Materials

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fuel cell diagram
13 May 2021
Controlling the organization of molecules within polymer membranes could lead to more efficient fuel cells.
13 May 2021
Researchers from Tohoku University have unveiled an ion-selective smart porous membrane that can respond to outer stimuli. Until now, scientists had struggled to apply smart porous membranes to porous thin films of below 10 nm. The developed membranes, however, are applicable to porous thin films with a thickness of 8 nm, paving the way for new applications in molecular separation and sensing applications.
13 May 2021
Researchers from the Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo have shown how glasses that apparently look frozen can crystallize, which could contribute to the improvement of the stability of glassy materials
12 May 2021
Ion-conducting gels that repair themselves following damage are under development for wearable electronics.
12 May 2021
Heusler alloys are promising contenders for faster and more energy-efficient computing and memory storage devices.
12 May 2021
Molecular interactions within gels and rubbers can be controlled to fabricate stronger and more elastic materials.
12 May 2021
An artificial intelligence approach extracts how an aluminium alloy’s contents and manufacturing are related to specific mechanical properties.
12 May 2021
From biomemory to implants, researchers are looking for ways to make more eco-friendly electronic components.
12 May 2021
Everyone has to wear a mask to curb the spread of COVID-19. However, this is an additional communication barrier for people with a hearing impairment as they cannot read lips or facial expressions behind a mask. Invited by The Hong Kong Society for the Deaf, the Lingnan Entrepreneurship Initiative of Lingnan University in Hong Kong (LU) recently designed a transparent ASTM Level 3 face mask based on the needs of hearing-impaired people, and its fully transparent and anti-reflective design makes lip-reading easier.
10 May 2021
Complex algorithms can be taught to predict steel corrosion rates in coastal regions, helping engineers choose the best materials for each location.
27 Apr 2021
Cells breathe, to an extent, exchanging gases, taking in energy sources from the environment and processing it. Now, researchers from Tohoku University have shone a light on the process in a new way.
π-Extended Azacoronene with a Janus Double-Concave Structure
27 Apr 2021
A facile synthesis of two types of pyrrole-fused azacoronene with planar and double-concave π-structures was achieved. The two electron-rich azacoronenes were found to interact with electron-deficient π-electron compounds depending on their three-dimensional structures. Azacoronene with a curved structure was found to be less aromatic than those with a planar one based on macrocyclic π-conjugation.
Ultra-High Proton Conduction in Polyoxometalate-based Framework
20 Apr 2021
Protons are the next big thing when it comes to fuel cell technology. The subatomic exchange produces power on a scale that challenges contemporary solid-state fuel cell technology, used to help power space shuttles. To realize the proton-based technology sooner, an international team of researchers have developed a hybrid material that effectively transports protons at high temperatures and humidity — two major challenges in past attempts.
19 Apr 2021
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.
16 Apr 2021
Devices that can see shortwave infrared light, which is invisible to the naked eye, could soon become cheaper and more accessible to a broader consumer base.
13 Apr 2021
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.
06 Apr 2021
Scientists from Tohoku University have developed a new fluorine-free calcium (Ca) electrolyte based on a hydrogen (monocarborane) cluster that could potentially realize rechargeable Ca batteries.
01 Apr 2021
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.
The optical forces acting on a moving nanodiamond
26 Mar 2021
Scientists have developed a method to use lasers to control the movement of nanodiamonds with fluorescent centers.
26 Mar 2021
Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd (SRI) and Tohoku University teamed up to increase the speed of 4-Dimensional Computed Tomography (4D-CT) a thousand-fold, making it possible to observe rubber failure in tires in real-time.
10 Mar 2021
A nanoparticle’s size is fine-tuned to offer high-resolution images before and during surgical procedures.
Schematic diagram of the sub-microsecond time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy
09 Mar 2021
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.
a novel electrode material for ASSBs
18 Feb 2021
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.
High-throughput sample preparation for mass spectrometry-based protein analysis using BAC-DROP
18 Feb 2021
Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis enables high-resolution separation of proteins extracted from biological samples, but it requires more than one day of pretreatment to recover the separated proteins trapped inside the gel for detection by mass spectrometry. BAC-DROP, our novel electrophoresis technology, uses a dissolvable form of polyacrylamide gel, which allows sample pretreatment to be completed in about 5 hours. The developed technology will enable the rapid diagnosis of viruses and disease protein markers.
10 Feb 2021
Scientists have found catalysts that improve an important industrial reaction and make it more eco-friendly.
03 Feb 2021
Nagoya University scientists find a rare mineral in nuclear power plant walls, significantly improving their strength following years of full operation.
25 Jan 2021
Materials inspired by the colour changes in a peacock’s feather could lead to anti-counterfeit and sensing applications.
25 Jan 2021
Noble metal nanoparticles, such as gold and silver, are well known in the research field of catalysis and biomedical applications. For example, gold and silver nanoparticles can be good catalysts for various chemical transformations, such as hydrogenation and oxidation. They can also be used for bioimaging, and as drug carriers and radiosensitizers in cancer therapy due to their optical properties and biocompatibility. Silver nanoparticles have been widely researched and used in commercial products for their antimicrobial activity towards a broad spectrum of microorganisms.

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Giants in history

Abdus Suttar Khan (c. 1941 – 31 January 2008) was a Bangladeshi engineer who spent a significant part of his career conducting aerospace research with NASA, United Technology and Alstom.
Lin Lanying (7 February 1918 – 4 March 2003) was a Chinese material engineer remembered for her contributions to the field of semiconductor and aerospace materials. Lanying was born into a family who did not believe in educating girls and she was not allowed to go to school.