Engineers develop self-healing muscle for robots

Students recently unveiled their invention of a robotic actuator -- the 'muscle' that converts energy into a robot's physical movement -- that has the ability to detect punctures or pressure, heal the injury and repair its damage-detecting 'skin.'

Laser technique revolutionizes ultra-high temperature ceramic manufacturing for space, defense applications

Researchers have demonstrated a new technique that uses lasers to create ceramics that can withstand ultra-high temperatures, with applications ranging from nuclear power technologies to spacecraft and jet exhaust systems. The technique can be used to create ceramic coatings, tiles or complex three-dimensional structures, which allows for increased versatility when engineering new devices and technologies.

New chiral photonic device combines light manipulation with memory

Engineers have developed a multifunctional, reconfigurable component for an optical computing system that could be a game changer in electronics.

Quantum eyes on energy loss: Diamond quantum imaging for next-gen power electronics

Diamond quantum sensors can be used to analyze the magnetization response of soft magnetic materials used in power electronics; report scientists based on collaborative research. Using a novel imaging technique, they developed quantum protocols to simultaneously image both the amplitude and phase of AC stray fields over a wide frequency range up to 2.3 MHz. Their results demonstrate that quantum sensing is a powerful tool for developing advanced magnetic materials across diverse applications.

A rule-breaking, colorful silicone that could conduct electricity

A newly discovered silicone variant is a semiconductor, researchers have discovered -- upending assumptions that the material class is exclusively insulating.

Developing a pressure-induced water producing material

Researchers have discovered a phenomenon -- applying pressure to a copper-chromium Prussian blue analog, which is a compound featuring crystal voids, causes the discharge of water retained within these voids. This material is expected to serve as a novel onsite water production platform for extraction of water solely through pressure application, without temperature or humidity control, even in arid regions.

Mind the band gap! -- researchers create new nanoscale forms of elementary semiconductor with tunable electronic properties

Researchers have demonstrated that by using a semiconductor with flexible bonds, the material can be moulded into various structures using nano containers, without altering its composition, the discovery could lead to the design of a variety of customised electronic devices using only a single element.

Researchers make breakthrough in semiconductor technology set to supercharge 6G delivery

Self-driving cars which eliminate traffic jams, getting a healthcare diagnosis instantly without leaving your home, or feeling the touch of loved ones based across the continent may sound like the stuff of science fiction. But new research could make all this and more a step closer to reality thanks to a radical breakthrough in semiconductor technology.

Scientists discover class of crystals with properties that may prove revolutionary

Researchers have discovered a new class of materials -- called intercrystals -- with unique electronic properties that could power future technologies. Intercrystals exhibit newly discovered forms of electronic properties that could pave the way for advancements in more efficient electronic components, quantum computing and environmentally friendly materials, the scientists said.

Forgotten property of the electron

The orbital angular momentum of electrons has long been considered a minor physical phenomenon, suppressed in most crystals and largely overlooked. Scientists have now discovered that in certain materials it is not only preserved but can even be actively controlled. This is due to a property of the crystal structure called chirality, which also influences many other processes in nature. The discovery has the potential to lead to a new class of electronic components capable of transmitting information with exceptional robustness and energy efficiency.

Resistance is futile: Superconducting diodes are the future

Researchers have discovered the mechanism for supercurrent rectification, in which current flows primarily in one direction in a superconductor. By using a specific iron-based superconductor, they were able to observe this phenomenon over a broad range of magnetic and temperature fields. This understanding paves the way for the design and construction of superconducting diodes and other ultra-low energy electronics.

Log in to your computer with a secret message encoded in a molecule

Molecules like DNA are capable of storing large amounts of data without requiring an energy source, but accessing this molecular data is expensive and time consuming. Researchers have now developed an alternative method to encode information in synthetic molecules, which they used to encode and then decode an 11-character password to unlock a computer.

New microscope reveals heat flow in materials for green energy

Scientists have developed a new microscope that significantly improves the way heat flow in materials can be measured. This advancement could lead to better designs for electronic devices and energy systems.

Stability solution brings unique form of carbon closer to practical application

Carbyne, a one-dimensional chain of carbon atoms, is incredibly strong for being so thin, making it an intriguing possibility for use in next-generation electronics, but its extreme instability made it nearly impossible to produce at all, let alone produce enough of it for advanced studies. Now, an international team of researchers may have a solution.

Turning non-magnetic materials magnetic with atomically thin films

The rules about magnetic order may need to be rewritten. An international team of researchers found that it was possible to turn a non-magnetic material into a magnetic material by slicing it into thin films.

Eco-friendly aquatic robot is made from fish food

An edible robot leverages a combination of biodegradable fuel and surface tension to zip around the water's surface, creating a safe -- and nutritious -- alternative to environmental monitoring devices made from artificial polymers and electronics.

Vapor-deposited perovskite semiconductors power next generation circuits

A research team has developed a groundbreaking technology poised to revolutionize next-generation displays and electronic devices.

Ultra-thin bismuth holds unexpected promise for green electronics

Electronic devices rely on materials whose electrical properties change with temperature, making them less stable in extreme conditions. A discovery that challenges conventional wisdom in physics suggests that bismuth, a metal, could serve as the foundation for highly stable electronic components. The researchers observed a mysterious electrical effect in ultra-thin bismuth that remains unchanged across a wide temperature range, from near absolute zero (-273 C) to room temperature.

Robotic touch sensors are not just skin deep

Researchers argue that the problem that has been lurking in the margins of many papers about touch sensors lies in the robotic skin itself.

'Cold' manufacturing approach to make next-gen batteries

Lithium-ion batteries have been a staple in device manufacturing for years, but the liquid electrolytes they rely on to function are quite unstable, leading to fire hazards and safety concerns. Now, researchers are pursuing a reliable alternative energy storage solution for use in laptops, phones and electric vehicles: solid-state electrolytes (SSEs).