Researchers from SANKEN (The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research), at Osaka University discover that temperature-controlled conductive networks in vanadium dioxide enhance the sensitivity of silicon device to terahertz light  Osaka, Japan – High-speed electronic devices that do not use much power are useful for wireless communication. High-speed operation has traditionally been achieved by making devices smaller, but as devices become smaller, fabrication becomes increasingly difficult. Have we reached a dead end? Not yet! A research team at Osaka University…

The new method optimises the technical design with regard to classic objectives such as costs, efficiency and package space requirements and also takes greenhouse gas emissions along the entire supply chain into account  The development of vehicle components is a lengthy and therefore very costly process. Researchers at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) have developed a method that can shorten the development phase of the powertrain of battery electric vehicles by several months. A team led by Martin Hofstetter…

Groundbreaking cerium oxide-based thermal switches achieve remarkable performance, transforming heat flow control with sustainable and efficient technology. Cerium Oxide-Based Thermal Switches Revolutionize Heat Flow Control Thermal switches, which electrically control heat transfer, are essential for the advancement of sophisticated thermal management systems. Historically, electrochemical thermal switches have been constrained by suboptimal performance, which impedes their extensive utilization in the electronics, energy, and waste heat recovery sectors. A Novel Approach: Cerium Oxide Thin Films A research team led by Professor Hiromichi…

The Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts has extended its funding for the research association “Geothermal Alliance Bavaria,” with the University of Bayreuth (UBT) continuing as a member for an additional four years. During this new funding phase, the Center for Energy Technology (ZET) at UBT will focus on plant technology and system optimization related to geothermal energy. Collaborative Efforts in Enhanced Geothermal Systems: The Geothermal Alliance Bavaria The Geothermal Alliance Bavaria is composed of the Technical University…

Long gone are the days where all our data could fit on a two-megabyte floppy disk. In today’s information-based society, the increasing volume of information being handled demands that we switch to memory options with the lowest power consumption and highest capacity possible. Magnetoresistive Random Access Memory (MRAM) is part of the next generation of storage devices expected to meet these needs. Researchers at the Advanced Institute for Materials Research (WPI-AIMR) have investigated a cobalt-manganese-iron alloy thin film that demonstrates…

In the search for new materials that can enable more efficient electronics, scientists are exploring so-called 2-D materials. These are sheets of just one atom thick, that may have all kinds of interesting electronic properties. If two sheets are placed on top of each other at specific angles, this may lead to new properties such as superconductivity. University of Groningen materials scientist Antonija Grubišić-Čabo and her colleagues studied such a ‘twisted’ material and discovered that it defied theoretical predictions. Together…

8,000 open source models for sustainable mobility. Designing new cars is expensive and time consuming. As a result, manufacturers tend to make only minor changes from one model generation to the next. With DriverAerNet++, researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have now developed the largest open-source database for aerodynamic car design. More than 8000 models representing the most common vehicle types will make it possible to create more efficient designs with…

Repairable and exchangeable skeleton modules with open load-bearing structures enable different types of use and uncomplicated adaptations in the event of future changes. Building heights of up to 24 storeys are possible. The operating life and life span of buildings are often far apart. If a property is no longer fit for purpose, it is usually demolished even though it would still be perfectly usable. Even in the event of damage to individual parts of the building, the entire building…

How simulations help manufacturing of modern displays. Modern materials must be recyclable and sustainable. Consumer electronics is no exception, with organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) taking over modern televisions and portable device displays. However, the development of suitable materials – from the synthesis of molecules to the production of display components – is very time-consuming. Scientists led by Denis Andrienko of the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research and Falk May from Display Solutions at Merck have now developed a simulation…

High-performance multi-material 3D printing techniques. Researchers at Tohoku University’s Institute for Materials Research and New Industry Creation Hatchery Center have made a breakthrough in a multi-material 3D printing technique, demonstrating the process for creating a lightweight yet durable automobile part. The process of metal 3D printing involves building objects by depositing metals layer by layer, using heat to bind them together. The precision of 3D printing allows for the production of unique, highly customizable shapes that often create less wasteful…

“Neurons that fire together, wire together” describes the neural plasticity seen in human brains, but neurons grown in a dish don’t seem to follow these rules. Neurons that are cultured in-vitro form random and meaningless networks that all fire together. They don’t accurately represent how a real brain would learn, so we can only draw limited conclusions from studying it. But what if we could develop in-vitro neurons that actually behaved more naturally? A research team at Tohoku University has…

Scientists at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have developed a 3D concrete printing method that captures carbon, demonstrating a new pathway to reduce the environmental impact of the construction industry. The innovative method, detailed in the scientific journal Carbon Capture Science & Technology, aims to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of cement – a material responsible for 1.6 billion metric tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) or about eight per cent of global CO2 emissions – through lower material usage,…

The quest for sustainable energy solutions has been a major focus of scientific research for decades. Solar energy, a clean and renewable source, has emerged as a promising alternative to traditional fossil fuels. In particular, perovskite solar cells have gained significant attention due to their flexibility and sustainability. A Collaborative Approach A recent breakthrough in materials science has accelerated the discovery of novel perovskite materials. By leveraging the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and high-throughput synthesis, researchers have been able…

In the field of precision engineering and mechatronics systems, novel innovations shape the future of technologies like nano-fabrication technology and high-precision devices. Honoring Excellence: The IMMS Patent Recently, the IMMS patent, titled “Positioning system with a controller and method for its configuration”, was honored at the Thuringian award event of PATON | State Patent Center Thuringia at the Technical University of Ilmenau awarded with a silver medal in the competition of the inventors’ fair iENA. By October end, PATON had…

A new type of wooden ceiling slab competes with traditional concrete slabs. As part of the EIC Pathfinder-funded research project “Universal Timber Slab”, scientists from the University of Stuttgart are developing digital planning and production methods for novel wooden ceiling slabs. These ceilings are intended to expand the use of timber construction in cities, compete with reinforced concrete slabs, and enhance sustainability in the construction sector. View a detailed simulation in a “UniversalTimberSlab”. Credit: ICD/MPA/ University of Stuttgart In city…

Fraunhofer Lighthouse Project Shows Way for Next-Generation Tandem Solar Cells. The development of perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells made of stable materials and manufactured using scalable production processes is the basis for the next technological leap in the photovoltaic industry. Over a period of five years, six Fraunhofer institutes have been working together in the Fraunhofer lighthouse project “MaNiTU” to identify the most sustainable ways of bringing these tandem solar cells to market. In doing so, they were able to achieve…