[Images above] Credit: NIST
ENERGY
New photovoltaic 2D material breaks quantum efficiency record
Researchers led by Lehigh University produced a material with an external quantum efficiency of up to 190%—nearly double that of silicon solar cells. The team made the new compound by inserting copper atoms between atomically thin layers of germanium selenide and tin sulfide.
Simple ‘twist’ improves the engine of clean fuel generation
Researchers led by the University of Cambridge found that growing copper oxide crystals in a specific orientation so that electric charges move through the crystals at a diagonal allows the charges to move much faster and further, greatly improving performance.
Improving solar panel recyclability with lasers
Researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory used femtosecond lasers to create hermetically sealed glass-on-glass welds in solar cells, removing the need for plastic laminates that make recycling more difficult.
ENVIRONMENT
Eggshell ‘bioplastic’ pellet offers sustainable alternative to plastic coatings in agriculture
University of Saskatchewan researchers developed a bioplastic material consisting of marine polysaccharide, eggshells, and wheat straw. The pellet is its own “closed loop” material that absorbs phosphate from water sources and is then used as a fertilizer source for agricultural applications.
Energy-efficient ‘glass’ bricks as strong as clay
RMIT University researchers engineered clay bricks containing 15% reclaimed glass dust and found the compressive strength of these bricks was similar and possibly slightly better than clay control bricks.
New circuit boards can be repeatedly recycled
University of Washington researchers developed a printed circuit board that performs on par with traditional materials and can be recycled repeatedly with negligible material loss. They used a solvent that transforms a type of vitrimer polymer into a jelly-like substance without damage, allowing solid components to be plucked out for reuse or recycling.
MANUFACTURING
Nonequivalent co-doped strategy improves electrical properties of piezoelectric ceramics
Sun Yat-sen University researchers developed a nonequivalent co-doped strategy for high-temperature piezoelectric ceramics based on bismuth layered structure ferroelectrics that effectively reduces the concentration of oxygen vacancies and improves the electrical properties.
High-throughput multiscale method evaluates thermal stress in thermal barrier coatings
Researchers from Kunming University of Science and Technology established a high-throughput multiscale evaluation method for thermal stress in thermal barrier coatings that considers the phase transition of the top ceramic materials by coupling first-principles calculations with finite element simulations.
Stencil-paint carbon nanotube components for flexible transparent electronics
Researchers developed a fast way to create geometric patterns in carbon nanotube films. The method involves cutting a pattern in copper foil using a laser and then covering it with a nitrocellulose membrane filter. Carbon nanotubes deposited on the filter will assume the intended mesh pattern and can then be transferred to another substrate.
New approach to designing advanced dielectrics
Shibaura Institute of Technology researchers created a displacement-type ferroelectric material with a high dielectric constant by sintering a mixture of rubidium carbonate and niobium oxide and then subjecting it to high pressures. The resulting non-perovskite-type RbNbO3 displayed crystal distortions similar to those seen in BaTiO3.
OTHER STORIES
Self-polarized RGB lighting device realized via perovskite-in-polymer films
Xiamen University researchers proposed a high-performance and stable device designed for RGB polarized emission. The device consists of semipolar micro-LEDs and perovskite-in-polymer films.
Unlocking spin current secrets: A new milestone in spintronics
Tohoku University researchers discovered that spin current signal changes direction at a specific magnetic temperature. The spin direction, or magnon polarization, flips both above and below this critical magnetic temperature. This change in magnon polarization correlates with the spin current’s reversal, shedding light on its propagation direction.
Hexagonal boron nitride: Perfecting the view on a crystal’s imperfection
A new study revealed significant insights into the properties of hexagonal boron nitride, offering a solution to discrepancies in previous research on the proposed origins of single-photon emitters within the material.
Self-healing glass repairs damage caused by exposure to gamma radiation
Alfred University researchers developed self-healing chalcogenide glasses that can repair themselves from damage caused by exposure to gamma radiation.
Graphene-infused glass fabric offers conductivity with electromagnetic transparency
Researchers developed an innovative graphene glass fiber fabric that successfully merges the intrinsic properties of graphene with the dielectric attributes and porous structure of a glass fiber fabric substrate.
