[Image above] Credit: ACerS
NANOMATERIALS
‘Wiggling’ atoms may lead to smaller, more efficient electronics
Michigan State University researchers used a fast laser to wiggle atoms in a way that temporarily changes the behavior of their host material, in this case, tungsten ditelluride.
Researchers image directional atomic vibrations
Researchers at the University of California, Irvine, together with international collaborators, developed a new electron microscopy method that enabled the first-ever imaging of vibrations, or phonons, in specific directions at the atomic scale.
ENERGY
Comprehensive safety assessment framework for liquid hydrogen storage systems in UAVs
Researchers at Seoul National University of Science and Technology introduced the first comprehensive safety assessment framework for liquid hydrogen storage systems in unmanned aerial vehicles.
China builds world’s first working hydride ion battery for clean energy storage
Researchers at Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences created an all-solid-state prototype of a hydride ion battery using sodium aluminum hydride. The battery’s positive electrode boasts an initial specific discharge capacity of 984 mAh/g at room temperature. It also maintains 402 mAh/g after 20 cycles.
Ceramic fibers harvest power from vibrations
Henan University researchers developed a new type of ceramic fiber that can make piezoelectric nanogenerators much more powerful. They created branch-like ceramic fibers by coating barium calcium zirconium titanate with silver nanoparticles. These fibers form a heterostructure that improves how charges are separated and transported.
Researchers identify weak points in diamond fusion fuel capsules
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego uncovered how diamond can develop tiny structural flaws that limit fusion performance. The flaws range from subtle crystal distortions to narrow zones of complete disorder, or amorphization.
BIOMATERIALS
New cryopreservation method to prevent organ cracking
Texas A&M University researchers developed a cryopreservation approach that may prevent cracking in organs. They found that higher glass transition temperatures reduce the likelihood of cracking.
MANUFACTURING
New electrical flash method rapidly purifies red mud into strong ceramics, aluminum feedstock
Rice University researchers developed a faster and cleaner method based on flash Joule heating for recovering aluminum and removing toxic metals from bauxite residue, or red mud, which is a hazardous by-product of aluminum production. The process is being scaled by Rice spinoff company Flash Metals USA.
Unlocking ceramic 3D printing for next-generation chemical reactors
Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers integrated binder jet additive manufacturing with an advanced post-processing method to fabricate leak-tight ceramic components.
A method for improving the solid loading of alumina ceramic slurry
Researchers led by Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences prepared an alumina slurry with high solid loading (58 vol.%), low apparent viscosity (0.54 Pa·s@100 s⁻¹), and average alumina particle size of 0.45 μm. They used polyacrylic acid as the dispersant instead of the traditional Isobam 600AF.
Coral-inspired fuel cell eliminates 75% of traditional weight
Technical University of Denmark researchers 3D printed a ceramic fuel cell inspired by the structure of coral. The design eliminates more than 75% of the weight associated with conventional fuel cells by removing heavy metal components.
OTHER STORIES
New tool makes generative AI models more likely to create breakthrough materials
Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers developed a technique that lets popular generative materials models create promising quantum materials by following specific design rules. The rules, or constraints, steer models to create materials with unique structures that give rise to quantum properties.
New cooling breakthrough nearly doubles efficiency
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory developed a new, easily manufacturable solid-state thermoelectric refrigeration technology with nanoengineered materials that is twice as efficient as devices made with commercially available bulk thermoelectric materials.
Cosmic glass found only in Australia reveals ancient asteroid impact
Curtin University researchers helped uncover evidence of a mysterious giant asteroid impact, hidden not in a crater but in tiny pieces of glass called tektites found only in South Australia.