Engineering & Technology Materials Science and Engineering

Researchers succeed in developing a lithium sulfide cathode containing a solid electrolyte with high decomposition resistance, enabling the realization of all-solid-state lithium-sulfur batteries that exceed the energy density of lithium-ion batteries

Spontaneous wide-area spreading of oil on water inspires a facile energy-saving route of crafting electrically conductive nanostructures for future sensor/energy devices

A quick, cost-effective approach improves the accuracy with which machine learning models can predict the properties of new materials.

Twisting light that switches direction at room temperature could be the future of quantum information processing.

Researchers at Jilin University, China, reviewed recent progress in the study of Salvinia leaves and their artificial replicas.

Researchers succeed in the direct bonding of diamond and gallium nitride (GaN) at room temperature and demonstrate that the bond can withstand heat treatments of 1,000℃, making it ideal for the high temperature fabrication process of GaN-based devices. GaN-on-diamond semiconductor material will allow for the next generation of high power, high frequency devices.

Scientists from South Korea add foreign atoms to monolayer graphene in a controlled manner to selectively enhance its desirable properties

Scientists in Korea make hand-drawn and flexible pressure sensors that can control a phone from underwater.

Using a CeO2 catalyst, researchers develop an effective catalytic process for the direct synthesis of polycarbonate diols without the need for dehydrating agents. The high yield, high selective process has CO2 blown at atmospheric pressure to evaporate excess water by-product allowing for a catalytic process that can be used with any substrate with a boiling point higher than water.

As rechargeable batteries get more powerful, the chance of batteries overheating –thermal runaway - increases. Seeking a way to make batteries safer, researchers have investigated one of thermal runaway’s main triggers: oxygen release.

Osaka Prefecture University develops a method to design and control the path of electron flow in a polycrystalline material. Using epitaxial growth approach, researchers address the electrical conductivity problem of thin film materials by realizing a highly conductive in-plane orientation of a metal-organic framework. Furthermore, they show that it is possible to fabricate oriented thin film patterns by integration with UV lithography technology.

Researchers at Osaka Prefecture University have established an approach to identify the orientation of molecules and chemical bonds in crystalline organic-inorganic hybrid thin films deposited on substrates using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and polarized infrared light with a 3D-printed attenuated total reflectance (ATR) unit. This inexpensive method with laboratory-grade equipment quickly reaches the crystal-structure model of even extremely thin films of less than 10 nm.

Scientists develop degradation-mitigating additives that vastly extend the lifespan of Nafion-based fuel cells

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

Ion-conducting gels that repair themselves following damage are under development for wearable electronics.

Heusler alloys are promising contenders for faster and more energy-efficient computing and memory storage devices.

Printing electronic circuits could soon get easier and cheaper.

Molecular interactions within gels and rubbers can be controlled to fabricate stronger and more elastic materials.

An artificial intelligence approach extracts how an aluminium alloy’s contents and manufacturing are related to specific mechanical properties.

From biomemory to implants, researchers are looking for ways to make more eco-friendly electronic components.

Complex algorithms can be taught to predict steel corrosion rates in coastal regions, helping engineers choose the best materials for each location.

Researchers discovered, while exploring the photomechanical properties of diarylethene, that under irradiation with UV light the crystal of the compound peels off into micrometer sized crystals at a world’s fastest speed of 260 microseconds. As the material returns to its former molecular structure when exposed to visible light, the exfoliation method positions itself as a candidate for photoactuator manufacturing.

Researchers at the Institute of Industrial Science at The University of Tokyo examined a new method of producing concrete via direct bonding of sand particles, which may help reduce greenhouse emissions and even construct a Moon base.

The promotion of electric cars has dramatically increased the demand for lithium-ion batteries. However, cobalt and nickel, the main cathode materials for the batteries, are not abundant. If the consumption continues, it will inevitably elevate the costs in the long run, so scientists have been actively developing alternative materials. A joint research team co-led by a scientist from City University of Hong Kong (CityU) has developed a much more stable, manganese-based cathode material. The new material has higher capacity and is more durable than the existing cobalt and nickel cathode materials - 90% of capacity is retained even when the number of charging-recharging cycles doubled. Their findings shed lights on developing low cost and high efficiency manganese-based cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries.

Scientists have developed a method to use lasers to control the movement of nanodiamonds with fluorescent centers.

A nanoparticle’s size is fine-tuned to offer high-resolution images before and during surgical procedures.

The fine structure of barium titanite, a potential alternative to lead titanite, has been revealed by researchers employing a novel technique over the extremely short time period that the ferroelectric phenomena experienced by these materials occur. The investigation should assist further exploration of how to replace lead titanate with other materials, so that its widespread applicability may be enjoyed while avoiding its role in lead pollution.

Lithium ion batteries use liquid electrolytes that have several drawbacks, which can be overcome by all-solid-state lithium secondary batteries (ASSBs). However, it is important to find efficient electrode materials for ASSBs. A research team from Japan has recently developed a novel electrode material for ASSBs by combining lithium sulfate and lithium ruthenate, which results in improved performance. The scientists hope that their novel approach will guide future research and the eventual commercialization of such high-capacity batteries.