Materials news, September 2014

Kapok offers new concept in microbial fuel cells

Light, fluffy fibers from the Kapok tree could make the ideal electrode for a new generation of microbial fuel cells.

Water-based batteries go nuclear

Free radicals generated in solution by beta decay of strontium-90 tapped for electricity generation.

Engineered proteins stick like glue — even in water

New waterproof adhesives.

Ultra-thin nanothreads

The promise of extraordinary properties.

Aluminum nanorods benefit new color display technology

Researchers have developed full color display technology using aluminum nanorods that are able to identify colors and blend into the background.

Uncovering the mechanism behind solid-solid phase transitions

Researchers have studied colloidal solid-solid transitions and discovered a surprising mechanism that facilitates one of these routes.

Novel method for constructing nanotube junctions

A team of researchers has developed a novel method for controllably constructing precise internanotube junctions.

De-icing nanoribbon film keeps glass ice-free

Rice University scientists who created a de-icing film for radar domes have now refined the technology to work as a transparent coating for glass.

Rolling ‘neat’ nanotube fibers

The very idea of fibers made of carbon nanotubes is neat, but Rice University scientists are making them neat — literally.

Industrial synthesis of a material harder than diamond

Researchers have developed anew method for the synthesis of an ultrahard material that exceeds diamond in hardness.

Tougher carbon fibre using CNTs

Engineers from McGill University have shown that multi-wall MWCNTs improve the mechanical toughness of carbon fibre laminates.

Light detector to revolutionize chemical sensing

Researchers have developed a light detector that could revolutionise chemical sensing and night vision technology.

First look inside a working lithium-ion battery

For the first time, researchers have been able to open a kind of window into the inner workings of a lithium-ion battery.

New graphene transistors could offer new high-frequency devices

Graphene could lead to devices in high-frequency electronics.

A low-energy optical circuit for a new era of technology

Scientists at EPFL have developed a first building-block for photonic “transistors” that requires record-low energy to operate.

Rethinking the basics of graphene synthesis

A new route to making graphene has been discovered that could make the 21st century's wonder material easier to ramp up to industrial scale.

Decoding the role of water in gold nanocatalysis

Researchers have for the first time provided direct evidence of a water-mediated reaction mechanism for the catalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide.

Introducing the Elsevier Materials Science Council

Raising the profile and supporting the efforts of materials science research.

Shuffling layers in mixed metal oxides

Shuffling layers in mixed metal oxides.

New nano-sized synthetic scaffolding technique

Scientists, have tapped oil and water to create scaffolds of self-assembling, synthetic proteins called peptoid nanosheets.

A sensor to detect individual nanoparticles

Researchers have developed a new sensor that can detect and count nanoparticles, at sizes as small as 10 nanometers, one at a time.

Three atom thick semiconductor junctions

Scientists have developed what they believe is the thinnest-possible semiconductor, a new class of nanoscale materials made only three atoms thick.

2015 Acta Biomaterialia Gold Medal Award

Jack Lemons has been awarded the highly acclaimed international 2015 Acta Biomaterialia Gold Medal Award.

The multi-tasking nanoparticle

Researchers have created dynamic nanoparticles (NPs) that could provide an arsenal of applications to diagnose and treat cancer.

Model strategy helps explain polyelectrolyte systems

New continuous glucose monitoring material

University of Illinois engineers are bringing a touch of color to glucose monitoring.

Top 10 Materials News from August 2014

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Promising power source for wearable electronics

Textile-based organic photovoltaic cell could be a promising approach for powering wearable electronics.