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Showing posts from December, 2024

Unexpected electronic behavior in 2D materials with a twist that defies theoretical predictions

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-2d-materials-unexpected-electronic-behavior.html "2 sheets 2D tungsten disulfide stacked 4.4° angle electrons should show superconductive collective behavior, but did not see this... explained by interactions between atoms, where twisted bilayer partially reverts to a lower-energy, untwisted configuration. ..2 sheets of the bilayer form different regions with varying properties. The study has also enhanced scientists' ability to predict and manipulate the behavior of 2D structures, paving the way for future applications in different types of electronics"

On-chip low-frequency quantum photonics simulates arbitrary-range coupled frequency lattices with gauge potential

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1069248 "controls synthetic polarization/ frequency... simulates complex structures like atom chains/ nanotubes... , which are crucial for understanding low-dimensional materials... high electro-optic coefficient thin-film lithium niobate chips... periodically modulating on-chip resonator, reveals band structures enabling coupling up to 8 and 9X lattice constant while reducing required modulation frequency >5 orders magnitude... reduces required frequencies >3 orders magnitude, reduction from 100 GHz to 10 MHz"

Researchers improve circle chaotic mapping for generating high-resolution images from low-resolution ones

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-chaotic-super-resolution-image-reconstruction.html   "traditional methods blur/ distort... Chaotic Mapping-based Sparse Representation overcomes noise/ computational complexity...  integrates into dictionary sequence, solving process of K-singular value decomposition dictionary update algorithm balancing traversal... simplifies search global optimal solutions, enhancing noise robustness... orthogonal matching pursuit greedy algorithm converges faster, complementing K-SVD, constructing high-resolution... reduced SR reconstruction complexity"

Radar algorithms analyzing contour features of received signals double the resolution of existing low-resolution radars

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1069239 "improves object recognition precision without need for bandwidth expansion or ultra-high-resolution algorithms with significant complexity... lower costs, reduced system complexity... additional information embedded in envelope of radar signals  using simpler algorithms.... also enables the precise identification of objects both inside and outside the vehicle... lidar (autonomous vehicles), aerospace"

High-performance self-charging energy storage device combines supercapacitors with solar cells to deliver high energy in real time

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1069240 "dramatically improves energy (35.5 Wh kg⁻¹)/ power (2555.6 W kg⁻¹), densities, charge/ discharge stability of existing supercapacitors, utilizing electrodes using nickel-based carbonate/ hydroxide composite, and maximizing conductivity/ stability by adding transition metal ions such as Mn, Co, Cu, Fe, Zn... minimal degradation during repeated charge/ discharge... energy storage (63%)/ overall (5.17%) efficiencies... effectively validates potential for commercialization"

Engineers develop first deep-UV microLED display chips for maskless photolithography creating new path for semiconductor manufacture

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-deep-uv-microled-display-chips.html "lower cost due to adequate light output power density, enabling shorter photoresist film exposure... applies short-wavelength UV making IC chips with various layouts... smaller, less energy consumption (lower driving voltage), higher optical power density, larger array size, higher display resolution, improved external quantum/ optical extraction efficiency, better heat distribution, epitaxial stress relief during production... future: 2k to 8k high-resolution deep UV microLED display screens"

Five breakthroughs that make OpenAI’s o3 a turning point for AI — and one big challenge

https://venturebeat.com/ai/five-breakthroughs-that-make-openais-o3-a-turning-point-for-ai-and-one-big-challenge/   "scored 75.7% on ARC benchmark under standard compute conditions (87.5% using high compute)... key innovations: 1. program synthesis for task adaptation enables dynamically combining things learned during pre-training. 2. natural language program search, using chains of thought/ sophisticated search. 3. evaluator generates multiple solution/ determines most promising. 4. reusable building blocks. 5. deep learning-guided program search... challenge: high costs/ efficiency bottlenecks inherent in pushing to limits"

Freestanding flexible thermoelectric micrometer-thick films with 204 μW m–1 K–2 power factor, a 4 orders magnitude improvement

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsaem.4c02568 "4 orders of magnitude higher than pristine films... polymer chain realignment/ enhanced charge transport via solvent doping, coupled with PSS reduction during post-treatment, strengthens film mechanics... freestanding nature ensures transferability, versatility... besides thermoelectrics, these highly conductive, robust, and flexible PEDOT:PSS films provide attractive solutions for organic solar cells, battery electrodes, and flexible electronics... film made of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate)"

Cross-linked poly(vinyl alcohol)–malonic acid water-soluble binder for high-performance silicon anodes in lithium-Ion batteries

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsaem.4c02443 "volume expansion (>300%) leading to Si pulverization, electrode capacity fading fast, is overcome using eco-friendly carboxylic acid–based cross-linked poly(vinyl alcohol)– malonic acid water-soluble polymeric binder prepared through PVA and MA polymerization... included hydroxyl groups and ester bonds enhanced mechanics/ adhesion... when also containing 10 wt %MA exhibited 3558 mAh/g initial capacity, maintaining 2267 mAh/g after 100 cycles at 0.3 C rate... sustainable Si sources"

Photochemical/ self-assembly processes enable filiform molecule insertion into cavity of ring-shaped molecule, for nanomotors, smart drugs

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1068946 "using high-energy geometry that would not be possible at thermodynamic equilibrium, by administering light to aqueous solution... behavior at root of many functions in living organisms... eco-friendly sunlight... interlocking components: cyclodextrins, hollow water-soluble truncated cone shaped molecules, and azobenzene derivatives, molecules changing shape under light... self-assembly/ photochemical reaction harnesses light, accumulating unstable products, paving way for nanomotors, smart drugs"

New quantum thermal diodes/ transistors enable precise directional control of heat flow at the quantum level

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-advancing-unidirectional-era-quantum-thermal.html#google_vignette "thermotronics, manipulating heat flux like how electronics control electricity... qubit-qutrit quantum systems improve efficiency/ scalability... energy level alignment/ interaction of qubit/ qutrit achieves directional control... precise tuning across broad temperature range... computers using heat flow rather than electric current, cooling high-performance electronics, efficient energy harvesting of waste heat, dynamic building temperature management, thermoelectric generators, spacecraft thermal systems" Related: Is TEC the next data center cooling breakthrough? https://www.techtarget.com/searchdatacenter/tip/Is-TEC-the-next-data-center-cooling-breakthrough A New Approach for Effective Low-Temperature Thermoelectric Cooling https://analytik.news/en/press/2025/5.html

Strategies for controlling electronic transport in magnetic Weyl semimetal films suggested by Hall effect behaviors

https://www.isct.ac.jp/en/news/hdb2eg0xs653 "revealed by large in-plane anomalous Hall effect in EuCd2Sb2 films, materials with out-of-plane shift of singular points in their electronic band structures, wherein magnetic fields induce distinctive change... changes its sign with rotation of in-plane magnetic field, exhibiting clear 3-fold symmetry for rotation of in-plane magnetic fields... corresponds to orbital magnetization... technologies relying on precise magnetic field measurement (magnetic sensing)"

Quantum interference/ spin-splitting generates spin-voltage controlling quantum information flow

https://news.illinoisstate.edu/2024/12/from-waste-heat-to-quantum-innovation-advancing-spintronics/ "drastically reduces heat generation/ energy loss, leveraging electrons' wave-like nature... node-possessing molecular junctions... metal electrodes connected to single molecules, with applied magnetic field, heat converts into spin-voltage... required tackling quantum many-body problem, predicting behavior of 10²³ interacting electrons, rarely feasible, but crafted computations uncovering behaviors with potential for quantum computing, secure communication, energy recovery"

Privatte membranes with unique 3D structure achieve current densities of 500 mA/sq cm, setting a new standard for flow batteries

https://cibc.hr/revolutionary-battery-breakthrough-efficient-energy-storage-is-here/ "economic/ eco-friendly poly(ether ether ketone) membranes... better ion conductivity/ chemical stability... high-efficiency applications, such as grid storage for renewable energy or electric vehicle charging stations"

AQSolotl’s CHRONOS-Q quantum controller enables quantum computer control using laptop/ desktop computers

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1069169 "adaptable, scalable, cost-efficient... excels in speed at fraction of cost/ size... determining qubit states takes less than 14 ns enabling real-time feedback... development of renewable energy systems/ precision medicine, banking systems, databases/ data centers"

Strain tuning: Spray painting atomic potassium niobate onto a substrate enables tuning of properties of the resulting thin film

https://www.psu.edu/news/materials-research-institute/story/straining-materials-atomic-arrangement-may-make-cleaner-smarter "alters properties by stretching/ compressing atoms' repeating motif of its crystal structure... molecular beam epitaxy depositing layer of atoms... increases temperature limits/ improves ferroelectric performance.... ferroelectrics can reverse their electric polarity when external electric field applied, vital for many devices... strain engineering works by layering 2 materials of slightly dissimilar sizes... potassium niobate is lead-free... consumer electronics, medical devices, quantum computing... future: silicon substrate."

Spintronics based Magnetoresistive Random Access Memory utilizes thin film with high perpendicular magnetic anisotropy

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1069185 "cobalt-manganese-iron alloy has both high tunnel magnetoresistance/ high perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, allowing them to integrate large number of bits with high capacity/ high thermal stability...  reduced power consumption.... large memory capacity for MRAM devices using a simulation. The results of this research will offer a new candidate for memory materials, and contribute to the continuous development of novel spintronics memory devices, with the aim of creating a more sustainable society for everyone"

Non-van-der-Waals Cu₃BHT coordination 2D MOF polymer crystal structure with intrinsic superconducting properties at 0.25°K

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1069176 "advanced electronic materials, quantum states... quasi-2D Kagome structure characterized by interlayer covalent Cu-S bonds... modular lattice design, formed by metal centers/ conjugated ligands, allows exceptional control over electronic states, enabling applications in quantum transport/ superconductivity... 10³ S/cm room temperature metallic conductivity, 10⁴ S/cm at 2°K, due to enhanced electron-phonon coupling/ electron-electron interactions... interlayer covalent Cu-S bonds play key role"

Scalable ambient pressure one pot synthesized cubic polymeric nitrogen, a high-energy-density material

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1068735 "simple thermal method for preparing polymeric nitrogen at ambient conditions using azides as precursors through a thermal treatment process... for energy materials... starts to decompose at ~480°C, accompanied by heat release... remained almost unchanged in air for month (stable)... yield is significantly higher than that prepared by high pressure methods... energy storage systems, explosives and propellants"

Reduced computational requirements for Generative Adversarial Networks inserting style of one image into another

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1067967 "Single-Stream Image-to-Image Translation enables smartphone app... artistic styles, simulating weather changes, improving satellite video resolution, helping autonomous vehicles recognize different lighting... single encoder extracts spatial features, Direct Adaptive Instance Normalization with Pooling captures key style details focusing on the most prominent, improving efficiency... decoder takes combined content/ reconstructs final image... no expensive hardware or cloud services"

Game-changing covalent organic frameworks (COFs): Imine-linked wonders for tech and environment

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1069131 "tunable bandgaps, stable/ ordered structures, porous... topology design, synthesis of COF powders/ films... imine-linked: easy synthesis, structural versatility... imine linkages influence physicochemical properties... fuel cells, environmental/ energy storage, photocatalysis, hydrogen/ CO2 adsorption, optoelectronics" Related: Scientists synthesize single-crystal sp² carbon-linked covalent organic frameworks https://phys.org/news/2025-01-scientists-crystal-sp-carbon-linked.html

Nissan fueled by renewable bio-ethanol 70% efficient solid oxide fuel cell

https://www.eldiario24.com/en/not-toyota-not-hyundai-this-engine/6243/ "produces electricity by combining oxygen and bio-ethanol... CO2, water released as byproducts... no need for hydrogen storage, due to on-site converting widely accessible/ renewable bio-ethanol into hydrogen... strong catalytic activity fostered by high operating temperatures"

More economic, sustainable, longer life lithium-rich layered oxide cathode by conserving oxygen

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1069116 "up to 20% higher energy density by reducing the nickel/ cobalt cathode content and increasing lithium/ manganese... ovecomes capacity fading/ voltage decay during charge/ discharge cycles... oxygen release destabilizing... reinforced cathode-electrolyte interface by improving electrolyte composition, reducing oxygen emissions... 84.3% energy retention rate even after 700 charge-discharge cycles... improved lifespan/ performance, minimized electrolyte decomposition"

Ultra-short femtosecond laser pulses turn tellurite glass into semiconductor comprising an efficient solar panel

https://www.eldiario24.com/en/solar-femtosecond-laser-glass/6297/ "pulses create durable patterns of tellurium and tellurium-oxide crystals, forming at exact point where laser meets glass... after etching simple line pattern onto 1-cm-diameter section of tellurite glass, can generate current under UV and visible light... capability maintained reliably for months... also, sensors...windows and other glass structures"

Rapidly creating large quantities of laser light sources for displays using an inkjet printer ejecting laser-emitting droplets

https://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/en/research-news/20241219140000.html "switching light emission on/ off applying electric field to miniature/ high density/ large quantity organic droplets, arranged on circuit board comprising compact laser displays for TVs, PCs, smartphones... better brightness/ color reproducibility... 30 µm diameter droplet functions as electrically switchable laser pixel, individually controllable in 2×3 several cm array of them"

Hidden quantum behaviors within classical light, which could make quantum technologies robust

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1069040 "boundary between classical/ quantum physics... projected fragmented classical pseudothermal light fields into smaller isolated multiphoton subsystems, uncovering quantum coherence such as particle interference previously thought unique to quantum systems... most exhibited classical coherence, smaller subset exhibited quantum coherence: interference similar to entanglement... isolate quantum systems classical system hidden in quantum dynamics... room temperature quantum imaging/ sensors "

Vacancy-rich β-Li3N superionic battery boosts EV range to 600+ miles by increasing mobile Li-ion population

https://interestingengineering.com/energy/new-solid-state-electrolyte-powers-lithium-batteries "solid-state electrolyte with 2.14 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ ionic conductivity at room temperature, exceptional cycling stability, 500 Wh/kg energy density, fast charging/ discharging... overcomes challenges with lithium metal anodes, oxides/ sulfide/ halide electrolytes, dendrites, detrimental side reactions... protective interlayers stabilize anode... ball-milled β-Li3N with high lithium-ion conductivity and vacancy-mediated diffusion mechanism... high air stability in dry environments"

Controlling hybrid electron-photon quantum states in chemical reactions by pulse formation of very intense, extreme UV radiation

https://idw-online.de/en/news844693 "tested in helium atoms... new laser pulse-shaping technique using FERMI free electron laser... 10 to 100 trillion W/   square cm laser intensity within few trillionths of second produces dressed states... <100 nm wavelength pulses dispersing/ contracting depending on scenario, by adjusting time lag of different laser color components... control using seed laser pulse preconditioning emission... potentially control chemical reactions with atomic precision"

Low-cost, recyclable polysulfide stores data as nanometer-size indents, for erasable high density data storage

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1068605 "low-cost sulfur/ dicyclopentadiene... lower-energy, probe-based mechanical data storage... atomic force microscope/ scanning probe makes/ reads indentations... erasable in seconds by short bursts of heat, reusable several times... more dense than typical high density data storage"

JinDou400 ramjet detonation engine's successful Mach 4 flight (3,106 mph) at 65,000 ft

https://newatlas.com/aircraft/space-transportation-mach-4-ramjet-detonation-engine-success/ "controlled detonations in combustion chamber, far more power/ thrust/ efficiency with less fuel, but only at much higher speeds... 10 ft length, 12 inches diameter., 882 lbf thrust... no moving parts, more compact, lightweight, cost-effective to produce, but ineffective at low speeds/ accompanied by turbojets to handle subsonic flight... aim: 2027 maiden flight (prototype flown October 2024)... nearly 2 X  current passenger flight altitude, >2 X  Concorde's fastest speeds... VTOL capabilities (vertical take-off and landing)"

Unlocking graphene's potential for optoelectronic and energy applications

https://www.tohoku.ac.jp/en/press/unlocking_graphenes_potential_for_optoelectronic_and_energy_applications.html "weak fluorination addresses graphene zero-bandgap limitation... eco-friendly fluoropolymers achieving selective fluorination... enables enhanced photoluminescence/ tunable transport properties, maintaining high carrier mobility... incorporating van der Waals heterostructures for flexible electronics/ systems performing simultaneous tasks... combining fluorination with strain engineering for scalable, high-performance 2D materials... safe and scalable material processing techniques... LEDs, sensors"

On-site device produces critical fertilizer ingredient ammonia using wind energy to draw air through a mesh

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1068001 "harnesses nitrogen/ hydrogen in air, catalyzed by mesh coated in oxide/ acid polymer with fluorine/ sulfur mix... room temperature, pressure, requiring no voltage... recycling water through spraying system, achieving ammonia concentrations fertilizing in greenhouse after 2 hours...microporous stone material filter... 2 to 3 years away... if scaled up economically, could drastically reduce reliance on fossil fuels across multiple sectors... future: integrating into irrigation systems" Related: Climate-Friendly Electricity Derived from Ammonia https://www.fraunhofer.de/en/press/research-news/2024/november-2024/climate-friendly-electricity-derived-from-ammonia.html

Chip-based quantum-dot laser-graded neuron mimics nerve cell functions with a processing speed a billion times faster, at 10 GBaud

https://www.optica.org/about/newsroom/news_releases/2024/december/laser-based_artificial_neuron_mimics_nerve_cell_functions_at_lightning_speed/ "overcomes photonic spiking neurons' speed limitations leveraging neuron-like nonlinear dynamics/ fast processing reservoir (future: edge) computer... processed data from 100 million heartbeats or 34.7 million handwritten digital images in 1 second, 98.4% accurate... pads injecting radio frequency signals into quantum dot laser’s saturable absorption section produce faster, simpler, more energy-efficient system... no additional complex connections... single neuron, future: cascaded... speech recognition, weather prediction"

Storing large amounts of thermal energy by integrating latent, thermochemical and sensible energy storage modes

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08214-1 "boric/ succinic acid eutectic mixture transitions at around 150°C, with record high 394 ± 5% J g−1 reversible thermal energy uptake, by melting boric acid component... simultaneously undergoes dehydration into metaboric acid/ water, dissolving into the liquid readily rehydrating re-forming boric acid on cooling... thermal stability >1K heating/ cooling cycles... very low cost, eco-friendly/ sustainable... high energy density/ capacity/ efficiency"

Light control: Integrating metasurfaces into optoelectronic devices for better performance, efficiency, and ultra-compactness

https://www.semiconductor-digest.com/advancing-light-control-new-opportunities-for-metasurfaces-in-optoelectronics/ "captures spectral/ polarisation light/ complex light-field data, improves quantum yields/ enables precise directionality/ color control... high-resolution, improved light absorption/ power conversion efficiency, enhanced sustainability, faster/ more reliable data transmission... LEDs, lasers, optical modulators, photodetectors, AR/VR, wearable devices, optical communication, thermal management, solar energy, quantum technologies, healthcare diagnostics, environmental monitoring, autonomous transport"

Quantum teleportation over a fiberoptic cable already carrying Internet traffic without need for new infrastructure

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1068377 "harnesses quantum entanglement... place photons into less crowded light wavelengths minimizing scattering, adding special filters reducing noise from regular Internet traffic... tested over 30 km fiberoptic cable... future: longer distances, using 2 pairs of entangled photons to demonstrate entanglement swapping ... distributed quantum sensing/ computing"

Dealloying: Harnessing corrosion and transforming it into a tool for creating sustainable lightweight alloys

https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-technology-news/harnessing-corrosion-scientists-transform-dealloying-into-sustainable-lightweight-alloy-design "selectively removing one or more elements from alloy through corrosion, leaving behind porous structure... controlling corrosion process tailors composition/ structure increasing strength, ductility, corrosion resistance... sustainably repurposes waste materials, utilizing existing composition, so friendly/ cost-effective... superior strength-to-weight ratio, fuel efficiency benefits... increase strength while reducing weight... aerospace, automotive, electronics... future: scalability" Related: Harnessing corrosion: Scientists transform dealloying into sustainable lightweight alloy design https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-technology-news/harnessing-corrosion-scientists-transform-dealloying-into-sustainable-lightweight-alloy-desig A new transformer-based model for identifying alloy properties ht...

Swarm of microrobots optimally mobilizes its forces

https://www.exc.uni-konstanz.de/collective-behaviour/news-and-events/news/details/microrobots-and-the-lazy-agent-problem/ "identifying/ rewarding individual efforts where swarms of tiny robots propelled by laser spots work together performing complex tasks... machine learning algorithm and method estimating each microrobot’s contribution, preventing lazy agent problem... counterfactual rewards precisely control each microrobot’s behavior, giving swarm indicators learning to make better distribution of forces on its own... applicable in any collective system... medicine, environmental monitoring" Related: Scientists develop technology to control cyborg insect swarms https://techxplore.com/news/2025-01-scientists-technology-cyborg-insect-swarms.html

Rocket fuel ignition- inspired reaction yields nanoporous carbon with record 4.8K square meters/ gram surface area

https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2024/12/rocket-inspired-reaction-yields-carbon-record-surface-area "sucrose and template material shape/ structure carbon... reactions occurring spontaneously when certain chemicals mix, releasing rapid, intense energy burst (ignites), forming carbon tubes with high concentration of reactive molecular rings of 5 carbon atoms, instead of typical 6... add microscopic pores, metastable configuration prevening lowest energy state... captures 99% its total capacity in 2 minutes... 60 watt-hours/ liter energy density, 4X better... supercapacitors, electrocatalysts, pollution capture, energy storage"

More sustainable magnetocaloric heat pump matches current vapor-compression heat pumps for weight, cost, and power density

https://www.ameslab.gov/news/the-future-of-more-sustainable-cooling-and-heating-technology-could-be-just-around-the-corner "vapor-compression relies on harmful refrigerants... magnetocaloric heat pumps require less energy for cooling/ heating... operates by changing magnetic field applied to magnetocaloric material while pumping fluid moving heat... using space/ materials more efficiently: gadolinium, but no lanthanum-iron-silicon materials, less permanent magnet/ magnetic steel... cost will match that of current vapor-compression heat pumps in mass production" Related: New research confirms heat pumps are three to four times more efficient than boilers https://www.kensaheatpumps.com/news-blog/new-research-heat-pumps-more-efficient-than-gas/

Atom loss detection in neutral atom systems using simple circuit-based techniques, without disturbing quantum state

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1068731 "if an atom slips away in the middle of a calculation the result can be completely useless... useful quantum computers will need millions of qubits, and with so many, the odds of losing them mid-program spikes... circuit-based detection method enabling researchers to flag and correct errors achieves 93.4% accuracy... .. second atom, not involved in any calculation, indirectly detects whether an atom of interest is missing"

Neural computing'​s weight transport problem solved, enabling faster/ more accurate learning after pre-learning random information

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1068662 "biologically plausible error backpropagation learning possible without weight transport, overcoming slow learning speeds/ low accuracy, enabling use in neuromorphic computing... pre-trained with random noise, creating symmetry in forward/ backward neural cell connections, essential for error backpropagation learning... meta-learning how to learn... clues from developmental neuroscience, insight into the brain’s learning principles through artificial neural network models" Related: Laser-based artificial neuron mimics nerve cell functions at lightning speed https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1068365 Artificial protein-based neural network for cells classifies signals in cells https://cen.acs.org/physical-chemistry/computational-chemistry/protein-based-neural-network-cells/102/web/2024/12

Replacing graphite electrodes with fruit and winemaking acid waste improves energy storage capacity of lithium-ion batteries

https://www.environmentenergyleader.com/stories/battery-breakthrough-turning-food-waste-into-energy-storage,53430 "prototype single-layer pouch cell utilizing artaric/ malic acid electrodes... addresses both sustainability and economic considerations... also applies to sodium-ion batteries... enhances battery energy storage, ionic conductivity, and structural stability, enabling diverse applications ranging from micro-batteries, which power medical technologies, to large-scale batteries designed for trucks and industrial applications"

Conductive hydrogel-based soft bioelectronics exhibit high water content, tissue-like modulus and ionic conductivity

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1068296 "tunable mechanical/ electrical properties... enables biosignal monitoring/ electrical stimulation... conductive fillers: carbon nanomaterials, conducting polymers, metal-based nanomaterials... low impedance/ high charge injection capacity enable real-time monitoring/ therapeutics... biocompatibility/ biodegradability ensure minimal immune response/ environmental impact... integrate with flexible circuits/ microfluidic systems... wearable sensors, neural interfaces, drug delivery, artificial muscles"

Oxygen and chlorine evolution from electrolysers employing MXene surface catalyst, without need for noble metals

https://www.uni-due.de/2024-12-17-catalysis-with-electrochemistry-instead-of-precious-metals "MXene surface changes into brush-like structure: non-noble metal atoms migrate out forming SAC (single atom catalyst)- like structures... forms gaseous chlorine from water containing chloride ions... chemical industry produces more than 70 million tons of gaseous chlorine per year for pharmaceuticals, plastics, batteries, water treatment... forms gaseous hydrogen and oxygen from water only electrolyte by means of oxygen evolution – an important step in the formation of green hydrogen" Related: Harnessing spin: New electrocatalysts could transform hydrogen production efficiency https://techxplore.com/news/2024-12-harnessing-electrocatalysts-hydrogen-production-efficiency.html Rrcombinant α-carboxysome shells, natural microcompartments from bacteria, combined with microporous organic semiconductor, is highly effective at producing hydrogen https://www.miragenews.com/breakthrough-in-eng...

Highly efficient wearable, stretchable piezoelectric harvests 280 times more electricity than conventional devices

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1068334 "highly piezoelectric efficient lead zirconate titanate... ovecomes being hard/ brittle, so insensitive to deformation... curvature-specific coupling divides electrode into different sections so that electrical energy not canceled out, leading to an energy efficiency that is 280 times higher than that of conventional stretching piezoelectric energy harvesters... wearable energy harvester" Related: Thermal-electric aerosol printer to make piezoelectric biofilms at unprecedented speed https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1068908 Raindrop’s impact and physical dynamics of leaf response, with potential applications for agriculture and renewable-energy harvesting https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2024/12/understanding-leaves-resiliency-when-it-rains

Bacteria cells self-assemble their own glass coating using sea sponge enzymes creating advanced sensor microlenes

https://www.rochester.edu/newscenter/what-is-a-microlenses-bioglass-sea-sponge-632292/ "sea sponges grow light, delicate, intricate, strong silica glass skeletons... inexpensive/ easy to grow at standard temperature/ pressure, no need for complex, expensive machinery to shape accurately... silicatein enzyme from sea sponges... microlenses much smaller than typically produced... visualize smaller structures with greater clarity... glass-coated bacteria remain alive several months sensing/ responding to environment by changing optical properties, ideal studying materials' effects low-gravity environments, space"

Structure and geometry influence excited state fluorescence dynamics in aggregation-induced emission molecules

https://www.shinshu-u.ac.jp/english/topics/2024/12/exploring-excited-st.html "in both liquid and solid states... aggregation-induced emission where molecules emit light more efficiently as solid/ aggregate, restricting bending, forcing molecule to maintain stable structure emitting light due to quenching effects, restricting access to conical intersection... demonstrated in α-substituted dibenzoylmethanatoboron difluoride... shape changes within few trillionths of second... OLED, bioimaging"

Computer utilizing a Gaussian probabilistic bit (g-bit) made from a spintronics device enables energy efficient generative AI

https://www.tohoku.ac.jp/en/press/researchers_develop_spintronics_platform_for_energyefficient_generative_ai.html "g-bits building block for probabilistic computing, such as Gaussian-Bernoulli Boltzmann Machine, enabling optimization/ machine learning with both binary and continuous variables... faster, cheaper, more energy efficient iterative diffusion models creating realistic images, videos, text, portfolio optimization, mixed-variable problems... not needing complex approximations handling continuous variables which led to inefficiencies... combinatorial optimization, statistical machine learning"

Bringing the power of tabletop precision lasers for quantum science to chip-scale ultra-low-linewidth self-injection locked 780 nm lasers

https://news.ucsb.edu/2024/021708/bringing-power-tabletop-precision-lasers-quantum-science-chip-scale "cheaper, emitting single color/ frequency for ultra low-noise, stable light for ultra-precise atom measurement/ control... passing laser through rubidium atomic vapor, a near IR transitions to stable atomic linewidthsr... Fabry-Perot laser diode, resonator, silicon nitride platform... 4 orders magnitude better... cold atom quantum sensors (gravimeters/ 2-photon atomic clocks), portable field-deployable/ space-based quantum and cold-atom interferometer sensors, quantum computing with neutral atoms/ trapped ions"

Solid phase alloying process transforms common aluminum waste into high-value aluminum products in a single step

https://www.pnnl.gov/news-media/metal-scrap-upcycled-high-value-alloys-solid-phase-manufacturing "Shear Assisted Processing and Extrusion: no need for melting, casting, traditional extrusion... adding copper, zinc, magnesium, to precursor aluminum chips... <5 minutes... high-speed rotating die create friction/ heat dispersing chunky starting ingredients into uniform alloy... atomic-scale features( Guinier-Preston zones) form within alloy makes 200% stronger and increased ultimate tensile strength... also applicable to other metal alloys... customized compositions for wire arc 3D additive manufacturing"

Porous SiOx electrodes synthesized via radiofrequency sputtering fixes durability issues in all-solid-state lithium batteries

  https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1068170 "overcomes low durability (the negative Si electrode repeatedly expands contracts), replaces toxic liquid electrolyte with Li-La-Zr-Ta-O solid electrolyte... much better cycling, enables SiOx films as thick as 5 µm massively boosting space efficiency/ energy density of the negative electrode 17X higher"

Arrayed tungsten disulfide nanotubes which point in the same direction when formed

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1067845 "sapphire substrate with specific crystalline plane exposed to surface, providing template on which nanotubes grown.,, gases containing tungsten/ sulfur fed to substrate at precise rates/ temperatures allowing chemical vapor deposition forming multi-walled rolled tungsten disulfide nanotubes on surface, all pointing along specific crystallographic direction... nanotube arrays collectively show exotic, anisotropic properties of single nanotubes interacting with light... optoelectronic devices"

IBM Research advancements in chip assembly/ packaging deliver high-speed connectivity to supercharge generative AI computing

https://research.ibm.com/blog/co-packaged-optics-to-supercharge-generative-ai-computing#pageStart "fiber optic speed/ capacity inside data centers/ circuit boards... improved bandwidth: 6X increased beachfront density... polymer optical waveguide... >80% reduced energy consumption,,, reduction from 5 pJ/ bit to <1...<0.5 µm tolerance between fiber/ connector achieved... 50- Âµm pitched optical channels, coupled to silicon photonics waveguides/ connector pluggable to single mode glass fiber arrays... 80% size reduction from conventional 250 (future: 20 or 25) µm pitch”

Cheap, recyclable, scalable 3D printed plastics with tunable stiffness stretch/ flex repeatedly in 1 direction remaining rigid in another

https://materials.princeton.edu/news/2024/stretchable-flexible-recyclable-plastic-fantastic "block thermoplastic elastomers, 1 cent/ g, 3D printed into stiff 5-7 nm thin cylindrical structures inside stretchy polymer matrix... forms controllable nanostructures... different regions of block copolymer chain separate instead of mixing, enabling stiff cylinders within stretchy matrix... printing rate/ controlled under-extrusion controls output's properties... thermal annealing enables self-healing... soft robots, biomedical devices, prosthetics, strong lightweight helmets, custom high-performance shoe soles, wearable electronics" Related: 3D printing method producing shape-shifting liquid metal robotics with musculoskeletal qualities inspired by animal physiology https://www.uq.edu.au/news/article/2024/12/giving-animal-strength-medical-robotics Scientists make breakthrough in self-repairing plastic to reduce waste https://www.pandct.com/news/scientists-make-breakthrough-in-se...

Quantum entanglement, instead of oil or coal, powers a new kind of engine

https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-entanglement-instead-of-oil-or-coal-powers-a-new-kind-of-engine/ "at very low temperatures bosons settle into lower energy states than fermions do... changing bosons into fermions and back creates work, cycling powers engine without using heat (quantum needs coolness), using energy difference... up to 25% efficient... tiny batteries, precise sensors"

Integrating optical, mechanical, and electrical properties into 3D printing interfaces, in a single print without added weight, time, or cost

https://hub.jhu.edu/2024/12/12/turning-3d-printings-biggest-flaw-into-its-smartest-feature/ "voxel interface 3D printing: standard nozzle, ringed by 4 additional nozzles adding thin film of different material on top... interface between each printed line controlled/ customized eliminating need for multiple printheads/ unnecessary gaps or features... potential for thinner interfaces, new material combinations, integrated functions like complex 3D circuits, electromechanical devices, data-embedded composite structures, print-in-place with precise fittings... expanded applications range/ type for soft materials"

Stabilizing lithium metal anode growth/ extending lifespan 750% using eco-friendly hollow nanofiber protective layers and water

https://www.miragenews.com/kaist-boosts-lithium-battery-life-750-with-water-1376937/ "electrospinning nanofiber using guar gum, and sole solvent is water... oxidized functional groups regulate interactions with lithium ions... retained 93.3% capacity after 300 charge-discharge cycles... protective layer decomposes entirely within month in soil... suppresses dendrite growth, resulting in lithium metal anodes with unprecedented lifespan characteristics... water-based manufacturing method with biodegradable properties will significantly contribute to the commercialization of next-generation eco-friendly batteries"

Modular quantum processor/ reconfigurable router central hub for large-scale, durable superconducting quantum devices

https://pme.uchicago.edu/news/rethinking-quantum-chip "enables any 2 qubits connect/ entangle without being nearest... doubling quantum computer only requires 1 additional qubit, so virtually no size limit since can potentially use millions or even billions of qubits... quantum switches connect/ disconnect any qubit within few nanoseconds, enabling high-fidelity quantum gates/ quantum entanglement generation... fault-tolerant, able to perform massive calculations with few errors, ideally surpassing the processing power of current state-of-the-art classical computers"

High-orthogonality random meta-channels encode data optically into both physical and phase modulated virtual layers

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1068022   "metasurfaces enhance physical layer spatial resolution... holographic images reconstructed in virtual layers... channel high spatial orthogonality/ randomly distributed apertures reduces crosstalk between stored images, by:ensuring no spatial overlap between pixels in different channels, randomly locating pixels within each channel to avoid high-order diffractions, encoding a holographic phase in each pixel to guide light for interference... st2.5 Tbit cm⁻³ storage density can be enhanced by increasing number of virtual layers"

Open-source artificial intelligence framework XLuminA automatically discovers experimental designs in microscopy 10,000 times faster

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1067691 "numerous possible microscope mirror/ lens/ beam-splitter placements...  overcomes 250 nm light diffraction limit... simple optical configurations, image magnification, stimulated emission depletion microscopy, method for achieving super-resolution using optical vortices, found best possible super-resolution design given available optical elements, and created combined blueprint for these... modular nature of the framework allows it to be easily adapted for different types of microscopy and imaging techniques"

Cheap and sustainable photocatalyst reduces nitrogen oxides using sunlight to decontaminate the air

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1067858 "reaction accelerated by visible light... oxidizes nitrogen oxides converting into nitrates/ nitrites... combining carbon nitride (enabling reaction to visible light) and lamellar double hydroxides (catalyzes)... easily scalable, converts 65% of nitrogen oxides, like with other photocatalysts, but using safer, cheaper magnesium or aluminum instead of cadmium, lead or graphene"

Rewritable liquid computing with sequential DNA origami registers is faster and more compact than today’s silicon-based versions

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1067321 "placed DNA origami register onto  solid glass 2D surface... output oligonucleotide floating in liquid from specific logic gate attaches to glass-mounted register... after output read/ logic gate instructions determined, it detached, resetting register for rewriting... amplifier boosted output so gates, oligonucleotides, registers find one another easily... all takes place in single tube within 90 minutes... large-scale DNA computing circuits, visual debugging, automated execution of DNA molecular algorithms, massive storage"

New algorithm boosts multitasking in quantum machine learning

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1067695 "quantum compilation algorithm translates high-level goal into quantum operations sequence, now can optimize multiple targets at a time (multitasking)... materials science (simultaneously explore multiple properties of material at quantum level), physics (studying systems that evolve/ require interactions understood... future: adapt to various types of noise and identify ways to enhance its performance"

Fuel cell with phosphonic acid polymer electrolyte and hydrocarbon spacers overcomes barriers in >100°C, low-humidity use

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1067493 "unlike PFAS, phosphonic acid hydrocarbon polymers do not contain fluorine... Noro overcomes phosphonic acid's poor conductivity/ hydrophilic nature by using hydrophobic spacer between polymer backbone/ phosphonic acid, enabling water insolubility, chemical stability, moderate conductivity, even at high temperature/ low humidity... at 120°C/ 20% relative humidity, conductivity 40X higher, 4X higher than cross-linked sulfonated polystyrene membrane... better power generation efficiency, lighter, more compact"

New kind of memristor made by tweaking organic transistors can remember past charging states when current passes through it

https://hub.jhu.edu/2024/12/09/transistors-that-remember/ "mimics human brain... introduced dibenzo tetrathiafulvalene molecule forming crystals within transistor's insulating layer where charge stored, then injecting small current causing transistor to retain its past charge, acting as memristor... memristors could shift how computers handle data, improve efficiency, learn... replaces many transistors, increasing efficiency, decreasing power consumption and need for space... reduce energy consumed by cloud storage"

Faster organic phosphorescence for better OLED and smartphone diplays without the need for heavy metals

https://news.umich.edu/faster-organic-phosphorescence-for-better-display-tech/ "replaces heavy metal with hybrid layering 2D molybdenum/ sulfur over 2D organic light emitting material achieving stable, fast phosphorescence, lower cost, eco-friendlier... LEDs maintain sharp color/ contrast... phosphorescence 3X more efficient than fluorescence because it harnesses 100% of excited electrons instead of 25%, speeds up light emission 1,000X without having weak metal-organic ligand bonding, extending lifetime... OLEDs, smartphones"

Controlling light-matter polaritons at room temperature opens the way for high-speed computing

https://www.ntu.edu.sg/research/research-hub/controlling-light-matter-particles-at-room-temperature "electric field applied to microcavity causes hybrid polaritons with different spins to move away from one another in opposite directions... polariton spinning clockwise/ counter-clockwise allows computer data encoding, generated by shining green laser on caesium lead bromide with liquid crystal molecular layer in microcavity... controlled/ changed polaritons' movements, based on how they spin, by applying external voltage to them... store, transfer, process data at the speed of light"

Last missing piece of on-chip silicon-photonics integration: electrically pumped continuous-wave semiconductor laser

https://www.fz-juelich.de/en/news/archive/press-release/2024/the-last-missing-piece-of-silicon-photonics "stacked ultrathin silicon germanium-tin/ germanium-tin layers... cost savings, improved performance... compatible with CMOS technology... laser operates with low 5 mA current injection at 2 V... multi-quantum well structure/ ring geometry, low heat generation, enabling stable operation up to -183.15°C... generates light when an electrical current passes through diode.. photonics, electronics, thermoelectric, spintronics... future: reduce lasing threshold, achieve room-temperature operation"

New method from China for making iron is cheaper, eco-friendlier, and 3,600-fold faster

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3289441/chinas-explosive-ironmaking-breakthrough-achieves-3600-fold-productivity-boost?module=latest_china_science&pgtype=topic "injecting finely ground iron ore powder into an extremely hot furnace triggering chemical reaction... bright red, glowing liquid iron droplets rain down/ collect at furnace bottom, forming high-purity iron stream directly usable for casting (1-step steelmaking)... 3 to 6 second (instead of 5 to 6 hour) ironmaking... also works exceptionally well for low/r medium-yield ores... could improve China’s steel industry energy use efficiency by more than one-third... eliminates the need for coal entirely”

Ice-assisted bilayer interfaced vortex electric field has potential to enhance future electronic, magnetic and optical devices

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1066821 "better memory stability/ computer speed... low-angle twisted 2D bilayer: more effective, faster, cheaper ice-assisted transfer creating 0 to 60° twist angles leveraging both synthesis/ artificial stacking... Quasi-crystal irregularly ordered structures have low heat/ electric conductivity, ideal for high-strength non-stick surface coatings... testing if stacking more layers possible, or t generated from other materials... sensors, quantum computing, spintronics, dissipationless polarisation switching, polarisable optics"

Doppelganger PEF plastics, near-identical alternative to oil-based PET, but with better environmental performance

https://www.biobasedpress.eu/2024/12/doppelganger-plastics-a-more-desirable-alternative/ "more controlled, highly customizable, less energy intensive... sugar derived from industrial starch bio-feedstock... same manufacturing, converting or recycling equipment... gas barrier better than PET... replaces  champagne/ sparkling wine heavy glass bottles... desirable side products of its chemistry: key intermediate hydroxymethylfurfural as replacement for formaldehyde;  combined with lignin creatin binders for construction industry... also, agricultural waste, recycled fibres/ trees, can be substituted for starch"

Inlyte Energy's iron-sodium battery combines high-performance daily cycling (4–10 hours) and low-cost long-duration storage (24+ hours)

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/inlyte-energy-announces-milestone-achievement-in-iron-sodium-battery-technology-delivering-breakthrough-results-for-long-duration-energy-storage-302323240.html "safe, durable, scalable, stable cycling in commercial-size cells, also for computers... >700 cycles with no loss in energy capacity,  90% roundtrip efficiency, using iron-sodium in sodium metal chloride cell... > 7K cycles battery life or 20 years, matching traditional sodium nickel chloride batteries, but at fraction of cost... proprietary iron cathode/ optimized operating conditions... replacing nickel with cheaper iron... targeting commercial demonstration projects in 2025 and large-scale U.S. manufacturing by early 2027"

Soft, rubber-like liquid crystalline elastomers can be stimulated by light or heat to twist, tilt left and right, shrink and expand

https://news.osu.edu/researchers-develop-new-shape-changing-polymer/ "single component that can twist in 2 directions... easier manufacture... 3 phases that the material goes through as its temperature changes... controlled drug delivery systems, biosensor devices, aid in complex locomotion maneuvers for soft robots, artificial muscles"

Machine-learning technique accelerates discovery of compounds with record-breaking performance for film capacitors

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1067293 "film capacitors withstanding high-temperature... new type of polysulfate compound to be used in polymer film capacitors shielded capacitors from destruction analyzed  by AI quickly identified key variables in polymer design... insulaor sandwiched between 2 conductive metal sheets.,, trained feedforward neural networks screening 50K polymer library, identified 3 with superior material quality, operational stability, durability... also for designing battery material... EVs, electric aviation, electronics, aerospace, inverters" Related: Battery-like computer memory keeps working above 1000°F https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1067547

Microbots autonomously coordinate sub-nW movements using electronic pulses

https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2024/12/micromachines-autonomously-coordinate-using-electronic-pulses "complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor oscillators, exchanging electronic pulses until entire system aligned with fastest oscillator... each bot features 7 nm thick bending paddle actuator... pulsed-coupling adjusts neighboring machines' timing, aligning their movements without the need for centralized control... synchronized arrays of up to 16 bots in both linear and 2D, scalable to larger networks... mimics biology, nature... drug delivery, chemical mixing, environmental remediation, collaborative construction”

Nitrogen-doped platinum-cobalt alloy catalyst enables more durable, cheaper, longer-lasting hydrogen PEM fuel cells

https://www.electronicsforu.com/news/nitrogen-doped-catalyst-boosts-hydrogen-fuel-cells "forming stable cobalt-nitrogen bonds, preventing cobalt dissolution, significantly reduces platinum requirement... highly ordered, both on surface/ within its core... doubles cobalt dissolution energy, substantially improving its stability...  automotive, marine, aviation, power generation"

Light-emitting, self-healing, magnetic, flexible, scalable robotic multifunctional SHINE fibers enhance human-robot interaction

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1067332 "SHINE: Scalable Hydrogel-clad Ionotronic Nickel-core Electroluminescent... can be powered wirelessly... coaxial: nickel core, zinc sulphide-based electroluminescent layer,  hydrogel electrode for transparency... scalable ion-induced gelation processed up to 5.5 m long... 1068 cd/m2 luminance so highly visible even in well-lit indoors... recovery restores >98% brightness... navigates confined spaces...  1 year open-air life... light-emitting soft robotic fibers, dynamic lighting, interactive displays, optical signalling, smart textiles"

Major breakthrough controlling quantum transport/ thermal management using a 31-qubit superconducting processor

https://scienceblog.com/550037/quantum-scientists-just-made-a-major-breakthrough-using-31-superconducting-qubits/ "precisely observe/ manipulate quantum particles... consistent patterns emerge as number of qubits increase...  particle flow between 2 groups of qubits with different magnetic properties: (1) all qubits pointed downward, (2) half pointed up, half down... typicality: average spin polarisation, a macroscopic quantity, not the details of individual qubits or how prepared... larger systems showed more stable particle flow with fewer fluctuations, matching theoretical predictions about quantum behavior at larger scales" Related: Quantum experiment generates long-range entanglement in 54-qubit system https://phys.org/news/2025-01-quantum-generates-range-entanglement-qubit.html

Thin, highly electrically conductive titanium carbide MXene coating with low thermal conductivity could replace thick layers of insulation

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1067062  . "thermal conductivity almost 1 order magnitude smaller than predicted by solid-state physics, 2 orders magnitude smaller than common metals... can produce >100°F temperature drop... spray coating performs as well as inch-thick mineral felt with aluminum insulation.. building materials, performance apparel, energy storage, thermal isolation, shielding, insulating ovens,  protective shielding for aerospace vehicles"

Ultrastable bifunctional Icosidodecahedral Ag30 nanoclusters with metallic aromaticity

http://english.fjirsm.cas.cn/rh/rps/202411/t20241127_892542.html "primary/ tertiary phosphorus donors as unique chelator, synergistic bridging/ chelating... 2 silver nanoclusters: Ag30 and Ag32 possessing icosidodecahedral Ag30 shells with Ih symmetry... high-efficiency NIR electroluminescence in solution-processed OLEDs with 15.1% peak external quantum efficiency... nanoclusters in optoelectronic devices... Icosidodecahedral silver nanoclusters demonstrate metallic aromaticity and exhibit near-infrared luminescence properties with OLEDs application"

Generative AI fix to an existing technique could help artists, designers, and engineers create better, more realistic 3D models

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1067089 "leverages 2D image generation models to 3D, by enabling faster, sharp high-quality 3D shapes without additional training or complex post-processing, overcoming blurry/ cartoonish Score Distillation... Score Distillation Sampling pre-trained diffusion approximation infers missing term from current 3D, generating 3D... off-the-shelf, pre-trained image diffusion... virtual reality, film-making, engineering design"

UK creates first carbon-14 diamond battery, capable of powering devices for thousands of years

https://nairametrics.com/2024/12/04/uk-creates-first-carbon-14-diamond-battery-capable-of-powering-devices-for-thousands-of-years/ "radioactive isotope decay with 5.7K year half-life... bio-compatible diamond protective casing ensures safety... captures fast-moving electrons produced during the radioactive decay of carbon-14. This is similar to how solar panels turn light into electricity, but instead, they use the movement of electrons within the diamond. The long lifespan of carbon-14 means the battery can provide power at low levels for thousands of years... μW of power for medical devices/ implants, space exploration, active RF tags"

Proton batteries: organic, eco-friendly, low temperature resilient, safe, fast-charging, long-lifetime, high-performance/ capacity

https://www.unsw.edu.au/newsroom/news/2024/12/proton-batteries-an-innovative-option-for-the-future-of-energy-storage "rapid proton movement using hydrogen-bond networks... light, safe, affordable, wider voltage range... redox potential for cathode locates in high range, for anode locates in low range, ensuring desirable voltage output...  modified tetraamino-benzoquinone replacing 4 chloro groups with 4 amino groups, improving proton storage/ lowering redox potential range... also, stable hydrogen storage in the form of proton (H+)" Related: CNL achieves breakthrough in hydrogen storage technology https://www.cnl.ca/cnl-achieves-breakthrough-in-hydrogen-storage-technology/ Sodium borohydride (NaBH4) powder as a hydrogen carrier https://www.ecoticias.com/en/hydrogen-powder-americas-great-failure/10578/

More sustainable, miniature, flexible and cost-effective Infrared detectors made from colloidal quantum dot semiconductors

https://www.empa.ch/web/s604/eq84-ir-detectors "avoids very high temperature, lots of energy. bulk,.. colloidal quantum dots in solution spin coating/ printing... also records IR phase/ interference... smart textiles for firefighters/ patient monitoring/ fashion, motion detectors, chemical analyzers, satellites... silicon-based lidars with measured 905 nm IR would be harmful at high power, so only emit weak light, which limits system's range, and those for longer, safer wavelengths too expensive, but faster quantum dot detectors could provide safe/ cost-effective lidar" Related: A new technology with UPV hallmark improves the accuracy of radars and LiDAR systems, key technologies for autonomous transport and environmental monitoring https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1067521

Advanced microscopy possible through an optical fiber thinner than a human hair

https://www.adelaide.edu.au/newsroom/news/list/2024/12/03/microscopy-at-the-tip-of-a-hair-thin-optical-fibre "images of previously inaccessible parts of human body, minimising associated tissue damage... correct for distortion from using thin fiber... super-resolution/ wide-field microscopy... light sheet microscopy: volumetric image built up imaging 1 plane at a time, or stimulated emission-depletion microscopy imagingl structures billionth of meter diameter... any pattern can be projected through optical fiber... pre-shape light... control beam's amplitude, phase polarisation at fiber's output...Bessel, Airy, Laguerre-Gaussian beams"

Super-capacity perfect vector vortex beams unleash ultra-secure, high-capacity data transmission

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1066840 "spatial-frequency patching metasurface manipulates light... patching spatial frequency creating multiple data channels, each independently storing/ transmitting information... control over structure, spatial intensity, polarization, allowing for at least 13 distinct data channels... information embedded across 3D light beam... Dammann grating generating arrays, maximizing data-carrying... optical encryption, secure communications, particle manipulation"

Voltage/ strain engineering increases charge carrier mobility of 2D molybdenum disulfide transistors integrated into silicon substrates

https://greenzrestaurants.ca/11/30/2024/rooyse/lVr118056JdM.html "CMOS-compatible approach... silicon nitride coating semiconductor (both 2D) creates voltage/ stress precisely tuned/ deposited at relatively low temperatures, creating transistors... enabled increased 2D MoS performance, also reducing transistor channels/ contacts... smaller/ better-performing 2D semiconductor-based transistors... also applicable to other 2D semiconductors... future: extending this approach to p type 2D transistors (as opposed to the n-type devices used in this study)"

Fine-tuning electron behavior in quantum materials could fast-track next generation of technology

https://www.lboro.ac.uk/news-events/news/2024/november/fine-tune-electron-behaviour-quantum-materials/ "Van Hove singularities, specific regions in material’s band structure where electrons cluster/ highly sensitive to changes in surroundings, acts as map showing where/ what speed electrons can move... manipulated fine-tuning material’s properties... Feynman-Hellmann theorem indicates Van Hove singularities occur at surface of strontium ruthenate due to slight rotations in material’s building blocks... applies also to other quantum materials... enables altering material’s electronic/ magnetic properties... may enable superconductors"

Self-Assembling diodes and transistors

https://news.ncsu.edu/2024/12/self-assembling-electronics/ "faster, less expensive, bandgap tunable semiconductors responsive to light (optoelectronics), high-yield production... carbon/ oxygen ligands poured onto liquid metal. ligands harvest ions from liquid metal surface holding ions in specific pattern, solution flows across liquid metal and drawn into a mold, ion-bearing ligands assemble into predictable complex 3D symmetric arrays... mold removed, array heated resulting in semiconductor metal oxide molecules wrapped in graphene sheets, nano/ micro -scale transistors/ diodes"

Portable balloon-integrated emergency PV power generation at low altitude in mid-to-high latitudes

https://www.pv-magazine.com/2024/11/21/balloon-integrated-pv-system-for-emergency-power-needs-at-low-altitude/ "components: customized balloon, 19%-efficient thin-film cadmium telluride solar cells, exhaust valve, control, storage modules, fixed ropes, cord reel, upper hemisphere, lower arc surface... significantly reduces shading... utilized during high solar radiation months... helium/ air filled balloon... transparent upper hemisphere harvests solar in all directions, light-concentrating refraction... lower arc surface reduces thin-film solar cell installation area without affecting effective light harvesting... environmental benefits"

More efficient, fast-charging, compact, spin quantum battery can be charged without an external field

https://lifeboat.com/blog/2024/11/new-spin-quantum-battery-can-be-charged-without-an-external-field "stable, integrable 1D dimerized XY chain solid-state spin quantum battery, leveraging the spin degrees of freedom of particles to store and release energy... rich quantum phase of spins onto auxiliary fermionic degrees of freedom... charging relies on double quench of odimerization strength and stored energy... charged in a unique and advantageous way, without the need for an external field. Research Paper: Controlling Energy Storage Crossing Quantum Phase Transitions in an Integrable Spin Quantum Battery https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevLett.133.19700

Eco-friendly, compact, efficient and cost-effective rare earth free motor

https://engineering.tamu.edu/news/2024/11/sustainable-cost-effective-electric-motors-cut-rare-earth-materials.html "replacing on motor's rotating part with copper coils... power to weight ratio on par with motors using rare earths... they have patents and U.S. patent applications for this idea. One of the main industries affected would be the automobile industry... can also be expanded for wind turbines, renewable energies and transportation systems too" Related: First ultra-compact engine unveiled: Experts say it is “the end of hydrogen” https://www.ecoticias.com/en/first-ultra-compact-engine-unveiled/9238/