Posts Tagged ‘silicon’
Science & Technology - Mar 1, 2010 11:46 - 1 Comment
Is silk the secret to better biomonitors?
U. ILLINOIS (US)—Futuristic medical devices—such as an “electronic tattoo” that monitors blood sugar levels—have entered the realm of the possible with the creation of silicon-on-silk electronics. (more…)
Science & Technology - Feb 17, 2010 16:49 - 3 Comments
Flexible solar cells soak up the sun
CALTECH (US)—Scientists have created a new type of flexible solar cell that enhances the absorption of sunlight and efficiently converts its photons into electrons. The solar cell does all this using only a fraction of the expensive semiconductor materials required by conventional models. (more…)
Science & Technology - Jan 29, 2010 12:36 - 8 Comments
Take a hike with energy-harvesting rubber films
PRINCETON (US)—Power-generating rubber films could make it possible to harness natural body movements—such as breathing and walking—to power pacemakers, mobile phones, and other electronic devices. (more…)
Science & Technology - Dec 10, 2009 13:56 - 8 Comments
Tiny transistor may become conductor king
CORNELL (US)—A newly developed and extremely efficient transistor may soon replace silicon as the semiconductor of choice for power applications. (more…)
Science & Technology - Nov 16, 2009 17:14 - 0 Comments
Tiny light beam budges nanoscale object
CORNELL (US)—With a bit of leverage, researchers have used a very tiny beam of light with as little as 1 milliwatt of power to move a silicon structure up to 12 nanometers. That’s enough to completely switch the optical properties of the structure from opaque to transparent, they report. (more…)
Science & Technology - Nov 12, 2009 14:57 - 0 Comments
Growing graphene without the mess
A conceptual illustration of an array of single atom-thick graphene transistors. Graphene is often hailed as potentially supplanting silicon in electronics, with its remarkable strength, despite its one atom-thick sheets, and its off-the-charts electrical properties. Researchers are experimenting with growing full-scale, four-inch graphene wafers. (Credit: Shivank Garg)
Science & Technology - Sep 17, 2009 19:27 - 7 Comments
Nanotubes may yield greener solar cells
In a carbon nanotube-based photodiode, electrons (blue) and holes (red) release their excess energy to efficiently create more electron-hole pairs when light is shined on the device. (Credit: Nathan Gabor)
Science & Technology - Aug 26, 2009 4:00 - 1 Comment
Bend it like bright LED screens
Stretchable micro-LED display, consisting of an interconnected mesh of printed micro LEDs bonded to a rubber substrate.
Science & Technology - Aug 24, 2009 4:00 - 0 Comments
Organic circuits (finally) have it both ways
An organic polymer circuit that transports both positive and negative charges. The circuit was created by solution casting of a newly developed material. (Courtesy: University of Washington)
Science & Technology - Aug 21, 2009 15:51 - 1 Comment
Solar cells nano-inked onto rooftops
A team of engineers is using nanoparticle “inks” (as shown here) to develop cheap solar cells. Lead researcher Brian Korgel says the inks, which are semitransparent, could help realize the prospect of having windows that double as solar cells.
Science & Technology - Jul 28, 2009 9:48 - 0 Comments
Tiny electronics via silicon with ‘afterburners’
“This gives the Intels and the Microns and the Samsungs of the world another tool to try, and I guarantee you they’ll be trying this,” says James Tour about a new technique that may improve integrated circuit design. (The microchips above feature an integrated circuit visible through the transparent window. Courtesy: Richard Wheeler/Wikimedia Commons)
Science & Technology - Jul 13, 2009 15:28 - 0 Comments
Running nanodevices on ‘repulsive’ light
Tang’s team show how interacting lightwaves can be used to control devices on a silicon chip. (Photo: Hong Tang/Yale University)
Science & Technology - May 18, 2009 14:50 - 0 Comments
Staging a nanoscale disappearing act
CORNELL—Researchers have developed a device that can make it seem that a bump in a carpet—or, indeed, any flat surface—isn’t there. So far the illusion works only at the nanoscale, but the researchers from Cornell University suggest that the basic principle might eventually be scaled up for military and communications applications, or perhaps used in reverse to concentrate solar energy. (more…)
Health & Medicine - Apr 29, 2009 12:26 - 1 Comment
Engineered silicone reborn as medical cure
UC IRVINE (US)—What’s the connection between solar cells and urinary tract disorders? Research by Frank Shi. His team at the University of California, Irvine developed a specially formulated silicone for use in optical electronics. New findings suggest the substance could play a double role, revolutionizing treatment of urinary tract diseases. (more…)
