The opportunity to use solid-state thermoelectrics for waste heat recovery has reinvigorated the field of thermoelectrics in tackling the challenges of energy sustainability. While thermoelectric generators have decades of proven reliability in space, from the 1960s to the present, terrestrial uses have so far been limited to niche applications on Earth because of a relatively low material efficiency.
23 November 2011
Members' Content
Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) offer great prospects for the most efficient and cost-effective utilization of a wide variety of fuels. However, their commercialization hinges on the rational design of low cost materials with exceptional functionalities.
23 November 2011
Members' Content
A review of the principles of electrochemical strain microscopy (ESM), and its application to the study of several Li-ion cathode and anode materials.
23 November 2011
Members' Content
Biosensing is paramount for improving the quality of human life. Biosensors and biosensing protocols are able to detect a wide range of compounds, sensitively and selectively, with applications in security, health care for point-of-care analyses of diseases, and environmental safety.
08 July 2011
Nanotechnology has given scientists new tools for the development of advanced materials for the detection and diagnosis of disease. In particular, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) have been extensively investigated as novel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents due to a combination of favorable superparamagnetic properties, biodegradability, and surface properties.
08 July 2011
Today polymer/carbon nanotube (CNT) composites can be found in sports equipment, cars, and electronic devices. The growth of old and new markets in this area has been stimulated by our increased understanding of relevant production and processing methods, as well as the considerable price reduction of industrial CNT grades.
08 July 2011
Molybdenum oxide nanowires have been found to show promise in a diverse range of applications, ranging from electronics to energy storage and micromechanics. This review focuses on recent research on molybdenum oxide nanowires: from synthesis and device assembly to fundamental properties.
08 July 2011
Neutron imaging is a non-destructive technique that can reveal the interior of many materials and engineering components and also probe magnetic fields. Within the past few years, several new imaging modes have been introduced that extend the scope of neutron imaging beyond conventional neutron attenuation imaging, yielding both 2- and 3D information about properties and phenomena inaccessible until now.
15 June 2011
Sensitive magnetometry has been established as a powerful technique for the characterization and testing of materials, with the most demanding applications relying on SQUID magnetometers operating at cryogenic temperatures. The recent development of compact, non-cryogenic atomic magnetometers with sub-femtotesla sensitivity and easy sample access has opened up a number of new possibilities.
15 June 2011
Strong intrinsic nonlinear optical (NLO) signals not only make nanostructures promising agents for bio-imaging, but also advance NLO microscopy for the study of interactions between nanomaterials and live cells. Single beam modalities such as multiphoton luminescence, second harmonic generation, and third harmonic generation provide a simple way to probe many types of nanostructures.
15 June 2011