[Images above] Credit: NIST
NANOMATERIALS
Gilded mysteries unveiled: Ancient art meets nanotechnology in nanoscale goldbeating
Researchers from the University of South Florida, Clemson University, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign discovered that nanoscopic gold ingots can be compressed into 2D leaf forms, replicating the ancient process of goldbeating, but at the nanoscale.
Quantum study peers within sensing at the nanoscale
Researchers led by Oak Ridge National Laboratory reviewed leading work in subsurface nanometrology, the science of internal measurement at the nanoscale level, and suggested quantum sensing could become the foundation for the field’s next era of discoveries.
Countercation engineering for thermoresponsive graphene oxide nanosheets
Shinshu University researchers presented an innovative approach called “countercation engineering” to impart the desired thermoresponsive ability to graphene oxide nanosheets. This method achieves thermoresponsiveness by capitalizing on countercations (positively charged ions) inherently present in graphene oxide nanosheets.
ENERGY
Striking gold with molecular mystery solution for potential clean energy
Researchers led by The Pennsylvania State University discovered how and why hydrogen spillover occurs and provided the first quantitative measurement of the process. This finding can help in the development of hydrogen activation and storage.
Review of progress in the design of porous volumetric solar receivers
Xi’an Jiaotong University researchers reviewed the latest advances and challenges in the development of atmospheric and pressurized porous volumetric solar receivers.
ENVIRONMENT
Recycling of refractory materials avoids 800,000 tons of CO2
In the European research project ReSoURCE, experts from nine different companies and institutes are working together to develop sustainable solutions for the recycling of refractory materials. The German project partners are primarily providing laser know-how.
Novel method to turn coal waste into carbon fiber
Researchers at the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research developed a method to turn waste coal into valuable carbon products. A key technical advancement was the development of a process to convert coal to a filtered liquid, and then convert that liquid into mesophase pitch, which can be converted to highly ordered carbon fiber.
MANUFACTURING
New scalable, etching-based technique for precise tuning of microdisk lasers
Researchers from Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital’s Wellman Center for Photomedicine developed a photoelectrochemical etching-based technique that enables precise wavelength tuning of semiconductor lasers with subnanometer accuracy.
OTHER STORIES
Vision for future micro-optical technology based on metamaterials
Researchers from Pohang University of Science and Technology and the Research Institute of Industrial Science and Technology summarized research trends in a near-future micro-optical platform based on metasurfaces.
Do cocktail glasses have a gender? For some men, clearly
Stereotypes may be fading, but bartenders say many male customers are still uneasy with fancy glassware. The New York Times interviewed several bars that are trying to help overcome this hesitancy.
Nominations open for the NSF Alan T. Waterman Award
The Alan T. Waterman Award, which is supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation, recognizes an outstanding young researcher in any field of science or engineering. Nominations for the 2024 award will be accepted through Sept. 15, 2023, on the NSF Honorary Awards portal.