Newswise Feature Channel: Materials Science

Pump-Induced Stimulated Superradiant Smith-Purcell Radiation with Ultra-Narrow Linewidth

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 10:35:11 EST

Free electron lasers have unique advantages of high power, wide frequency tunablility and et al, however, they face challenge in narrowing the spectral linewidth. Scientists in China proposed and realized the pump-induced stimulated superradiant Smith-Purcell radiation (PIS-SPR) and achieved an ultra-narrow spectral linewidth of 0.3 kHz at ~0.3 THz in a compact device.

A Wearable Smart Insole Can Track How You Walk, Run and Stand

Ohio State University — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 20:20:04 EST

A new smart insole system that monitors how people walk in real time could help users improve posture and provide early warnings for conditions from plantar fasciitis to Parkinson's disease.

Metamaterials: Highly Twisted Rods Store Large Amounts of Energy

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 04:40:53 EST

An international research team coordinated at KIT (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology) has developed mechanical metamaterials with a high elastic energy density. Highly twisted rods that deform helically provide these metamaterials with a high stiffness and enable them to absorb and release large amounts of elastic energy. The researchers conducted simple compression experiments to confirm the initial theoretical results. Their findings have been published in the science journal Nature. (DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-08658-z)

Advanced Microelectronics: Why a Next-Gen Semiconductor Doesn't Fall to Pieces

University of Michigan — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 17:35:14 EST

A new class of semiconductors that can store information in electric fields could enable computers that run on less power, sensors with quantum precision, and the conversion of signals between electrical, optical and acoustic forms--but how they maintained two opposite electric polarizations in the same material was a mystery.

Intelligent Nanophotonics: When Machine Learning Sheds Light

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 17:40:11 EST

Intelligent nanophotonics, combining nanophotonics and machine learning, is transforming optical information processing. This review highlights cutting-edge nanophotonic devices and the challenges to overcome for impactful technological advancements.

How Flexible Wearables Protect Astronauts' Health in Space

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 10:25:44 EST

In the harsh environment of space--where microgravity, cosmic radiation, and isolation pose unprecedented health risks--flexible wearable devices have emerged as critical tools. These "smart skins" continuously monitor astronauts' vital signs, revolutionizing space medicine.

Non-Reciprocal Response in Silicon Photonic Resonators Integrated with 2D CuCrP₂S₆ at Short-Wave Infrared

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 10:25:33 EST

A major challenge in integrated photonics is achieving efficient non-reciprocal optical behavior. Researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi have demonstrated a non-reciprocal magneto-optic response by integrating the 2D material CuCrP₂S₆ (CCPS) onto silicon microring resonators.

Argonne's Physicists Are Redefining the Possible

Argonne National Laboratory — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 18:05:31 EST

Upgrades and new research at Argonne National Laboratory are helping physicists push boundaries, from basic science to the development of new technologies.

KIST Develops Full-Color-Emitting Upconversion Nanoparticle Technology for Color Displays with Ultra-High Color Reproducibility

National Research Council of Science and Technology — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 00:00:01 EST

Dr. Ho Seong Jang and colleagues at the Extreme Materials Research Center at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) have developed an upconversion nanoparticle technology that introduces a core@multi-shell nanostructure, a multilayer structure in which multiple layers of shells surround a central core particle, and enables high color purity RGB light emission from a single nanoparticle by adjusting the infrared wavelength.

A Quiet Revolution: New Technique Could Accelerate Noise-Free Superconducting Qubits for Quantum Computing

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 11:30:41 EST

Scientists have developed a new fabrication technique that could improve noise robustness in superconducting qubits, a key technology to enabling large-scale quantum computers.

New Technology Suppresses Temperature Rise During Hydrogen Charging, Enabling Safer and More Efficient Refueling!

National Research Council of Science and Technology — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 00:00:48 EST

A research team led by Principal Researcher Dae-Hwan Kim at the Nuclear Equipment Verification Laboratory of the Busan Machinery Technology Research Center under the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (President Seog-Hyeon Ryu, hereinafter referred to as KIMM) has successfully developed and demonstrated this new technology using an incompressible fluid.

New Research Examines How Nanoscopic Ripples Affect Material Properties

Binghamton University, State University of New York — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 18:20:48 EST

When materials are created on a nanometer scale -- just a handful of atoms thick -- even the thermal energy present at room temperature can cause structural ripples. How these ripples affect the mechanical properties of these thin materials can limit their use in electronics and other key systems. New research from Binghamton University, State University of New York validates theoretical models about how elasticity is scale-dependent -- in other words, the elastic properties of a material are not constant, but vary with the size of the piece of material.

Longstanding Model Fails to Explain Spin Dynamics in 1D Cuprates

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 17:40:53 EST

Superconductivity - the ability of some materials to conduct electricity with no energy loss - holds immense promise for new technologies from lossless power grids to advanced quantum devices.

Un paso hacia una extraccion de hierro mas limpia con electricidad

American Chemical Society (ACS) — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 10:00:29 EST

Ahora, los investigadores de ACS Energy Letters informan que han desarrollado un metodo mas limpio para extraer hierro de un mineral de hierro sintetico mediante un proceso electroquimico, que, segun dicen, podria competir con los altos hornos en terminos de costos.

New PCR Chip Design: High-Pressure Liquid Seal Solves Bubble Problem

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 09:25:40 EST

A new discovery has reshaped our understanding of PCR chip technology: water vapor, not air expansion, is the primary culprit behind bubble formation in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based chips. This revelation has led to the development of a high-pressure liquid seal technique that effectively eliminates bubbles and prevents water loss during the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) process.

Lighter and More Flexible Solar Cells Achieve World's Highest Efficiency

National Research Council of Science and Technology — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 09:00:49 EST

The Korea Institute of Energy Research (President Yi Chang-keun, hereinafter referred to as "KIER") has successfully developed ultra-lightweight flexible perovskite/CIGS tandem solar cells and achieved a power conversion efficiency of 23.64%, which is the world's highest efficiency of the flexible perovskite/CIGS tandem solar cells reported to date.

Stereoisomeric Engineering for Critical Balance of Solvation and Adsorption Capability

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 07:50:24 EST

This study introduces the stereoisomerism to inform the balanced selection of electrolyte additives to achieve the optimal deposition behaviors and electrochemical performance. An appropriate level of solvation ability and adsorption ability can facilitate faster deposition kinetics and encourage the preferential orientation growth of (002) planes. With sorbitol, the symmetrical battery can stably cycle for over 3470 h at 2 mA cm-2 and 1 mAh cm-2, and full battery also exhibits excellent electrochemical performance.

Engineering Innovation Meets History in Groundbreaking Neutrino Experiment at SURF

Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab) — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 10:15:39 EST

At the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF), hovercraft technology is being used to efficiently move massive steel beams for the Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility/Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment.

Spray Drying Tech Used in Instant Coffee Applied to High-Capacity Battery Production

National Research Council of Science and Technology — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 09:00:43 EST

The Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI) and the Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS) have jointly developed the 'spray drying technology-based high-performance dry electrode manufacturing technology' for the realization of high-capacity secondary batteries.

Scientists make water-repellent breakthrough to replace toxic 'forever chemicals'

University of Bristol — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 07:00:43 EST

A team of international scientists has invented a substitute for synthetic chemicals, called PFAS (perfluoroalkyl substances), which are widely used in everyday products despite being hazardous to health and the environment.