[Image above] Credit: ACerS
NANOMATERIALS
Researchers discover atomic-level mechanism in polycrystalline materials
Researchers at the University of California, Irvine and other international institutions have for the first time achieved atomic-scale observations of grain rotation in polycrystalline materials. Using state-of-the-art microscopy tools, they heated samples of platinum nanocrystalline thin films and observed the mechanism driving grain rotation in unprecedented detail.
Webinar: Unlocking the future of materials science with magnetic microscopy
PhysicsWorld is hosting a webinar at 11 a.m. Eastern on October 30 to explore some of the key magnetic imaging technologies for the upcoming decade: scanning SQUID microscopy, nanoscale magnetic resonance imaging, coherent X-ray magnetic imaging, and scanning electron microscopy with polarization analysis.
ENERGY
Fused molecules are building blocks for safer lithium-ion batteries
Cornell University researchers created a porous crystal that can uptake lithium-ion electrolytes and transport them smoothly via one-dimensional nanochannels—a design that could lead to safer solid-state lithium-ion batteries.
New design overcomes key barrier to safer, more efficient EV batteries
McGill University researchers discovered that creating a porous ceramic membrane, instead of the traditional dense plate, and filling it with a small amount of polymer allows lithium ions to move freely and eliminates the interfacial resistance between the solid electrolyte and the electrodes.
Simplified design and servicing of vanadium flow batteries
Skoltech scientists presented a model that facilitates the design and operation of vanadium redox flow batteries. The key advantage of their approach is that it does not require much information about the membrane of the modeled battery.
Bubble findings could unlock better electrode and electrolyzer designs
Researchers conducted a study of bubbles on electrode surfaces that could help improve the efficiency of electrochemical processes. They made available an open-source, AI-based software tool that engineers and scientists can use to automatically recognize and quantify bubbles formed on a given surface.
ENVIRONMENT
Carbon storage gets thorough scrutiny in the Otways
The Otway International Test Center, run by the CO2CRC, has been injecting carbon dioxide into the ground for 20 years. This month, it is starting Stage 4 of the research, pumping 15,000 metric tons of CO2 1,500 meters below the surface at the rate of about 140 metric tons a day.
DARPA plans to use coral-based artificial reefs as hurricane defenses
Amidst climate change, the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency is funding the creation of artificial reefs made of coral and oyster colonies to mitigate the impact of high-intensity storms and rising seas.
MANUFACTURING
New plasma-based technological design boosts graphene production by more than 22%
University of Córdoba researchers optimized a plasma-based approach to graphene synthesis that boosts production by more than 22%. The key to this optimization was building a Faraday cage around the system to protect against energy dissipation.
Flash defect-engineering of oxygen-deficient zirconia
Researchers led by Xinghua Su from Chang’an University, China reported the rapid fabrication of oxygen-deficient zirconia by flash sintering treatment. After the flash sintering treatment, the direct band gap of zirconia was decreased from 4.18 eV to 2.09 eV, while the indirect band gap was decreased from 2.85 to 1.67 eV.
Space-made next-gen optical fibers touch back down to Earth
Next-generation optical fibers manufactured in microgravity aboard the International Space Station have been returned safely to Earth. Scientists at Adelaide University in South Australia are now comparing the fibers to otherwise identical Earth-made counterparts to confirm whether the space-made product is superior.
Researchers create 3D multifocus laser for glass microsculpting
Researchers from Southern University of Science and Technology introduced a novel laser-based micromachining approach: the use of high-precision multi-focus laser to efficiently fabricate high-precision customizable glass grooves with a scale from tens to hundreds of micrometers.
These 3D-printed pipes inspired by shark intestines outperform Tesla valves
University of Washington researchers re-created the distinctive spiral shapes of shark intestines in 3D-printed pipes. Their pipes kept fluids flowing in one preferred direction with no need for flaps to control that flow and performed significantly better than so-called “Tesla valves,” particularly when made of soft polymers.
OTHER STORIES
Researchers develop heat-resistant material that withstands 1,000°C
Researchers at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology developed a nanoscale, thin-film version of lanthanum-doped barium stannate oxide that maintains its optical properties even at temperatures of 1,000°C and in strong ultraviolet illumination.
Illuminating quantum magnets: Light unveils magnetic domains
Researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University and the University of Tokyo successfully used light to visualize tiny magnetic regions, known as magnetic domains, in a specialized quantum material. Moreover, they successfully manipulated these regions by the application of an electric field.
Author
Lisa McDonald
CTT Categories
- Weekly Column: “Other materials”
Related Posts
Other materials stories that may be of interest for February 12, 2025
February 12, 2025
Other materials stories that may be of interest for February 5, 2025
February 5, 2025
Other materials stories that may be of interest for January 29, 2025
January 29, 2025