[Images above] Credit: NIST
NANOMATERIALS
Sound–light pulses in 2D materials observed for the first time
Using an ultrafast transmission electron microscope, researchers from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology have, for the first time, recorded the propagation of combined sound and light waves in atomically thin materials.
Novel compound reveals fundamental properties of smallest carbon nanotubes
Hiroshima University researchers found that, with just a few subatomic additions, the properties of chemical rings made of carbon and hydrogen atoms can pivot to vary system states and behaviors, as demonstrated through a new synthesized chemical compound.
‘Flashed’ nanodiamonds are just a phase
Rice University researchers found a new “flash” process can turn carbon black into functionalized nanodiamond and other materials. The carbon atoms evolved through several phases depending on the length of the flash.
Atomic-scale tailoring of graphene approaches macroscopic world
Researchers at University of Vienna together with Nion Co. combined an experimental setup built around an atomic-resolution Nion UltraSTEM 100 microscope and new approaches to imaging and data analysis through machine learning to bring atomic-scale control of graphene toward macroscopic sample sizes.
ENERGY
Computers help researchers find materials to turn solar power into hydrogen
Researchers led by The Pennsylvania State University used a type of computational approach called high-throughput materials screening to narrow a list of more than 70,000 different compounds down to six promising candidates for those photocatalysts, which, when added to water, can enable the solar hydrogen production process.
Carbon nanotube material generates electricity by scavenging energy from its environment
Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers discovered a new way of generating electricity using tiny carbon particles that can create a current simply by interacting with liquid surrounding them.
How oxygen loss saps a lithium-ion battery’s voltage
Researchers took a unique and detailed nanoscale look at how oxygen seeps out of lithium-ion battery electrodes, sapping their energy over time. They concluded that an initial burst of oxygen escapes from the surfaces of particles, followed by a very slow trickle from the interior.
Your electric vehicle could become a mini power plant
A Grist article looks at the potential of vehicle-to-grid systems for storing energy and looks at a school bus experiment taking place in New York.
BIOMATERIALS
Graphene ‘camera’ captures real-time electrical activity of beating heart
Researchers at University of California, Berkeley, developed a new type of sensor that employs a sheet of graphene to continuously measure the electric field in cells and tissues that generate electrical voltages, including groups of neurons and cardiac muscle cells.
ENVIRONMENT
Modeling a circular economy for electronic waste
University of Pittsburgh researchers developed a framework to understand the choices an electronic waste recycler has to make and the role that digital fraud prevention could have in preventing dishonest recycling practices.
Developing a safer, cleaner way to recover rare-earth metals from old phones and laptops
An article on The Conversation describes the work by researchers at Deakin University (Australia) and Tecnalia (Spain) on developing a new way to recover rare-earth metals from old electronics using ionic liquid (salt-based) systems.
Semiconductor technology mitigates fire risk in electric vehicle batteries
A research team from the Korea Institute of Science and Technology succeeded in inhibiting the growth of dendrites in batteries by forming protective semiconducting passivation layers on the surface of lithium electrodes.
Investigating carbonate mineral chemical variations to improve oil recovery
Igor Ivanishin, a postdoctoral researcher at Texas A&M University, investigated variations in the chemical composition of dolomite and calcite minerals to prove why a one-size-fits-all approach to well stimulation in carbonate reservoirs does not always work.
MANUFACTURING
Researchers propose methods for additive manufacturing quality control
Researchers from The Pennsylvania State University proposed the design, development, and implementation of a new data-driven methodology for quality control in additive manufacturing. The method hinges on six sigma, a popular approach that uses data-driven tactics to eliminate defects, drive profits, and improve quality of products.
Printing flexible wearable electronics for smart device applications
Researchers from Wuhan University and Hunan University provide a review of printed flexible supercapacitors in terms of their ability to formulate functional inks, design printable electrodes, and integrate functions with other electronic devices.
Novel smart cement can be used to build more durable roads and cities
By introducing nanoparticles into ordinary cement, Northwestern University researchers have formed a smarter, more durable, and highly functional cement.
OTHER STORIES
New path to make glass as tough as metal
University of California, Los Angeles engineers and collaborators used new atomic-level computer simulations to identify the microscopic reasons that made disordered materials either brittle and therefore easy to shatter such as glass, or more ductile like steel.
Meringue-like material could make aircraft as quiet as a hairdryer
Researchers from University of Bath developed a method for manufacturing a graphene oxide-polyvinyl alcohol aerogel that could be used as insulation within aircraft engines to reduce noise by up to 16 decibels.
Giant quantum tornados give insight into complex physical phenomena
Researchers from Skoltech and U.K. colleagues created a stable giant vortex in interacting polariton condensates, addressing a known challenge in quantized fluid dynamics. The findings open possibilities in creating uniquely structured coherent light sources and exploring many-body physics under unique extreme conditions.
The world’s first wooden satellite will launch this year
WISA Woodsat, a nanosatellite that measures 4x4x4 inches (10x10x10 centimeters) and weighs about 2.2 lbs (1 kilogram), uses a special type of coated plywood called WISA for its surface panels. The wooden satellite will launch as part of a mission designed by Arctic Astronautics, a Finnish company manufacturing cubesat kits for students.
Summit: Addressing diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism in STEMM organizations
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine is convening a 2-day national summit on addressing diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism in 21st century STEMM organizations. The summit takes place June 29–30, 2021.