In a recent article published in Nature Communications an international team, led by researchers from the Nanodevices group at CIC nanoGUNE, suceeded in voltage-based magnetization switching and reading of magnetoelectric spin-orbit nanodevices. This study constitutes aproof of principle of these nanodevices, which are the building blocks for magnetoelectric spin-orbit (MESO) logic, opening a new avenue for low-power beyond-CMOS technologies. A pathway for magnetic-field-free, voltage-based switching of magnetism has been proposed using magnetoelectric materials that exhibit more than one of the…

The laser-based technology developed at TU Graz enables the continual real-time analysis of air pollutants and their interaction with other gases and sunlight. Sunlight has a major influence on chemical processes. Its high-energy UV radiation in particular is strongly absorbed by all materials and triggers photochemical reactions of the substances present in the air. A well-known example is the formation of ground-level ozone when UV light hits nitrogen oxides. A research team led by Birgitta Schultze-Bernhardt from the Institute of…

Engineered bacteria can produce a plastic modifier that makes renewably sourced plastic more processable, more fracture resistant and highly biodegradable even in sea water. The Kobe University development provides a platform for the industrial-scale, tunable production of a material that holds great potential for turning the plastic industry green. Plastic is a hallmark of our civilization. It is a family of highly formable (hence the name), versatile and durable materials, most of which are also persistent in nature and therefore…

Researchers combine mobile 3D handheld scanner goSCOUT3D with robot dog. With the handheld scanner goSCOUT3D, Fraunhofer IOF researchers have developed a mobile sensor that enables high-resolution 3D measurements of complex objects. To further automate this process, researchers have now connected the scanner to a robot dog of the Boston Dynamics brand. Doing so is supposed to make measurements, e.g., in quality assurance, even more efficient as well as unburden employees in future. The unit consisting of sensor head and robot…

…on a semiconductor material reveal ‘surprising’ hidden activity. New research suggests that materials commonly overlooked in computer chip design actually play an important role in information processing; a discovery that could lead to faster and more efficient electronics. The international team observed surprising activity in a semiconductor material using advanced imaging techniques. The finding could lead to faster and more energy-efficient electronic devices, according to the team from the Pennsylvania State University (USA) and Paul Drude Institute for Solid State…

…achieves 16,94% power conversion efficiency. Researchers at ICFO have fabricated a new four-terminal organic solar cell with a tandem configuration with a 16.94% power conversion efficiency (PCE). The new device is composed by a highly transparent front cell that incorporates a transparent ultrathin silver (Ag) electrode of only 7nm, which ensures its efficient operation. Two–terminal tandem organic solar cells (OSCs) represent one of the most promising approaches to address the transmission and thermalization losses in single-junction solar cells. These organic…

… with mechanically robust nanocellular graphene. Ever since its discovery in 2004, graphene has been revolutionizing the field of materials science and beyond. Graphene comprises two-dimensional sheets of carbon atoms, bonded into a thin hexagonal shape with a thickness of one atom layer. This gives it remarkable physical and chemical properties. Despite its thinness, graphene is incredibly strong, lightweight, flexible, and transparent. It also exhibits extraordinary electrical and thermal conductivity, high surface area, and impermeability to gasses. From high-speed transistors…

LZH schowcases innovations at Hannover Messe… Whether it’s cleaning ships under water, microstructuring skis or additive manufacturing: At the Hannover Messe from April 22 to 26, 2024, Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V. (LZH) will be demonstrating the many ways in which lasers can be used for greater sustainability. The LZH will be exhibiting at the Lower Saxony Pavilion in Hall 2, Stand A10. The LZH presents skis with an innovative microstructure at the Hannover Messe. Photo: LZH Laser-based processes open new…

Tests confirm quality of purified graphite from used lithium-ion batteries. Lithium-ion batteries have become an integral part of everyday life. The number of used batteries is correspondingly high. They contain considerable amounts of important raw materials such as graphite. Recycling this mineral for being reused for new batteries with the same performance is an important goal. Researchers at the Helmholtz Institute Ulm and the Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology (HIF) at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) have now demonstrated that…

– software automatically designs and optimises drainage systems. Germany provides a well-developed infrastructure with sewer networks and wastewater treatment plants to collect rainwater and wastewater. In developing countries, however, such infrastructure is very often not in place. A Kaiserslautern start-up has developed a solution: They offer software that automatically designs and optimises sustainable drainage systems. The technology also takes into account the blue-green infrastructure, i.e. possible water reservoirs and technical measures for the infiltration and evaporation of rainwater. As such,…

Biodegradable aerogel… At first glance, biodegradable materials, inks for 3D printing and aerogels don’t seem to have much in common. All three have great potential for the future, however: “green” materials do not pollute the environment, 3D printing can produce complex structures without waste, and ultra-light aerogels are excellent heat insulators. Empa researchers have now succeeded in combining all these advantages in a single material. And their cellulose-based, 3D-printable aerogel can do even more. The miracle material was created under…

… as cathodes for rechargeable magnesium batteries. Researchers at Tohoku University have made a groundbreaking advancement in battery technology, developing a novel cathode material for rechargeable magnesium batteries (RMBs) that enables efficient charging and discharging even at low temperatures. This innovative material, leveraging an enhanced rock-salt structure, promises to usher in a new era of energy storage solutions that are more affordable, safer, and higher in capacity. Details of the findings were published in the Journal of Materials Chemistry A on March…

Team presents new path to long-term data storage based on atomic-scale defects. With the development of the internet, social media or cloud computing, the amount of data created worldwide on a daily basis is sky-rocketing. This calls for new technologies which could provide higher storage densities combined with secure long-term data archiving far beyond the capabilities of traditional data storage devices. An international research team led by the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) now proposes a new concept of long-term data storage…

Smart textiles are making remote hugs tangible. Smart textiles are making virtual reality more immersive and enabling wearers to experience the sensation of physical touch. An ultrathin film that can transmit touch sensations is able to turn textiles into a virtual second skin. For seriously ill children in hospital isolation wards, this new technology offers them the chance to feel the physical closeness of their parents during computer-simulated visits and to experience again the feeling of being held, hugged or…

Bio-based raw materials and new types of rubber. Synthetic rubber is indispensable today, especially for car tires and technical rubber goods. Until now, the raw materials for its production have largely been obtained from fossil sources. Under the leadership of the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP, four Fraunhofer Institutes are now developing alternative, bio-based raw material sources for synthetic rubber, which will enable completely new types of rubber for car tires. The three-year project is being funded by…

… using a small modular spectrometer platform. Low-cost and compact: Individually configurable spectrometer platform developed. Compact and ultra-compact near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy systems for the evaluation of organic substances are critical to industries as diverse as food, textiles, and pharmaceuticals. On-site, non-destructive analysis provides confidence in quality control and saves time. The non-resonant Scanning Mirror Micro Spectrometer (SMMS) platform developed at the Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS offers a compact and cost-effective alternative to expensive benchtop devices based on line…