News Feature Channel: Materials Science

Researchers Develop Clinically Validated, Wearable Ultrasound Patch for Continuous Blood Pressure Monitoring

University of California San Diego — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 05:00:00 EST

A re-engineered wearable ultrasound patch for continuous and noninvasive blood pressure monitoring has undergone comprehensive clinical validation on over 100 patients, marking a major milestone in wearable technology research. The soft, stretchy patch provides precise, real-time readings of blood pressure deep within the body.

KRICT Develops New Lithium Composite Material to Enhance Performance and Safety of Next-Generation Lithium Rechargeable Battereis

National Research Council of Science and Technology — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 00:00:29 EST

Groundbreaking material technology from the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology effectively prevents lithium dendrite growth, tackling the main cause of reduced lifespan in lithium-metal batteries. This innovative material, easily produced through a streamlined process, is set to become a game-changer for next-generation lithium rechargeable batteries.

Cracking the Code of Performance Degradation in Solid Oxide Cells at the Atomic Level

National Research Council of Science and Technology — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 00:00:52 EST

Dr. Hye Jung Chang and Dr. Kyung Joong Yoon (Director) of the Hydrogen Energy Materials Research Center at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) have announced that they have elucidated the mechanism of the initial degradation phenomenon that triggers the performance drop of high-temperature solid oxide electrolysis cell systems, using advanced transmission electron microscopy.

Breakthrough Idea for CCU Technology Commercialization from 'Carbon Cycle of the Earth'

National Research Council of Science and Technology — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 00:00:11 EST

The research team led by Dr. Hyung-Suk Oh and Dr. Woong Hee Lee at the Clean Energy Research Center at Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) has developed a silver-silica composite catalyst capable of reversible local pH control through a silica-hydroxide cycle, inspired by Earth's natural cycles.

McMaster celebrates launch of new Canadian Neutron Beam Laboratory

McMaster University — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 10:55:50 EST

McMaster University and Neutrons Canada celebrated the launch of the Canadian Neutron Beam Laboratory (CNBL) - a new suite of facilities built to advance neutron beam research in Canada. Neutron beams are an essential tool for materials research and innovation. They can penetrate deep into dense materials like metals, making it possible to visualize the interior of an object at the atomic scale without physically damaging it.

Sensitive Ceramics for Soft Robotics

Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 09:25:21 EST

Robots that can sense touch and perceive temperature differences? An unexpected material might just make this a reality. At Empa's Laboratory for High-Performance Ceramics, researchers are developing soft and intelligent sensor materials based on ceramic particles.

Developing Advanced Recycling Technology to Restore Spent Battery Cathode Materials

National Research Council of Science and Technology — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 09:00:56 EST

The Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) has developed a cost-effective and eco-friendly recycling process that addresses the limitations of traditional direct recycling methods for spent batteries.

Tuning the Catalytic Behavior of Metal Oxides

Department of Energy, Office of Science — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 14:45:40 EST

The behavior of catalysts that promote chemical reactions is not always straightforward. Using a combination of experiments and computer simulations, scientists now understand how oxygen affects the way the catalyst copper oxide reacts with hydrogen versus carbon monoxide gases and how to control and enhance related chemical reactions.

Power Line Test Bed Energizes Technologies for Increasing Grid Capacity

Oak Ridge National Laboratory — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 14:30:18 EST

As population growth and extreme temperatures strain the United States power grid, utilities and equipment manufacturers are looking for ways to increase the amount of electricity the grid can carry. The Powerline Conductor Accelerated Testing Facility, or PCAT, located at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory, is one of the only facilities in the country where companies can try out new transmission line technologies for long time periods in extremes of wind, weather, temperature and electrical load conditions.

Case Western Reserve University to Offer Full Funding to Hertz Fellowship Finalists

The Fannie and John Hertz Foundation — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 09:05:20 EST

Case Western Reserve University has a new offer for the 25 to 30 students each year who are named finalists for the prestigious Hertz Fellowship but are not ultimately selected as Hertz Fellows: matriculate at CWRU and receive full financial benefits.

Research Update: Chalk-Coated Textiles Cool in Urban Environments

American Chemical Society (ACS) — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 08:00:16 EST

Researchers who previously demonstrated a cooling fabric coating now report on additional tests of a treated polyester fabric in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. Fabric treated with the team's chalk-based coating kept the air underneath up to 6 degrees Fahrenheit cooler in warmer urban environments.

New Material to Make Next Generation of Electronics Faster and More Efficient

University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 08:00:10 EST

Researchers at the University of Minnesota have achieved a new material that will be pivotal in making the next generation of high-power electronics faster, transparent and more efficient.

Distinguished Lecture: Targeting a World-Leading Market Supplier of Graphene Materials

Hong Kong Institute for Advanced Study, City University of Hong Kong — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 20:35:36 EST

Join us for an insightful lecture by Professor Zhongfan Liu, Boya Chair Professor at Peking University and President of the Beijing Graphene Institute (BGI). Professor Liu will discuss how BGI is rapidly becoming a global leader in graphene materials, with innovations like graphene-skinned glass fibers, single crystal graphene wafers, and more!

Designing Battery Success From Failure

Oak Ridge National Laboratory — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 15:40:52 EST

Oak Ridge National Laboratory scientists are developing a formula for success - by studying how a new type of battery fails. The team's goal is the design for long-term storage of wind and solar energy, which are produced intermittently, enabling their broader use as reliable energy sources for the electric grid.

Physics with a Twist: FSU Researchers Publish New Findings on Graphene

Florida State University — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 15:20:17 EST

Researchers from the Florida State University Department of Physics and FSU-headquartered National High Magnetic Field Laboratory have published new findings that reveal how various physical manipulations of graphene, such as layering and twisting, impact its optical properties and conductivity. The study was published in the journal Nano Letters.

ASU Preservation Facility Serves as Test Bed for Rooftop Heat Mitigation

Arizona State University (ASU) — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 12:25:19 EST

EnKoat, an Arizona State University spinout founded by two doctoral students, has developed a roof coating that uses thermal-energy storage materials to mitigate heat effects improve building energy use.

Scientists Capture Images of Electron Molecular Crystals

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 11:00:15 EST

Researchers have taken direct images of the Wigner molecular crystal, a new quantum phase of an electron solid. The breakthrough may advance future technologies for quantum simulations.

Atomic-Level Heterostructures for Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 08:30:37 EST

This study presents a novel approach utilizing the concentration gradient of thiourea dissociation products to synthesize a CdNCN-CdS composite photocatalyst with an atomic-level heterostructure (NCN-Cd-S). The strong electron affinity of CdNCN and efficient electron transfer at the interface enhance photocatalytic hydrogen evolution, achieving a record-high rate of 14.7 mmol(mid dot)g⁻¹(mid dot)h⁻¹ under visible light, surpassing other CdS-based composites.

"Seeing" More Sharply into Self-Assembled Nanomaterials

Department of Energy, Office of Science — Wed, 06 Nov 2024 16:25:18 EST

To build nanostructures, researchers need to probe these structures' internal architecture at various states of assembly in three dimensions. This project used several methods to produce X-ray computed tomography (CT) scans that provided record-setting, 7-nanometer resolution and information on the elements in the materials. The researchers then constructed 3-D frameworks to reveal the nanostructures' imperfections and interfaces.

UAH Doctoral Candidate Awarded $150,000 NASA Finesst Grant to Research 3D-Printed Lunar Concrete

University of Alabama Huntsville — Wed, 06 Nov 2024 15:00:14 EST

Ledia Shehu, a doctoral student at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), has been selected to receive a NASA Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology (FINESST) grant for her proposal, "Physics-Based Multiscale Constitutive Model for ISRU-Based 3D-Printed Lunar Concrete." The project seeks to develop a multiscale model for 3D-printed concrete using lunar materials by simulating lunar conditions.