… and lead to low-cost, flexible displays. Low-cost, flexible displays that use very little energy could be a step closer, thanks to an innovation from the University of Surrey that solves a problem that has plagued source-gated transistors (SGT). SGTs are not widely used because current designs have a problem with how their performance changes with temperature. To solve this problem, scientists from the University of Surrey have developed a new design for the transistor part called the source. They…
Ultra-short pulsed (USP) lasers are versatile tools in laser materials processing, but work even more efficiently when the laser pulses are optimally manipulated in space and time. How important this is for the new high-power sources with 300 W and more could be experienced at the “7th UKP Workshop Ultrafast Laser Technology” in Aachen. Visitors could also see how USP lasers make the electrodes of batteries for electric cars or hydrogen systems significantly more efficient. At the end of April,…
Optical Microsystems of Fraunhofer IPMS. Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS uses optical microsystems to enable fast and high-resolution light control. By using small, movable mirrors, the institute’s photonic systems can modulate light to create unique images and structures. The institute’s researchers are implementing 1-axis- and 2-axis tilting mirrors as well as piston mirrors. The mirrors are monolithically integrated on so-called CMOS backplanes. Fraunhofer IPMS develops spatial light modulators with up to several million mirrors on a semiconductor chip. Depending…
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…
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…
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,…
A new paper lays out scientific methods for measuring and calculating Q in a sheared-flow-stabilized Z pinch. In the race to develop fusion energy, each unique approach requires its own specialized techniques to determine net energy gain, an equation balancing energy in and out that’s known by the letter Q. A new paper, published today in the journal Fusion Science and Technology, establishes the company’s method of measuring and calculating Q in Zap’s sheared-flow-stabilized Z-pinch fusion plasmas. The publication will be…
The world’s first fully integrated and functional microchip based on exotic two-dimensional materials has been fabricated at KAUST. The breakthrough demonstrates the potential of 2D materials to expand the functionality and performance of microchip-based technologies. Since the first fabrication of atomically thin layers of graphite — called graphene — in 2004, there has been intense interest in such materials for advanced and novel applications due to their exotic and promising physical properties. But, despite two decades of research, functional microdevices…
Energy-flexible operation of pressure die-casting systems. Due to the high energy consumption of melting and holding furnaces, the price of the energy source represents a significant cost factor in the production of castings. The price of electricity fluctuates over the course of the day. As a result, companies should design their energy consumption flexibly. Together with its partners, the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA is developing a bivalent furnace that enables dynamic switching between gas and electricity….
Hamburg scientists at Helmut Schmidt University/UniBw H have succeeded in developing a particularly powerful thin-disk laser oscillator. Hamburg scientists at Helmut Schmidt University/UniBw H have succeeded in developing a particularly powerful thin-disk laser oscillator. Laser oscillators, unlike laser amplifiers, generate and amplify laser radiation simultaneously from a single box. The core part of the system consists of a laser-gain medium in a special thin-disk geometry and a unique configuration of mirrors to form the laser resonator. The laser emits 14…
New catalyst lowers cost for producing environmentally sustainable hydrogen from water. A plentiful supply of clean energy is lurking in plain sight. It is the hydrogen we can extract from water (H2O) using renewable energy. Scientists are seeking low-cost methods for producing clean hydrogen from water to replace fossil fuels, as part of the quest to combat climate change. Hydrogen can power vehicles while emitting nothing but water. Hydrogen is also an important chemical for many industrial processes, most notably…
States with decarbonization goals must plan, prepare, and test for long-duration energy storage. How can US states with aggressive decarbonization goals coupled with federal decarbonization goals have energy when they need it? Long-duration energy storage (LDES) is a likely candidate. LDES systems are large energy storage installations that can store renewable energy until needed and can provide a much-needed solution for a reliable and decarbonized grid. But planning needs to start now, according to new research from Pacific Northwest National…
Galvanometer scanners have been in use in laser material processing for decades. However, a team from the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT has now developed a new, particularly compact scanner module for applications in 3D printing, micromachining or medical technology. The researchers have already successfully tested it for various applications. The scanner will be on display at LASER World of Photonics 2023 in Munich. Smaller, lighter, more efficient and more sustainable – these are the demands placed on system…
To pave the way for the industrial implementation of highly efficient perovskite-silicon PV modules, the tandem solar cells and modules must be reliably measured. Only then is it possible to make objective comparisons between different cells and modules and to make technological improvements. In contrast to conventional silicon PV modules, however, the calibration is considerably more challenging. A project consortium led by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE is therefore developing methods for characterizing perovskite-based tandem modules in…
Small, clean, efficient and affordable: Deforestation in African regions and many other parts of the world is increasing rapidly. The reasons for this are growing population and the increased use of wood/charcoal as cooking fuel. Against this background, a cookstove was developed for special requirements in Togo as part of the “LabTogo” project funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The DBFZ’s new development not only requires significantly less fuel than traditional stoves, but also has lower…
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