Tag: techxplore

Rule-breaking discovery reveals new way to strengthen metal in extreme conditions There’s a reason why blacksmiths fire metals before hammering them. Heat always softens metal, making it more malleable and easier to reshape. Or does it? In a surprising new study, Northwestern University engineers discovered that, in extreme conditions, heat doesn’t soften pure metals—it strengthens…

A key barrier in protonic ceramics may be fading, and hydrogen tech could benefit A newly developed ceramic material shows record-high proton conductivity at intermediate temperatures while remaining chemically stable, report researchers from Japan. Efficient hydrogen-to-electricity conversion is critical for hydrogen-based clean energy technologies, but few materials combine chemical stability with efficient proton conductivity. Thanks…

Fast 3D imaging system developed for gas leak detection Recently, a research team from the Anhui Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, developed a fast, multi-platform compatible detection network that can “see” gas leaks in three dimensions. Go to techxplore

A microfluidic chip monitors gases using integrated, motionless pumps A new microscale gas chromatography system integrates all fluidic components into a single chip for the first time. The design leverages three Knudsen pumps that move gas molecules using heat differentials to eliminate the need for valves, according to a new University of Michigan Engineering study…

Why I’m building an office out of straw When we moved into our house, there was a shed in the garden. Its timbers were rotten, the floor had long since disappeared into the ground, there was no door, the window had fallen out and various creatures had moved in. Go to techxplore

New 3D-printing and manufacturing techniques grant more control over energetic material behavior Much like baking the perfect cake involves following a list of ingredients and instructions, manufacturing energetic materials—explosives, pyrotechnics and propellants—requires precise formulations, conditions and procedures to ensure they are safe and perform as intended. Go to techxplore

Fishers working alone may soon get a ‘safety alarm’ Fishing alone is a dangerous occupation. A new safety alarm could save lives by automatically stopping the boat and alerting the Coastal Radio Service and nearby vessels. Go to techxplore

Harnessing degradation: Researchers pave way for more precise, responsive shape morphing implants An international research team has demonstrated a new approach to 4D-printed shape-morphing implants that opens the door to increasingly personalized health care. The findings, outlined in the journal Additive Manufacturing, highlight how material degradation can be used to trigger controlled shape change of…

Understanding the physics at the anode of sodium-ion batteries Sodium-ion batteries (NIBs) are gaining traction as a next-generation technology to complement the widely used lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). NIBs offer clear advantages versus LIBs in terms of sustainability and cost, as they rely on sodium—an element that, unlike lithium, is abundant almost everywhere on Earth. However,…

Humidity-resistant hydrogen sensor can improve safety in large-scale clean energy Wherever hydrogen is present, safety sensors are required to detect leaks and prevent the formation of flammable oxyhydrogen gas when hydrogen is mixed with air. It is therefore a challenge that today’s sensors do not work optimally in humid environments—because where there is hydrogen, there…

Stabilized iron catalyst could replace platinum in hydrogen fuel cells Japan and California have embraced hydrogen fuel-cell technologies, a form of renewable energy that can be used in vehicles and for supplying clean energy to manufacturing sectors. But the technology remains expensive due to its reliance on precious metals such as platinum. Engineers at Washington…

Interface engineering lifts perovskite solar cell performance to 26.19% efficiency Researchers from the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology (QIBEBT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with international partners, have engineered a thin two-dimensional perovskite phase at the buried interface of three-dimensional (3D) perovskite solar cells (PSCs) to boost device performance and…

AI-powered solar aquaculture reveals a scalable pathway for food, energy and climate action Researchers in Taiwan demonstrate that installing solar panels above clam ponds can simultaneously support aquaculture and renewable energy under increasing climate stress. Using real-world farm data, the study shows that moderate shading lowers pond temperatures, reduces water demand, and generates clean electricity.…

New design tool 3D-prints woven metamaterials that stretch and fail predictably Metamaterials—materials whose properties are primarily dictated by their internal microstructure, and not their chemical makeup—have been redefining the engineering materials space for the last decade. To date, however, most metamaterials have been lightweight options designed for stiffness and strength. Go to techxplore

Metamaterial insights point to better implants, robot hands and bumpers Metamaterials are composites with a very precisely controlled structure. It is this structure that determines the properties of the metamaterial, not the substances it is made of. Typically, a metamaterial consists of repeating identical blocks called unit cells. New research by Ph.D. student Shyam Veluvali,…

New steel processing technique extends EV range without increasing battery capacity A research team affiliated with UNIST unveiled a new steel manufacturing process that can improve the driving distance of electric vehicles (EVs) without the need for larger batteries. This technology offers a promising way to enhance the efficiency of EV motors, supporting longer trips…

Multi-layer flax fiber fabric developed for alternative seating furniture with flexible geometries Seating furniture is frequently not designed for long-term use or simple assembly and disassembly and has a tendency to break after just one move. This does not apply to the benches, chairs, and stools that were created as part of the LinumTube cooperation…

Taking the heat out of industrial chemical separations The modern world runs on chemicals and fuels that require a huge amount of energy to produce: Industrial chemical separation accounts for 10% to 15% of the world’s total energy consumption. That’s because most separations today rely on heat to boil off unwanted materials and isolate compounds.…

Supercomputer simulations reveal how to keep hydrogen flames stable Solar panels and wind turbines increasingly dot the landscape, but the future of clean energy may well depend on how smoothly we burn hydrogen. Yet as anyone who’s lit a gas grill or fireplace knows, igniting a flame can be a bit tricky. Imagine how complex…

Mesh bioreactor achieves 20‑fold efficiency increase and 50% cost reduction for wastewater treatment A Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) research team has developed a wastewater treatment technology that integrates a mesh bioreactor with an ultrasound-induced transient cavitation cleaning mechanism. The system can complete mesh cleaning within 3.8 seconds under anaerobic conditions and…

Drone technology set to reshape disaster response, health care, environmental management, farming, cybersecurity Intelligent drones and unmanned aerial systems (UAS) are rapidly evolving from experimental prototypes into essential infrastructure across disaster response, health care delivery, agriculture, logistics, archaeology, environmental monitoring, and numerous other fields vital to human development, scientists say in new research. Go to…

New study unveils ultra-high sensitivity broadband flexible photodetectors A research team, affiliated with UNIST, has unveiled a flexible photodetector, capable of converting light across a broad spectrum—from visible to near-infrared—into electrical signals. This innovation promises significant advancements in technologies that require simultaneous detection of object colors and internal structures or materials. Go to techxplore

‘Thermal diode’ design promises to improve heat regulation, prolonging battery life New technology from University of Houston researchers could improve the way devices manage heat, thanks to a technique that allows heat to flow in only one direction. The innovation is known as thermal rectification, and was developed by Bo Zhao, an award-winning and internationally…

Ultrahigh solid loading enables high precision ceramic parts National Taiwan University researchers have developed an ultrahigh-solid-loading (83 vol%) yet highly flowable suspension for 3D printing that produces ceramic parts with extremely low shrinkage and 100% density, overcoming a major barrier in precision ceramic manufacturing. Go to techxplore

Elastic metasurface can capture multiple frequencies at once It has long been considered common sense that a single device performs only one function. Just as tuning a radio to a different frequency changes the channel, systems that manipulate waves have traditionally been designed to operate at only one specific frequency, requiring different devices for different…

Origami-inspired ring lets users ‘feel’ virtual worlds Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are technologies that allow users to immerse themselves in digital worlds or enhance their surroundings with computer-generated filters or images, respectively. Both these technologies are now widely used worldwide, whether to experience video games and media content in more engaging ways…

Three-in-one process recycles spent lithium batteries, captures CO₂ and generates catalysts—all at room temperature Scientists from China have developed a new way to recycle lithium batteries that is a triple win for the planet. It not only extracts nearly all the lithium for reuse but also traps carbon dioxide and converts the remaining metal waste…