Process developed at KIT works at relatively low temperatures and reaches highest resolution for use in optics and semiconductors – publication in Science. Printing of micro- and nanometer-scaled quartz glass structures from pure silicon dioxide opens up many new applications in optics, photonics, and semiconductor technologies. So far, processes have been based on conventional sintering. Temperatures required for sintering silicon dioxide nanoparticles are above 1100°C, which is much too hot for direct deposition onto semiconducting chips. A team headed by…

Researchers develop highly durable and efficient device. An international research group has engineered a new energy-generating device by combining piezoelectric composites with carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP), a commonly used material that is both light and strong. The new device transforms vibrations from the surrounding environment into electricity, providing an efficient and reliable means for self-powered sensors. Details of the group’s research were published in the journal Nano Energy on June 13, 2023. Energy harvesting involves converting energy from the environment…

Intel and Maynooth University continue to partner through education and research with co-funding for new robotics lab. The Maynooth University Foundation is delighted to announce a significant donation from Intel Ireland to support the creation of a state-of-the-art robotics lab. The lab will provide MU students with invaluable hands-on learning experiences using cutting-edge robotic technologies. The establishment of the robotics lab at a total cost of €150,000 will equip Maynooth University students with access to innovative robotic technologies and equipment…

In the form of “FlyGrid”, a project team led by Graz University of Technoloy (TU Graz) presents the prototype of a flywheel storage system that can store electricity locally and deliver it using fast-charging technology. Innovative charging and storage solutions have become much more important due to the growing availability of renewable energies such as solar, wind and hydro power and the increases in the field of electromobility. They are intended to store power generation surpluses for those times when…

Researchers from the UvA Institute of Physics and ENS de Lyon have discovered how to design materials that necessarily have a point or line where the material doesn’t deform under stress, and that even remember how they have been poked or squeezed in the past. These results could be used in robotics and mechanical computers, while similar design principles could be used in quantum computers. The outcome is a breakthrough in the field of metamaterials: designer materials whose responses are…

Research team develops organic redox polymer as positive electrode material for aluminium-ion batteries. Aluminium-ion batteries are seen as a promising alternative to conventional batteries that use scarce and difficult-to-recycle raw materials such as lithium. This is because aluminium is one of the most common elements in the Earth’s crust, is easier to recycle, and is also safer and less expensive than lithium. However, the development of such aluminium-ion batteries is still in its infancy, as suitable electrode materials that provide…

Advancements in meta-holographic display enable ultraviolet domain holograms. The term meta means a concept of transcendence or surpassing, and when applied to materials, metamaterials encompass artificially engineered substances that exhibit properties not naturally found in the environment. Metasurfaces, characterized by their thinness and lightness, have garnered considerable interest as a potential component for incorporation into portable augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) devices to facilitate holographic generation. Nonetheless, it is important to note that metasurfaces have inherent limitations, such…

New Collaborative Research Center for Software Methods at KIT – DFG funds excellent KIT research with around EUR 11 million. Cyber-physical systems, such as vehicles, trains, airplanes, smart homes, or production facilities, combine electronic and mechanical elements with software. Development of these systems is highly complex due to the large number of dependencies among the components. “When a car’s wire harness is modified, the diameter of the cable duct also has to be changed,” says Professor Ralf Reussner, Spokesman of…

A group of scientists and engineers that includes researchers from The University of Texas at Austin have created a new class of materials that can absorb low energy light and transform it into higher energy light. The new material is composed of ultra-small silicon nanoparticles and organic molecules closely related to ones utilized in OLED TVs. This new composite efficiently moves electrons between its organic and inorganic components, with applications for more efficient solar panels, more accurate medical imaging and…

… with molecular brakes that harness light. Like the brakes that stop cars, a molecular brake exists that can prevent semiconductor chains from slipping, enabling the creation of more groundbreaking devices. Recently, a joint research team led by Professor Kilwon Cho and PhD candidates Seung Hyun Kim and Sein Chung from the Department of Chemical Engineering at POSTECH, and Professor Boseok Kang from the Department of Nano Engineering at Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) has developed a technology for high-performance organic polymer…

The quality of recyclate materials of plastics significantly affects their application. With the exception of slightly damaged production waste, recycled plastics cannot be used in their original form. Usually, they are sorted, cleaned, and reprocessed to form usable granules. However, the recycled material’s stability and processing ability for its intended application often require post-stabilization with suitable additives. Fraunhofer Institute of Structural Durabiity and System Reliability LBF has developed new formulations for enhance the quality of new recyclate films. At Plastics…

A new method for cleaning conveyor belts in food production can replace the widely used disinfection chemicals: plasma-treated water is effective against microbial contamination at a shorter exposure time and degrades without envrionmentally hazardous traces. These results were recently published in the journal Innovative Food Science and Emerging Technologies. Microbial contamination can occur along the entire food processing chain. In order to minimize health risks for consumers, all production processes must be carried out safely. It is therefore common practice…

New algorithms for object recognition and environment perception have been developed at Fraunhofer IPA, enabling sophisticated automation solutions for the service and production sectors. They are a result of the “Knowledge4Retail” research project, in which twelve project partners have developed solutions for future-oriented retail. Making stationary retail more attractive to customers again with the help of digital solutions – this was the goal of the partners working together on the Knowledge4Retail (K4R) project from January 2020 to December 2022. The…

Air conditioning, refrigeration, and other cooling technologies account for more than 20 percent of today’s global energy consumption, while the refrigerants they use have a global warming potential thousands of times greater than carbon dioxide. In a recent study in the journal Science, a team led by Maryland Engineering Professors Ichiro Takeuchi, Reinhard Radermacher, and Yunho Hwang introduced a high-performance elastocaloric cooling system that could represent the next generation of cooling devices. Takeuchi calls it “a completely different, completely green,…

– Sweet code with laser printing. A team of researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces (MPICI) has developed a method that could make it more difficult to counterfeit products in the future. The new and patented method makes it possible to produce unique, non-copyable fluorescent patterns quickly, environmentally friendly and at low costs. Counterfeiting of electronics, certificates or medicines causes billions of dollars in economic losses worldwide every year. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that…

Small change brings big gain in performance for solid-state battery electrolyte. Oak Ridge National Laboratory scientists found that a small tweak created big performance improvements in a type of solid-state battery, a technology considered vital to broader electric vehicle adoption. These batteries use a solid electrolyte instead of a potentially flammable liquid. When the battery charges or operates, ions move between electrodes through the electrolyte between them. A new method for pressing the solid electrolyte practically eliminates tiny air pockets that block ion flow,…