[Images above] Credit: NIST
NANOMATERIALS
Graphene quantum dots show promise as novel magnetic field sensors
Researchers at University of California, Santa Cruz used a scanning tunneling microscope to create quantum dots in graphene and study their properties. Their findings indicate that graphene quantum dots can potentially host a giant persistent current (a perpetual electric current without the need of an external power source) in a small magnetic field.
Tubular nanomaterial of carbon makes ideal home for spinning quantum bits
Argonne National Laboratory scientists, along with researchers from several universities, discovered a method for introducing spinning electrons as qubits in chemically altered carbon nanotubes. The team’s test results revealed record long coherence times compared to those of systems made by other means—10 microseconds.
Up to 1,000,000 times faster: A switch made from a single molecule
An international team of researchers successfully demonstrated the use of a single molecule of fullerene as a switch, similar to a transistor. They achieved this by employing a precisely calibrated laser pulse, which allowed them to control the path of an incoming electron in a predictable manner.
Quantum engineers design a new tool to probe nature with extreme sensitivity
University of New South Wales researchers designed a device that measures the spins in materials with high precision. By sending microwave power into the device as the spins emitted their signals, the researchers could amplify the signals before they left the device.
BIOMATERIALS
Oxygen groups key to unlocking graphene’s antimicrobial potential
An international group of scientists from the U.K., Cyprus, Austria, Finland, the Netherlands, and China revealed that it is graphene oxide’s different interaction modes that lead to distinct antibacterial activity—with a “switch” occurring when surface oxygen levels reach a certain threshold.
ENVIRONMENT
Engineers design solar roofs to harvest energy for greenhouses
Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles showed that crops grown in greenhouses with a newly developed organic solar roof grew more than the crops in a regular greenhouse.
Researchers transform algae into unique functional perovskites with tunable properties
Researchers led by TU Dresden converted mineral shells of algae into lead halide perovskites with tunable physical properties. By converting the calcite shells to lead halides with either iodine, bromide, or chloride, they could create functional perovskites that are optimized to emit only red, green, or blue light.
MANUFACTURING
New synthesis technique to attain monolayer honeycomb SiC
Researchers at Lund University, Chalmers University of Technology, and Linköping University successfully synthesized monocrystalline epitaxial monolayer honeycomb silicon carbide by placing a thin film of transition metal carbide on top of a silicon carbide substrate and annealing it.
OTHER STORIES
Portable sensing system for monitoring precast structures during delivery
Chung-Ang University researchers developed a smart sensing system to monitor precast concrete structures during transportation in real time. The system integrates IoT sensors that detect vibrations and deformations during movement.
Complex oxides could power the computers of the future
Materials scientists from the University of Groningen, the Netherlands, describe in two papers how complex oxides can be used to create very energy-efficient magnetoelectric spin-orbit devices and memristive devices with reduced dimensions.
Using electric fields to tune thermal properties of ferroelectric materials
New research from North Carolina State University sheds light on how electric fields can be used to alter the thermal properties of ferroelectric materials, allowing engineers to manipulate the flow of heat through the materials.
Technique offers new insight into how materials respond to stresses
Researchers led by North Carolina State University demonstrated techniques that provide unprecedented detail into how materials behave when exposed to a range of stresses. They are working to advance the fundamental capability of these testing techniques so they can be used to collect information at extremely high or low temperatures.
Researchers create energy-saving paint inspired by butterflies
University of Central Florida researchers innovated a plasmonic paint that uses nanoscale structural arrangement of aluminum and aluminum oxide instead of pigments to create colors. They combined their structural color flakes with a commercial binder to form long-lasting paints of all colors.
These companies are making solar cells out of fake moon dirt
Blue Origin is just one company trying to craft solar cells out of lunar dirt, with the goal of one day making human outposts on the moon possible.