All-fiber ellipsometer for nanoscale dielectric coatings
Measuring the refractive index and the thickness of thin films (films with a thickness from less than a nanometer to several microns) is essential to characterize them and improve the performance of sensors and devices that employ thin films. The mos.....»»
Nanoscale imaging provides insights into 2D and phase-change materials
Researchers from the University of California, Berkeley have developed cutting-edge nanoscale optical imaging techniques to provide unprecedented insights into the ultrafast carrier dynamics in advanced materials......»»
New, more sustainable method for manufacturing microchips and other nanoscale devices
Putting 50 billion transistors into a microchip the size of a fingernail is a feat that requires manufacturing methods of nanometer level precision—layering of thin films, then etching, depositing, or using photolithography to create the patterns o.....»»
From genes to jeans: New genetic insights may lead to drought-resilient cotton
Cotton is woven into the very fabric of our lives, from soft T-shirts to comfortable jeans and cozy bedsheets. It's the world's leading renewable textile fiber and the backbone of a global industry worth billions......»»
Confined water gets electric: Study reveals dielectric response of water in nanopores
When water gets inside nanopores with sizes below 10 nanometers, new physics emerge: new phases of ice were observed and ultrafast proton transport was measured. Confined water also plays a role in biology, where aquaporins cross cellular membranes t.....»»
New 3D reconstruction method aids analysis of property-defining defects
An international research collaboration, including a group from Cornell Engineering, has applied a new X-ray-based reconstruction technique to observe, for the first time, topological defects in a nanoscale self-assembly-based cubic network structure.....»»
Nanoscale trilayer exhibits ultrafast charge transfer in semiconductor materials
Successfully innovating optoelectronic semiconductor devices depends a lot on moving charges and excitons—electron-hole pairs—in specified directions for the purpose of creating fuels or electricity......»»
Strategy enhances breakdown strength and polarization in dielectric nanocomposites
Electrostatic capacitors are a key component in high-power pulse equipment, power transmission and transformation engineering, new energy vehicles, and 5G communication. Their capability for ultrafast charging-discharging and ultrahigh power density.....»»
Integrating small-angle neutron scattering with machine learning enhances measurements of complex molecular structures
Small-angle scattering (SAS) is a powerful technique for studying nanoscale samples. So far, however, its use in research has been held back by its inability to operate without some prior knowledge of a sample's chemical composition. Through new rese.....»»
Muscle machine: How water controls the speed of muscle contraction
The flow of water within a muscle fiber may dictate how quickly muscle can contract, according to a University of Michigan study......»»
New strategies proposed for protecting thermal barrier coatings against environmental sediment corrosion
Lei Guo and others from Tianjin University in China discovered that the environmental sediments on the surface of aero engine turbine blades have a significant concentration of Fe, surpassing even the levels of Mg, Al, and Ca in certain zones. Conseq.....»»
Inverse design method improves high-temperature performance of carbide coatings
The hot-end components of high-performance high-speed aircraft need to meet performance requirements such as long service life, wide temperature range oxidation resistance and ablation resistance. This puts forward higher requirements for high-temper.....»»
Nanoscale engineering brings light-twisting materials to more extreme settings
Imaging the hot turbulence of aircraft propulsion systems may now be possible with sturdy sheets of composite materials that twist light beams, according to research led by the University of Michigan and Air Force Research Laboratory......»»
Highly sensitive fiber optic gyroscope senses rotational ground motion around active volcano
Researchers have built a prototype fiber optic gyroscope for high resolution, real-time monitoring of ground rotations caused by earthquakes in the active volcanic area of Campi Flegrei in Naples, Italy. A better understanding of the seismic activity.....»»
PPG plans first new U.S. auto coatings plant in 15 years as part of $300 million investment
Coatings manufacturer PPG Industries plans to open its first new plant in the U.S. in 15 years as part of a $300 million investment in its North American footprint to support its automotive business......»»
F&I provider APCO buys vehicle protection coatings company Crystal Fusion
Finance and insurance product provider APCO Holdings, which owns the GWC Warranty and EasyCare brands, this month announced it had bought vehicle interior, exterior and windshield protection company Crystal Fusion Technologies. Terms of the deal were.....»»
Study examines low-permittivity dielectric ceramics for microwave/millimeter-wave communication
Microwave dielectric ceramics are the cornerstone of wireless communication devices, widely utilized in mobile communications, satellite radar, GPS, Bluetooth, and WLAN applications. Components made from these ceramic materials, such as filters, reso.....»»
A thousand times smaller than a grain of sand—glass sensors 3D-printed on optical fiber
In a first for communications, researchers in Sweden 3D printed silica glass micro-optics on the tips of optic fibers—surfaces as small as the cross section of a human hair. The advance could enable faster internet and improved connectivity, as wel.....»»
Optical power evolution in fiber-optic networks: New framework for better modeling and control
With the emergence of internet services such as AI-generated content and virtual reality, the demand for global capacity has surged, significantly intensifying pressures on fiber-optic communication systems. To address this surge and reduce operation.....»»
Researchers develop nanotechnology for creating wafer-scale nanoparticle monolayers in seconds
Nanoscale materials present us with astonishing chemical and physical properties that help materialize applications such as single molecular sensing and minimally invasive photothermal therapy—which were once just theories—into reality......»»
Natural sun protection for wood floors and furniture
To keep wood from aging prematurely, it's important to protect it effectively against ultraviolet (UV) radiation. At the same time, people want to retain the look and feel of natural wooden surfaces, but the transparent protective coatings that are c.....»»