Laser solitons: Theory, topology and potential applications

Solitons have found applications in data transmission but even these gradually dissipate unless the medium they travel through has ultra-low absorbance. Scientists have been working on a solution to this problem -- laser solitons -- since the 1980s; a colloquium paper summarizing their recent work.

Soft wearable health monitor uses stretchable electronics

A wireless, wearable monitor built with stretchable electronics could allow comfortable, long-term health monitoring of adults, babies and small children without concern for skin injury or allergic reactions caused by conventional adhesive sensors with conductive gels.

Improving efficiency, brightness of perovskite LEDs

Advances in organic phosphorescent materials are opening new opportunities for organic light-emitting diodes for combined electronics and light applications, including solar cells, photodiodes, optical fibers and lasers. While low-dimensional luminescent materials, like the calcium titanium oxide mineral perovskite, have promising optical properties, their performance remains insufficient compared to conventional organic LEDs. A recent study explores a new approach using an exciton confinement effect to optimize highly efficient perovskite LEDs.

Extraordinarily thick organic light-emitting diodes solve nagging issues

By combining thin organic layers with thick layers of hybrid perovskite, researchers have developed micrometer-thick organic light-emitting diodes that could improve the affordability and viewing angles of high-performance displays and televisions in the near future.

Technologies for the sixth generation cellular network

Future wireless data networks will have to reach higher transmission rates and shorter delays, while supplying an increasing number of end devices. Researchers have used ultra-rapid electro-optical modulators to convert terahertz data signals into optical signals.

Dynamically tuneable lens capable of almost any complex optical function

A team of researchers reports on a dynamically tuneable lens capable of achieving almost any complex optical function.

Developing technologies that run on light

Researchers are designing a nanoscale photon diode -- a necessary component that could bring us closer to faster, more energy-efficient computers and communications that replace electricity with light.

Ultrathin transistors for faster computer chips

The next big miniaturization step in microelectronics could soon become possible -- with so-called two-dimensional materials. With the help of a novel insulator made of calcium fluoride, scientists have created an ultra-thin transistor, which has excellent electrical properties and, in contrast to previous technologies, can be miniaturized to an extremely small size.

Does one size does fit all? A new model for organic semiconductors

A team including researchers has used a single rubrene crystal to investigate the room temperature behavior of organic single crystals, and in so doing have dispelled previously-held assumptions based on inorganic semiconductor behavior. It is hoped that these insights into the specific behavior of organic conducting materials will accelerate the development of flexible conducting devices with high functionality.

Search for new semiconductors heats up with gallium oxide

Electrical engineers have cleared another hurdle in high-power semiconductor fabrication by adding the field's hottest material -- beta-gallium oxide -- to their arsenal. Beta-gallium oxide is readily available and promises to convert power faster and more efficiently than today's leading semiconductor materials -- gallium nitride and silicon, the researchers said.

Toward molecular computers: First measurement of single-molecule heat transfer

Heat transfer through a single molecule has been measured for the first time by an international team of researchers.

New e-skin innovation gives robots and prosthetics an exceptional sense of touch

Researchers have developed an ultra responsive and robust artificial nervous system for e-skins.

Tiny vibration-powered robots are the size of the world's smallest ant

Researchers have created a new type of tiny 3D-printed robot that moves by harnessing vibration from piezoelectric actuators, ultrasound sources or even tiny speakers. Swarms of these 'micro-bristle-bots' might work together to sense environmental changes, move materials -- or perhaps one day repair injuries inside the human body.

First-ever visualizations of electrical gating effects on electronic structure

Scientists have visualized the electronic structure in a microelectronic device for the first time, opening up opportunities for finely-tuned high performance electronic devices.

Harvesting energy from the human knee

Imagine powering your devices by walking. With new technology that possibility might not be far out of reach. An energy harvester is attached to the wearer's knee and can generate 1.6 microwatts of power while the wearer walks without any increase in effort. The energy is enough to power small electronics like health monitoring equipment and GPS devices.

Failures are great =)

Resistance is utile: Magnetite nanowires with sharp insulating transition

Scientists have produced Fe3O4 nanowires on 10-nm length scales by deposition on an MgO substrate. When cooled to 110 K, the nanowires showed a sharp Verwey transition -- greater resistivity resulting from a change in crystal structure. This switching is essential for nanoelectronics, but hard to achieve in Fe3O4 nanowires. It was possible because of the low density of antiphase boundary defects, and will promote advances in green electronic technologies.

'Smart' textiles boost connectivity between wearable sensors by 1,000 times

Researchers have incorporated metamaterials into conventional clothing to dramatically improve signal strength between wearable electronic devices. This innovation could have future applications in high-tech athletic wear and medical apparel.

Electrical engineers develop 'beyond 5G' wireless transceiver

An end-to-end transmitter-receiver is a 4.4-millimeter-square silicon chip that is capable of processing digital signals with significantly greater speed and energy efficiency because of its unique digital-analog architecture.

Simple 'smart' glass reveals the future of artificial vision

Engineers have devised a method to create pieces of 'smart' glass that can recognize images without requiring any sensors or circuits or power sources.

Pairing 'glue' for electrons in iron-based high-temp superconductors studied

Newly published research sheds more light on the nature of high-temperature iron-based superconductivity.

Playfully discover atom manipulation

Scientists have used an electron microscope to manipulate strongly bound materials with atomic precision. Since the instruments used are fully computerized, it is possible to show in a simulation how researchers actually use them. A simulation game has now also been released online, together with the latest research advance of silicon impurity manipulation in single-walled carbon nanotubes.

Producing graphene from carbon dioxide

The general public knows the chemical compound of carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas in the atmosphere and because of its global-warming effect. However, carbon dioxide can also be a useful raw material for chemical reactions. A working group has now reported on this unusual application. They are using carbon dioxide as a raw material to produce graphene, a technological material which is currently the subject of intense study.

Tuning the energy levels of organic semiconductors

Physicists were able to demonstrate how electronic energies in organic semiconductor films can be tuned by electrostatic forces.

First observation of native ferroelectric metal

Researchers describe the first observation of a native ferroelectric metal: a native metal with bistable and electrically switchable spontaneous polarization states -- the hallmark of ferroelectricity. The study found coexistence of native metallicity and ferroelectricity in bulk crystalline tungsten ditelluride (WTe2) at room temperature. A van-der-Waals material that is both metallic and ferroelectric in its bulk crystalline form at room temperature has potential for nano-electronics applications.

'Tsunami' on a silicon chip: A world first for light waves

Scientists have for the first time manipulated a light wave, or photonic information, on a silicon chip that retains its overall 'shape'. This foundational work is important because most communications infrastructure still relies on silicon-based devices for propagation and reception of information. Manipulating solitons on-chip could potentially allow for the speed up of photonic communications devices and infrastructure.

Generation and sampling of quantum states of light in a silicon chip

Scientists have found a promising new way to build the next generation of quantum simulators combining light and silicon micro-chips.