide finally demonstrated
Osaka Metropolitan University researchers showed that cubic silicon carbide exhibits high thermal conductivity equivalent to the theoretical value, based on thermal conductivity evaluation and atomic-level analysis. This finding could lead to improved heat dissipation in electronic devices.
Researchers develop chip-size titanium-doped sapphire laser
Yale University researchers developed the first chip-scale titanium-doped sapphire laser. While conventional titanium-doped sapphire lasers have a threshold of more than 100 milliwatts, the new laser system has a threshold of about 6.5 milliwatts, which the researchers believe could be further reduced to 1 milliwatt.