Today's Tech News: Notable or Not?

https://phys.org/news/2023-12-fractal-photonic-anomalous-floquet-topological.html "first fractal photonic AFTIs in glass using FLDW technique... specially designed 3D waveguides based on DCs... up to 88 DCs in 1-period fractal AFTI samples, but fewer in complete lattice... 48 chiral edge modes carried by single lattice... multiple propagating single-photon chiral edge states indistinguishable, generating topologically protected entanglement resources and performing quantum logic operations... stable, scalable multi-photon topological quantum -computation and -aimulation of multi-particle systems" Related: Physicists demonstrate parity anomaly in a topological insulator https://phys.org/news/2024-03-physicists-parity-anomaly-topological-insulator.htm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUKnPckzgOs "rival performance and power of gasoline fueled 4.4 L V8 590 horsepower, top speed 162 mph... increased engine compression ratio, more pressure and temperature improve power and efficiency, also proprietary changes offers 2X air mass to enable same amount energy as gasoline... turbocharger coaxial arrangement of 2 compressor stages both driven by common shaft connected to either turbine or electric motor... minimize harmful nitrogen oxides using common UA based selective catalytic reduction" Related: AVL Racetech’s Engine Redefines Automotive Power https://energynews.biz/avl-racetechs-engine-redefines-automotive-power/ Japan's Toyota shows 'an engine born' with green fuel despite global push for battery electric cars https://techxplore.com/news/2024-05-japan-toyota-born-green-fuel.html Japan introduces the world’s first green fuel engine with insane power: the end of hydrogen and methanol https://www.ecoticias.com/en/jap...

  https://scitechdaily.com/molecular-mastery-revolutionizing-solar-energy-storage-with-photoswitches/ "EU-backed project Molecular Solar Thermal Energy Storage  (MOST)... absorb and store solar energy at room temperature... bicyclic dienes molecules switch to high-energy state when illuminated... all 6 of top scoring molecules differed from original norbornadiene quadricyclane system at crucial point in structure, an expansion of molecular bridge between 2 carbon rings in bicyclic part allowing new molecules to store more energy than original norbornadiene" See also: New way to combine energy storage with solar cells https://www.chalmers.se/en/current/news/k-new-way-to-combine-energy-storage-with-solar-cells/

https://phys.org/news/2023-12-all-optical-identification-three-dimensional-reconstruction-based.html "compact, vastly efficient, faster speed, low latency, more integrated methods, whether high- or low- contrast object... rotation and slice methods for high-contrast objects... break the orthogonal polarization state technique for low-contrast objects... objects sliced at tiny intervals, and multiple contour results of object on different projection planes captured by CCD camera... seed screening, surface topography detection, quantitative microscopic 3D reconstruction, reverse engineering, AI, medical diagnosis, industry"

https://www.techspot.com/news/101364-tsmc-working-towards-future-trillion-transistor-chips-1nm.html "multiple 3D-stacked collections of chiplet designs (3D Hetero Integration)... CoWoS, InFO and SoIC packaging technologies... PowerVia backside power delivery allows higher logic densities, higher boost clock speeds, lower power leakage, energy-efficient... significant cost advantages... N3P mass production in 2nd half 2024,, start 2nm production by the end of 2025 move onto 1.4nm A14 process in 2028, and producing 200 billion monolithic 1nm transistors by 2030"

https://phys.org/news/2023-12-3d-multilayer-high-numerical-aperture-achromatic.html "Nanoscale GmbH photonic professional 3D printing with galvo-scanned focused beam inducing crosslinking of liquid resin into nanoscale solid voxel... spacing distance 3X focal length to objectives... high focusing efficiency with broadband performance and topological optimization. removes chromatic aberrations, regards each layer as achromatic corrector and focusing element... low refractive stacked metasurfaces extends performance into broadband functions while preserving high numerical aperture"

https://techxplore.com/news/2023-12-team-absolute-electronic-tongue-technology.html "transduce chemical information into electrical signals mimicking gustatory system.... sensors to measure saltiness, sourness, bitterness, and sweetness simultaneously and accurately... deep-learning algorithm conducst taste analysis effectively... classified the 6 different wines with >95% probability and implemented recommendation system... integrates sensors and deep learning and measures complex flavors... developing new products and quality control: foods (especially alcohol and wine), cosmetics, pharmaceuticals"

https://phys.org/news/2023-12-electrification-strategy-low-temperature-nox.html "diesel exhaust temperatures, <250 ℃, too low for catalytic NOx conversion to occur, so: Pt and K co-supported antimony-doped tin oxides serve as conductive catalysts. Using C3H6 as reductant, a low input power (0.5-4 W) applied to catalyst triggers NSR reactions... ignition temperature for 10% NOx conversion reduced to 165 °C... 23% increased maximum energy efficiency, promoting NO oxidation for NOx adsorption, O2 evolution for NOx desorption, asnd C3H6 activation for NOx reduction" Related: Using electricity, scientists find promising new method of boosting chemical reactions https://phys.org/news/2024-01-electricity-scientists-method-boosting-chemical.html Researchers reveal interfacial confinement on open space of oxide–oxide catalysts https://phys.org/news/2024-03-reveal-interfacial-confinement-space-oxideoxide.html

https://techxplore.com/news/2023-12-electric-transmits-faster-wi-fi.html "Li-fi has high bandwidth, uses existing indoor lighting... combining RGB OLEDs light source that mimics standard white illumination but with minimal interference zones... cavity structure enhances OLED's color representation for each wavelength, and Fabry-Pérot structure of the light-absorbing organic photodiodes selectively receives specific wavelengths of light... lower bit error rate... suppression of interference among light sources, ensuring accurate information transmission...  stability and accuracy" Related: Qualcomm QCC730 Wi-Fi solution’ claims to dramatically lower the power required for wifi modules https://www.telecoms.com/mobile-devices/qualcomm-claims-wifi-power-breakthrough Fast, tap-proof data networks with light https://techxplore.com/news/2024-08-fast-proof-networks.html KAIST's li-fi - achieves 100 times faster speed and enhanced security of wi-fi​ https://www.eurekalert.org/...

https://phys.org/news/2023-12-nanocatalysts-limitations-electrolysis-technology.html "nanocatalyst for high-temperature water electrolysis that can retain a high current density of more than 1A/cm2 for a long period of time at temperatures above 600°... removed strontium carbonate and cobalt oxide responsible tor causing severe structural alterations during high temperatues... >2X hydrogen production from high-temperature (650°) electrolysis using nanocatalyst and operated >400 hours without degradation... scalable, economically competitive with gray hydrogen" Related: Steering molecular twisting for hydrogen generation https://phys.org/news/2024-09-molecular-hydrogen-generation.html Turning Sunlight And Water Into Green Energy https://www.photonicsonline.com/doc/turning-sunlight-and-water-into-green-energy-0001 Chromium doping enhances catalyst performance for faster oxygen evolution https://phys.org/news/2024-09-chromium-doping-catalyst-faster-oxygen.html Scientists a...

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1029815 "Mg-based hydrides: high hydrogen storage densities, good cyclic performance, Mg abundant, low-cost, environmentally friendly... combine advantages of MXenes and Mg(In) solid solution in modification of MgH2/Mg to simultaneously alter thermodynamics and kinetics of Mg-based hydrogen storage... enhanced de/hydrogenation properties of MgH2 catalyzed by In@Ti-MX... unique phase transformation... application of nanostructured Mg-based hydrogen storage materials in various energy fields" Related: New material for hydrogen storage confines this clean yet troublesome fuel https://techxplore.com/news/2024-04-material-hydrogen-storage-confines-troublesome.html New metal-free porous framework materials may have potential for hydrogen storage https://phys.org/news/2024-05-metal-free-porous-framework-materials.html Practical formate/bicarbonate energy system shows promise for hydrogen storage https://phys.org/news/2024-08-formatebicarbonat...

https://phys.org/news/2023-12-strategy-stabilizes-zinc-ion-batteries.html "electrocrystallization induces preferred Zn (002) with uniform interfacial charge density and low surface energy favoring uniform Zn2+ deposition and better anticorrosion... worked for >3.2K hrs, even at high power levels... tested harsh conditions 30 mA cm-2 and 30 mAh cm-2, and achieved 120 hr life cycle... Coulomb efficiency 99.81% after 3K cycles... long-term stability capacity retention 92.3% after 10K cycles" Related: Powering Europe’s Energy With Zinc-Ion Storage Solutions https://www.eetimes.eu/powering-europes-energy-with-zinc-ion-storage-solutions/ New strategy for high-performance cathodes in aqueous zinc ion batteries https://phys.org/news/2023-12-strategy-high-performance-cathodes-aqueous-zinc.html Zinc Battery Breakthrough: Longer Lifespan, Lower Cost https://eightify.app/summary/electric-vehicles/zinc-battery-breakthrough-longer-lifespan-lower-cost Oxygen vacancies boost performance o...

https://phys.org/news/2023-12-strategies-environmentally-friendly-sustainable-polyamide.html "metabolically engineered microorganisms... bio-based polyamide advancements utilizing these monomers... reviewed the strategies for synthesizing bio-based polyamides through chemical conversion of natural oils and discussed the biodegradability and recycling of the polyamides... the importance of utilizing systems metabolic engineering tools and strategies for bio-based polyamides production" Related: Researchers develop a new approach to amides from alkene and amine feedstocks https://phys.org/news/2024-01-approach-amides-alkene-amine-feedstocks.html Enhancing safety in green adipic acid synthesis: The role of EDTA stabilizer and microchannel flow technology https://phys.org/news/2024-03-safety-green-adipic-acid-synthesis.html Bacterium converts individual building blocks of nylon into value-added products https://phys.org/news/2025-02-bacterium-individual-blocks-nylon-added.html Sc...

https://phys.org/news/2023-12-pair-laser-crystal-lattice-vibrations.html "2D hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) stable at room temperature, vibrate quickly 41 THz, 7.3 μm wavelength... coherently and simultaneously drive phonons and electrons generating new optical frequencies... table-top mid-infrared lasers enabling phonon-mediated nonlinear optics of 4-wave mixing generating light close to even harmonics of optical signal... >30X increased 3rd-harmonic... natural phonon motion with laser driving enhances nonlinear optical effects and generates new frequencies"

https://phys.org/news/2023-12-photons-advancing-quantum-technologies.html "non-Fock states (iNFS): complex quantum states requiring more than single photon source and linear optical elements... Fourier transform photonic quantum circuit manifesting 2 photons in 3 different pathways achieving conditional coherence... iNFS properties do not change when passing through a network of many linear optical elements... long-distance optical quantum cryptography, optical quantum computers and sensing"

https://phys.org/news/2023-12-ways-wafer-scale-chiral-carbon-nanotube.html "motion imparts chiral twist on orderly carbon nanotube (CNT) resulting in tornado and twisted-and-stacked thin films... control elliptic level and range of polarized light enabling tunable chirality... combine CNT filtration and shaking to tune characteristics of wafer-scale films... 2nd method of achieving chirality: stacking highly aligned CNT films at angle by controlling number of layers and twisting angles... new record for ellipticity in deep UV range... imaging, sensors, communications, quantum computers, lasers"

https://techxplore.com/news/2023-12-wireless-tracking-reality.html "centimeter-level physical objects real-time tracking and virtual representation, dynamic scenarios 90%+ accuracy, >8X better... 1m module sub-6 GHz overcomes highly dynamic visually obstructed scenarios, rapidly changing environments, or poor lighting... pinpoint battery-operated UWB tags attached to objects have: UWB tag transmitting beacon, localization module equipped with 6 UWB receivers time and phase-synchronized to receive beacon signal accurately measuring tag's location in 2D space"

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/sunrise-energy-announces-breakthrough-achievement-142500912.html "fiber-structured titanium-doped amorphous carbon coated silver hard carbon (wide availability, low cost, simple preparation process) composite... overcomes hard carbon limitations of low specific capacity, low initial efficiency, and deviation in power performance. This hard carbon exhibits core-shell structure with silver-doped hard carbon inner core and outer shell composed of titanium-doped amorphous carbon... enhanced initial efficiency, cycling performance, and rate capability of anode" Related: Revolutionizing Energy Storage: KPIT Unveils Breakthrough Sodium-ion Battery Technology https://medium.com/@mallikarjunoffpagevibrant/in-a-groundbreaking-announcement-kpit-a-global-technology-company-has-revealed-its-latest-8c0c17ecc41b Sodium-ion batteries: How doping works https://techxplore.com/news/2024-02-sodium-ion-batteries-doping.html Revolutionizing batteries: Coffee grounds ...

https://techxplore.com/news/2023-12-mold-nimble-networks.html "switches connect devices to computer network, manage network data flow, carry out packet scheduling, controlling how data routed through network... switch fields data packets from countless users across network (emails, visits to news sites, or Zoom calls between colleagues), prioritizes and schedules according to network managers' set policies, forwards to neighboring switches until packets ultimately reach end user's device... wide variety of packet scheduling policy options alterable on single piece of hardware"

https://phys.org/news/2023-12-electronic-soil-crop-growth.html "eSoil hydroponic electrically conductive cultivation substrate... barley seedlings grew up to 50% more in 15 days when roots stimulated electrically... seedlings process nitrogen more effectively, but it's not clear yet how the electrical stimulation impacts this process,... substrate made of cellulose, the most abundant biopolymer, mixed with a conductive polymer called PEDOT... very low energy consumption and no high voltage danger"

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adfm.202312666 "generating electricity based on the interaction between water and materials... flexible adjustable hydrovoltaic asymmetric sandwich structure device powers micro-electronics... only consumes renewable energy, low-cost, non-polluting, highly sustainable, and high power density.. working principle depends on evaporation- rather than streaming-potential... multiple device integration enables driving electronic devices for correct operation and energy storage... charges commercial button-type lithium batteries"

https://phys.org/news/2023-12-thermoelectric-conversion-magnetic-materials-magnetization.html "anisotropic magneto-Thomson effect (Seebeck and Peltier are other driving effects of thermoelectric conversion) where heat absorption/release proportional to applied temperature difference and charge current (Thomson effect) changes anisotropically depending magnetic direction: heat release generated in Ni95Pt5 alloy larger when temperature gradient and charge current parallel (not perpendicular) magnetization... improved efficiency and energy conservation... fusion area of thermoelectrics and spintronics" Related: Thermoelectric permanent magnet opens new possibilities in thermal management technologies https://phys.org/news/2024-01-thermoelectric-permanent-magnet-possibilities-thermal.html

https://phys.org/news/2023-12-team-transistors-ferroelectricity-based-polarity-switchable.html "2D) semiconductors with sliding ferroelectricity realizing computing-in-memory, attaining necessary switchable electric polarization in these materials... average memory window 7V with 10V applied voltage, retention times >104 sec, endurance >104 cycles... non-volatility, reprogrammability, and low switching fields sliding ferroelectricity, banking on shear transformation-induced dislocations in 3R MoS2 film... large-scale, high-throughput memory... future:  high switching speed and long retention memory" Related: A ferroelectric dimeric liquid crystal with huge spontaneous polarization and dielectric constant at low temperatures https://phys.org/news/2024-01-ferroelectric-dimeric-liquid-crystal-huge.html Scientists develop fatigue-free ferroelectric material https://phys.org/news/2024-06-scientists-fatigue-free-ferroelectric-material.html

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1029523 "works for >90% of silicon cells including containing boron, oxygen, defects and other impurities... intense light and controlled temperature applied excite molecules changing arrangement and patching up holes caused by light and heat damage... performance... prevent and minimize further degradation for up to 5 years... deployed on-site... also provides fully automated solar panel recycling recovering resources like silicon" Related: Beyond Recycling: Reducing Waste from Solar Modules Before They’re Even Made https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/articles/beyond-recycling-reducing-waste-solar-modules-theyre-even-made Proof of concept study shows path to easier recycling of solar modules https://techxplore.com/news/2024-04-proof-concept-path-easier-recycling.html Trina unveils world’s first fully recycled silicon solar module https://onestepoffthegrid.com.au/trina-unveils-worlds-first-fully-recycled-silicon-solar-module/

https://phys.org/news/2023-12-aerogel-key-future-terahertz-technologies.html "aerogel made of cellulose and conducting polymer PEDOT:PSS whose absorption of terahertz turned on- off through redox reaction... outdoor applications since water-repellent and can be naturally defrosted via heating by sunlight... conducting polymers biocompatible, tunable (due to ability to change material's charge density), durable... cellulose renewable and relatively low production cost... large modulation range 13 % and 91 %... medical imaging (X-ray substitute, safer), communication, space exploration, radar" Related: Biodegradable aerogel: Airy cellulose from a 3D printer https://phys.org/news/2024-04-biodegradable-aerogel-airy-cellulose-3d.html Polaron interfacial entropy as a route to high thermoelectric performance in DAE-doped PEDOT:PSS films https://phys.org/news/2024-04-polaron-interfacial-entropy-route-high.html Highly sensitive, foldable detector represents a step toward safer X-r...

https://phys.org/news/2023-12-all-optical-faster-processors.html "no resistive-capacitive delays with photonics, so theoredically 1,000X faster clock speeds...  aluminum-doped zinc oxide picosecond switching time, plasmonic titanium nitride >100X slower... bimetallic nature of switch enables multiple purposes depending on wavelength used... slower applications like memory storage switch with 1 material; for faster applications, switch with other one... switch state when switched on by light beam functioning as light absorbers or reflectors depending on operation wavelength" Related: All-Optical Computer Unveiled With 100 GHz Clock Speed https://www.discovermagazine.com/technology/all-optical-computer-unveiled-with-100-ghz-clock-speed All-optical 100 GHz chip shatters clock speed limits in dramatic boost for AI development, 6G, autonomous vehicles https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3301145/light-speed-chip-unveiled-china-led-team-future-ultra-fast-processin...

https://techxplore.com/news/2023-12-super-smart-hardware-drastic-power-consumption.html "Data centers collectively 2% total U.S. electricity use... device tells developers what the program written spends time on and why, so programs can be changed to do same job more efficiently... time thieves identified and removed from software... can find and correct systematic errors... chips are used in cloud infrastructure, in all data centers, as well as in laptops, desktop computers, and smartphones. There are several of them in your TV, and your car"

https://techxplore.com/news/2023-12-breakthrough-technology-amplifies-terahertz-6g.html "combining THz nano-resonator with AI-based inverse design method based on physical theoretical model, enabling personal computer optimization in <40 hours instead of potentially 100s of years... THz nano-resonator electric field generated surpasses general electromagnetic waves by >30,000X, a 300% efficiency improvement... ultra-precise detectors, ultra-small molecular detection sensors, and bolometer studies"