Researchers created concrete reinforced with nanocrystals that is 30 percent stronger than traditional cement.
Category: materials – Page 50
Hexagons of hexagonal boron nitride join up to form 2D insulator for next-gen electronic devices
A method that can grow a useful insulating material into exceptionally high-quality films that are just one atom thick and are suitable for industrial-scale production has been developed by an international team led by Xixiang Zhang from KAUST.
The work is published in the journal Nature Communications.
The material, called hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), is used in semiconductor devices and can also enhance the performance of other two-dimensional (2D) materials such as graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs).
New strategy enhances 2D transistor dielectric layers
Transistors based on two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors, such as molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) and tungsten diselenide (WSe2), could outperform conventional silicon-based transistors, while also being easier to reduce in size. To perform well, these transistors need to be based on high-quality dielectric materials, which can be difficult to prepare.
Researchers at Nanyang Technological University, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics recently introduced a new promising strategy to prepare the dielectric materials for these transistors. Their approach, outlined in a paper published in Nature Electronics, was successfully used to deposit an ultrathin and uniform native oxide of gallium Ga2O3 on the surface of MoS2.
“Traditional methods of preparing dielectric layer, such as atomic layer deposition (ALD), encounter quality problems because of the high-quality surface of 2D semiconductors without sufficient nucleation points, especially at thin thicknesses down to a few nanometers,” Kongyang Yi, first author of the paper, told Tech Xplore.
New new Design for Photonic Time Crystals could Change How we Use and Control Light
An international research team has for the first time designed realistic photonic time crystals–exotic materials that exponentially amplify light. The breakthrough opens up exciting possibilities across fields such as communication, imaging and sensing by laying the foundations for faster and more compact lasers, sensors and other optical devices.
“This work could lead to the first experimental realization of photonic time crystals, propelling them into practical applications and potentially transforming industries. From high-efficiency light amplifiers and advanced sensors to innovative laser technologies, this research challenges the boundaries of how we can control the light-matter interaction,” says Assistant Professor Viktar Asadchy from Aalto University, Finland.
The study is published in the journal Nature Photonics.
Cooperative motion by atoms protects glass from fracturing
We’ve all experienced the moment of panic when a glass slips from our hands, shattering into pieces upon hitting the ground. What if this common mishap could become a thing of the past?
Now, a new discovery by researchers at Tohoku University has offered insights into how glass resists breakage, potentially paving the way for highly durable, break-resistant materials. The breakthrough has wide ranging implications for glass-related industries.
Details of their findings are published in the journal Acta Materialia.
Breakthrough in fine-tuning electron can unlock best quantum materials
The ability to control and optimize electron behavior is crucial for realizing the potential of the best quantum materials.
Scientists at Loughborough University have made an exciting breakthrough in understanding how fine-tuning the behavior of electrons in quantum materials can unlock the next generation of advanced technologies.
Revealing Hidden Worlds: Monochromatic Light Unveils the Secrets of Crystalline Drops
A new technique employing monochromatic light improves the study of internal structures in materials affected by light scattering, enabling detailed observation of particle concentrations.
When driving through a bank of fog, car headlights are only moderately helpful since the light is scattered by the water particles suspended in the air. A similar situation occurs when trying to observe the inside of a drop of milk in water or the internal structure of an opal gem with white light. In these cases, multiple light scattering effects prevent examination of the interior.
Now, a team of researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) and Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU) has overcome this challenge and developed a new method to study the interior of a crystalline drop.
Magnetic Octupoles Revolutionize High-Speed, Energy-Saving Memory
Researchers reveal a way to use antiferromagnets to create data-storage devices without moving parts.
Scientists have transformed memory device technology by utilizing antiferromagnetic materials and magnetic octupoles, achieving high speeds and low power consumption, paving the way for smaller, more efficient devices.
Advanced Magnetic Memory
The Coldest Place in the Universe Is Unlocking Antimatter Mysteries
In a chilling Italian lab, scientists utilize extreme cold and ancient materials to challenge existing physics laws.
Their research, aiming to detect phenomena like neutrinoless double beta decay, could redefine understanding of matter and antimatter in the universe, involving students in groundbreaking experiments.
Exploring the universe’s mysteries: the italian lab.