Engineering & Technology Materials Science and Engineering

Scientists have found catalysts that improve an important industrial reaction and make it more eco-friendly.

A surprisingly simple method improves ‘drop casting’ fabrication of tiled nanosheets that could be used in next-generation electronic devices. All you need is a pipette and a hotplate.

The quality of muon beams can now be assessed thanks to a new technique that has produced the first known images of these high-energy particles.

Nagoya University scientists find a rare mineral in nuclear power plant walls, significantly improving their strength following years of full operation.

Materials inspired by the colour changes in a peacock’s feather could lead to anti-counterfeit and sensing applications.

A joint research led by City University of Hong Kong (CityU) has built a mathematical model to explore and analyse the relationship between disease transmission, people’s awareness about the disease and their resulting behaviours, as well as disease information spread by the mass media and opinion leaders. The research may shed some insights on responding to COVID-19 and other similar infectious diseases.

Accurate measurements of crystalline deformation should help engineer stronger components for more energy-efficient turbines.

A researcher at The University of Tokyo develops a method for recharging used N95 masks with a van de Graaff generator, which may greatly alleviate the lack of high-quality personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic

Seoul National University researchers build a non-volatile magnetic memory prototype.

Scientists at The University of Tokyo study aluminosilicate glass to determine its complex local structure with unprecedented detail. This work may lead to tougher and more inexpensive glass for touchscreens and solar arrays

Scientists at The University of Tokyo use computer simulations to model the effects of elemental composition on the glass-forming ability of metallic mixtures, which may lead to tough, electroconductive glasses

A recent study has measured the internal quantum efficiency (IQE) of Zinc-Oxide (ZnO) crystals in both the light-emitting process and non-light-emitting process.

University of Tokyo researchers have fabricated a tiny electronic sensor that can detect very low levels of a commonly used weed killer in drinking water.

By controlling the curvature, researchers have successfully retained the electrical properties of 2D graphene in a 3D structure.

A research team, affiliated with South Korea's Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) has succeeded in patterning the two-dimensional (2D) metal electrode into desired shapes on the 4-inch diameter silicon substrate.

Scientists have found a way to control an interaction between quantum dots that could lead to more efficient solar cells.

A research team has developed a new method for creating metal-organic framework (MOF) thin films that can be applied to sensors and electric devices.

The University of Tokyo introduced a system of gold nanorods that acts like a tiny light-driven motor, with its direction of motion is determined by the orientation of the motors. This work may lead to smaller and more precise nanomachines.

A recent study, affiliated with South Korea's Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) has synthesized a film composed of densely packed diamond-like carbon nanofibers. l Image Credit: Kyoungchae Kim

A recent study, affiliated with South Korea's Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) has developed a tiny micro supercapacitor (MSC), being small as the width of a person's fingerprint.

Scientists at The University of Tokyo use a two-state model based on the formation of tetrahedral structures to explain water’s anomalous properties and the surprising liquid–liquid transition of water.

Signal loss along optical communication networks could be cut in half if silica glass fibers are manufactured under high pressure.

The trick to extremely thin supercapacitors with improved performance is spraying graphene ink at an angle.

Tohoku University researchers have improved a method for probing semiconducting crystals with light to detect defects and impurities. The details of their 'omnidirectional photoluminescence (ODPL) spectroscopy' set-up were published in the journal Applied Physics Express, and could help improve the fabrication of materials for electric cars and solar cells.

Researchers at Osaka City University produce malic acid, which contains 4 carbon atoms, through artificial photosynthesis by simply adding metal ions like aluminum and iron. This solves a problem with current artificial photosynthesis technology of only producing molecules with 1 carbon atom and paves the way to exploring the use of CO2 as a raw material.

A two-in-one technology provides 3D images of structural defects, such as those that can develop in aircraft and power plants.

While the power conversion efficiency of perovskite solar cells (PVSCs) – a future of solar cells – has already greatly improved in the past decade, the problems of instability and potential environmental impact are yet to be overcome. Recently, scientists from City University of Hong Kong (CityU) have developed a novel method which can simultaneously tackle the leakage of lead from PVSCs and the stability issue without compromising efficiency, paving the way for real-life application of perovskite photovoltaic technology.

Because of their unique physical, chemical, electrical and optical properties, two-dimensional (2D) materials have attracted tremendous attention in the past decades. After revealing the realistic strength and stretchability of graphene, nicknamed “black gold”, researchers from City University of Hong Kong (CityU) have carried forward the success by unveiling the high defect tolerance and elasticity of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), another 2D material known as “white graphene”. This follow-up study will promote future development and applications of strain engineering, piezoelectronics and flexible electronics.

Face masks have become an important tool in fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic. However, improper use or disposal of masks may lead to "secondary transmission". A research team from City University of Hong Kong (CityU) has successfully produced graphene masks with an anti-bacterial efficiency of 80%, which can be enhanced to almost 100% with exposure to sunlight for around 10 minutes. Initial tests also showed very promising results in the deactivation of two species of coronaviruses. The graphene masks are easily produced at low cost, and can help to resolve the problems of sourcing raw materials and disposing of non-biodegradable masks.

Researchers from Tohoku University’s Graduate School of Engineering have discovered a novel iron-based superelastic alloy capable of withstanding extreme temperatures—both high and low.