Tag: techxplore

Faster and higher-quality production of lithium superionic conductors for all-solid-state batteries Dr. Ha Yoon-Cheol’s team at KERI’s Next Generation Battery Research Center has developed an “enhanced coprecipitation method” that enables faster and higher-quality production of lithium superionic conductors for all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs). ASSB replaces the “electrolyte,” which transfers ions between the anode and cathode, with…

Designing e-bike-friendly cities: Cycle lanes with minimal traffic impact While cycling infrastructure promotes sustainability, health, and increased bike adoption, its implementation often sparks controversy due to the need to repurpose car lanes, parking spaces, or public transport routes. With a novel optimization approach that carefully balances the trade-off between bike and car travel times, bike…

Self-powered graphene smart sensor takes the pain out of wound monitoring A major challenge in self-powered wearable sensors for health care monitoring is distinguishing different signals when they occur at the same time. Researchers from Penn State and China’s Hebei University of Technology have addressed this issue by uncovering a new property of a sensor…

Scientists enhance high-resolution distributed temperature sensing using plastic optical fibers Scientists have developed a new approach to significantly enhance the spatial resolution of distributed temperature sensing using plastic optical fibers (POFs). Their work demonstrates the successful detection of temperature changes over short distances, achieving a theoretical spatial resolution of approximately 4.8 centimeters. Go to techxplore

Semiconductor material for short-wave infrared sensors developed The Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science has successfully developed a high-quality compound semiconductor material for ultra-sensitive short-wave infrared (SWIR) sensors. The study is published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials. Go to techxplore

Porous plastic sheets can cool buildings by radiating light to space Traditional cooling systems for buildings use refrigerants and electricity, which contribute to the atmospheric greenhouse effect that exacerbates more extreme weather events. In response, materials scientists have turned to unconventional methods for cooling down buildings. An international team of researchers co-led by Akhlesh Lakhtakia,…

Boosting Li-ion battery performance with surface technology With the rising global demand for cost-effective sustainable batteries, lithium-ion batteries are at the forefront as energy storage solutions. However, achieving a high energy density with long-term stability in such batteries is essential to extending the usage time of electric devices. LiNi₀.₅Mn₁.₅O₄ (LNMO), known for its thermal stability…

Charging electric vehicles while driving: Engineers model grid demand challenges Running out of gas in a remote area far from a gas station is every driver’s worst nightmare. A similar stressor, known as “range anxiety,” exists for owners of electric vehicles who worry about how far their EV’s can drive without running out of battery.…

Simulator characterizes air pollution in aircraft cabins “Fume events” occur when fluids such as engine oil or hydraulic fluid contaminate the air inside an airplane cabin via the “bleed air” used for air supply and conditioning. Measurements taken in flight do not allow for determination of whether the air quality on board is negatively affected…

Recycling lithium-ion batteries slashes emissions, secures future mineral supply Recycling lithium-ion batteries to recover their critical metals has significantly lower environmental impacts than mining virgin metals, according to a new Stanford University lifecycle analysis published in Nature Communications. On a large scale, recycling could also help relieve the long-term supply insecurity—physically and geopolitically—of critical battery…

Planes have high-tech systems to stop midair crashes. So what went wrong in Washington? On Wednesday night, US time, a passenger jet and a US Army helicopter collided at a low altitude near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, and crashed into the Potomac River. Go to techxplore

Energy-efficient cooling thanks to ionic wind Thanks to a new type of airflow booster for ionic wind, completely new fields of application are opening up for the start-up Ionic Wind Technologies. In the future, the patented technology will be used primarily for cooling data centers and high-performance electronics. Go to techxplore

Machine learning-based method enhances accuracy of measuring dip angles and directions in rock facets Machine learning (ML) algorithms are constantly finding new applications in all scientific fields, and geological engineering is no exception. Over the last decade, researchers have developed various ML-based techniques to determine geological features more effortlessly in rocks, such as the dip…

Optical fiber sensor provides simple, sensitive detection of arsenic in drinking water Researchers have developed a new optical sensor that provides a simple way to achieve real-time detection of extremely low levels of arsenic in water. The technology could enable household testing for arsenic, empowering individuals to monitor their own water quality. Go to techxplore

Researchers reveal toughening mechanism of crack front in bioinspired materials Recently, a research team uncovered the propagation and toughening mechanism of tortuous crack front in bioinspired anisotropic heterogeneities, and developed an optimization design for toughness amplification by manipulating microstructural orientation. Their work was published in Nature Communications. Go to techxplore

Researchers use machine learning to ensure safe structural design of steel columns In the quest for stronger, more resilient buildings and infrastructure, engineers are turning to innovative solutions, such as concrete-filled steel tube columns (CFST) strengthened with carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP). These advanced composite structures combine the robust load-bearing capabilities and strength of CFST columns…

NASA’s 3D-printed antenna takes additive manufacturing to new heights In fall 2024, NASA developed and tested a 3D-printed antenna to demonstrate a low-cost capability to communicate science data to Earth. The antenna, tested in flight using an atmospheric weather balloon, could open the door for using 3D printing as a cost-effective development solution for the…

New general law governs fracture energy of networks across materials and length scales Materials like car tires, human tissues, and spider webs are diverse in composition, but all contain networks of interconnected strands. A long-standing question about the durability of these materials asks: What is the energy required to fracture these diverse networks? A recently…

Eco-friendly artificial muscle fibers can produce and store energy A research team has successfully developed innovative artificial muscle fibers capable of producing and storing energy. The team anticipates that these findings will have broad applications in fields such as advanced textiles, medical robotics, and wearable devices. The research is published in the Chemical Engineering Journal.…

Imaging technique reveals first 2D chainmail-like material An advanced imaging technique developed at Cornell has revealed the first two-dimensional, mechanically interlocked polymer—confirming a breakthrough in both material design and electron microscopy. Go to techxplore