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Archive for the ‘materials’ category: Page 13

Sep 18, 2024

2D silk protein layers on graphene pave the way for advanced microelectronics and computing

Posted by in categories: computing, materials

After thousands of years as a highly valuable commodity, silk continues to surprise. Now it may help usher in a whole new direction for microelectronics and computing.

Sep 18, 2024

An unprecedented feat: Printing 3D photonic crystals that completely block light

Posted by in category: materials

Photonic crystals are materials with repeating internal structures that interact with light in unique ways. We can find natural examples in opals and the vibrant colored shells of some insects. Even though these crystals are made of transparent materials, they exhibit a “photonic bandgap” that blocks light at certain wavelengths and directions.

Sep 18, 2024

New method improves understanding of light-wave propagation in anisotropic materials

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, materials

Understanding how light travels through various materials is essential for many fields, from medical imaging to manufacturing. However, due to their structure, materials often show directional differences in how they scatter light, known as anisotropy. This complexity has traditionally made it difficult to accurately measure and model their optical properties. Recently, researchers have developed a new technique that could transform how we study these materials.

Sep 18, 2024

New technology produces ultrashort ion pulses

Posted by in categories: chemistry, materials

TU Wien (Vienna) has succeeded in generating laser-synchronized ion pulses with a duration of well under 500 picoseconds, which can be used to observe chemical processes on material surfaces. The work has been published in Physical Review Research.

Sep 17, 2024

Human bone-inspired cement is 5 times tougher than standard concrete

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, materials

Getting tips from the design of the human body.

Scientists create bone-inspired cement, over five times stronger than concrete.

Continue reading “Human bone-inspired cement is 5 times tougher than standard concrete” »

Sep 16, 2024

Research team uses terahertz pulses of light to shed light on superconducting disorder

Posted by in category: materials

A team of researchers from the Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter (MPSD) in Hamburg, Germany, and Brookhaven National Laboratory in the United States has demonstrated a new way to study disorder in superconductors using terahertz pulses of light.

Sep 16, 2024

Smart graphene sensor sniffs out ammonia to keep beef fresh

Posted by in categories: food, materials

NiO-functionalized graphene sensor detects ammonia in real time, offering a powerful tool for monitoring beef freshness and ensuring food safety.

Sep 15, 2024

Researchers develop scalable approach to integrate ultrafast 2D flash memories

Posted by in categories: materials, robotics/AI

The widespread use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools designed to process large amounts of data has increased the need for better performing memory devices. The data storage solutions that could help to meet the computational demands of AI include so-called high-bandwidth memories, technologies that can increase the memory bandwidth of computer processors, speeding up the transfer of data and reducing power consumption.

Currently, are the most prominent memory solutions capable of storing information when a device is turned off (i.e., non-volatile memories). Despite their widespread use, the speed of most existing flash memories is limited and does not best support the operation of AI.

In recent years, some engineers have thus been trying to develop ultrafast flash memories that could transfer data faster and more efficiently. Two-dimensional (2D) materials have shown promise for fabricating these better performing memory devices.

Sep 15, 2024

Multifunctional phosphor developed for white LED lighting and optical thermometry

Posted by in categories: computing, materials

In the realm of lighting and temperature measurement, advancements in material science are paving the way for significant improvements in technology and safety. Traditional methods, which combine yellow phosphors with blue chips in LEDs, have limitations such as inadequate red light components that affect color rendering and potential hazards from blue light exposure.

Sep 14, 2024

Axon-mimicking materials for computing

Posted by in categories: materials, robotics/AI

A team of researchers from Texas A&M University, Sandia National Lab — Livermore, and Stanford University are taking lessons from the brain to design materials for more efficient computing. The new class of materials discovered is the first of their kind – mimicking the behavior of an axon by spontaneously propagating an electrical signal as it travels along a transmission line. These findings could be critical to the future of computing and artificial intelligence.

This study was published in Nature (“Axon-like active signal transmission”).

Any electrical signal propagating in a metallic conductor loses amplitude due to the metal’s natural resistance. Modern computer processing (CPU) and graphic processing units can contain around 30 miles of fine copper wires moving electrical signals around within the chip. These losses quickly add up, requiring amplifiers to maintain the pulse integrity. These design constraints impact the performance of current interconnect-dense chips.

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