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    Category Chemistry/Nanotechnology

    Printed Graphene treated with Lasers to enable ‘Paper Electronics’

    September 3, 2016, Categories  Chemistry/Nanotechnology, Physics, Technology/Electronics

    Iowa State engineers are developing real-world, low-cost applications for graphene. Credit: Photos by Christopher Gannon/Iowa State University.

    Iowa State engineers are developing real-world, low-cost applications for graphene. Credit: Photos by Christopher Gannon/Iowa State University.

    Engineers have used laser-treatment process that allows them to use printed graphene for electric circuits and electrodes – even on paper and other fragile surfaces. The technology could lead to many real-world, low-cost applications for printed graphene electronics, including sensors, fuel cells and medical devices. Previous technology meant that graphene had to be treated to improve electrical conductivity and device performance. That usually meant high temperatures or chemicals – both could degrade flexible or disposable printing surfaces such as plastic films or even paper.

    Das PhD and assistant/Prof Claussen came up with the idea of using lase...

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    Renewable Energy Breakthrough: Solar-powered Reaction 100 Times Faster

    September 2, 2016, Categories  Technology/Electronics, Chemistry/Nanotechnology

    A simulation shows one possible way that a highly active iridium oxide layer could form on the surface of a strontium iridium oxide catalyst. Experiments by SLAC and Stanford researchers showed that strontium atoms (green spheres) left the top layer through a corrosion process during the catalyst’s first two hours of operation. The top layer then rearranged itself and became much better at accelerating chemical reactions. Follow-up X-ray studies at SLAC will examine these surface changes in more detail. (C.F. Dickens/Stanford University)

    A simulation shows one possible way that a highly active iridium oxide layer could form on the surface of a strontium iridium oxide catalyst. Experiments by SLAC and Stanford researchers showed that strontium atoms (green spheres) left the top layer through a corrosion process during the catalyst’s first two hours of operation. The top layer then rearranged itself and became much better at accelerating chemical reactions. Follow-up X-ray studies at SLAC will examine these surface changes in more detail. (C.F. Dickens/Stanford University)

    Researchers have developed a tough new catalyst that carries out a solar-powered reaction 100 times faster than ever before, works better as time goes on and stands up to acid...

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    Team Tricks Solid into acting as Liquid

    September 2, 2016, Categories  Technology/Electronics, Chemistry/Nanotechnology

    When chemistry graduate student Demetrius A. Vazquez-Molina took COF-5, a nano sponge-like, non-flammable manmade material and pressed it into pellets the size of a pinkie nail, he noticed something odd when he looked at its X-ray diffraction pattern. Professor Fernando Uribe-Romo suggested he turn the pellets on their side and run the X-ray analysis again. The result: The crystal structures within the material fell into precise patterns that allow for lithium ions to flow easily -- like in a liquid. Credit: Nick Russett

    When chemistry graduate student Demetrius A. Vazquez-Molina took COF-5, a nano sponge-like, non-flammable manmade material and pressed it into pellets the size of a pinkie nail, he noticed something odd when he looked at its X-ray diffraction pattern. Professor Fernando Uribe-Romo suggested he turn the pellets on their side and run the X-ray analysis again. The result: The crystal structures within the material fell into precise patterns that allow for lithium ions to flow easily — like in a liquid. Credit: Nick Russett

    2 University of Central Florida scientists have discovered how to get a solid material to act like a liquid without actually turning it into liquid, potentially opening a new world of possibilities for the electronic, optics and computing industries. When Demetrius A...

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    Plastic Crystals could Improve Fabrication of Memory Devices

    September 1, 2016, Categories  Physics, Technology/Electronics, Chemistry/Nanotechnology

    The newly synthesized crystal is ferroelectric above room temperature (a-b, e-f) and turns into "plastic phase", meaning highly deformable, at higher temperature (a to c). The electric polarity of each molecule can be aligned in one direction by applying electric field as it cools (c to e). Credit: Harada J. et al., July 11, 2016, Nature Chemistry, DOI: 10.1038/NCHEM.2567; image is copyrighted

    The newly synthesized crystal is ferroelectric above room temperature (a-b, e-f) and turns into “plastic phase”, meaning highly deformable, at higher temperature (a to c). The electric polarity of each molecule can be aligned in one direction by applying electric field as it cools (c to e). Credit: Harada J. et al., July 11, 2016, Nature Chemistry, DOI: 10.1038/NCHEM.2567; image is copyrighted

    A novel ferroelectric plastic crystal could accelerate the development of more flexible, cost-efficient and less toxic ferroelectrics than those currently in use. Applying an electric field to some materials causes their atoms to “switch” their electric polarization from one direction to another, making one side of the material positive and the other negative...

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