Technology/Electronics Archives - Page 184 of 653

The First Topological Acoustic Transistor

January 6, 2022, Physics, Technology/Electronics

To turn ‘on’ an acoustic transistor, ultrasound arriving at the ‘gate’ input heats and expands the base plate, changing the spacing in two lattices of slightly-different-sized pillars, and inducing a topological transition that guides sound along the interface. (Credit: Hoffman Lab/Harvard SEAS)

Sound waves may pave the way for topological electronic transistors. Researchers have designed and simulated the first topological acoustic transistors — with sound waves instead of electrons — and proposed a connection architecture to form a universal logic gate that can switch the flow of sound on and off.

Topological materials move electrons along their surface and edges without any loss, making them promising materials for dissipationless, high-efficiency electronics...

Charging Electric Vehicles with Photovoltaics at Home

January 6, 2022, Physics, Technology/Electronics

Exemplary week of a single user showing the usage of the BEV as well as the energy production by rooftop PV. In this recorded charging pattern (i.e., the baseline scenario, as explained below), it would be beneficial to not immediately recharge the car to the maximum, but instead wait for periods of increased PV energy generation. Credit: DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2021.111969

An electric car that runs on PV power sounds appealing. But is it really possible to enjoy flexibility with a vehicle charged through a home photovoltaic system? An ETH research team has reached some surprising conclusions.

The area of photovoltaics (PV) is rapidly increasing in popularity, and in Switzerland it already covers 5 percent of the country’s electricity consumption...