Notable & Newsworthy

April 2016

Novel winding technology boosts motor efficiency

Motor manufacturers are in a race to switch to more energy-efficient technologies to help countries reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as part of a global strategy to combat climate change. While many motor makers look to substitute more iron or copper in their induction motor product lines, or switch to other mo

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Date:

04/26/2016

Using 2D metal as contact for 2D semiconductor allows Schottky barrier to be tuned, due to the weak Fermi level pinning at the junction caused by the suppression of metal-induced gap states. Schematic illustrates that 2D H-NbS2 can form a Schottky-barrier-free contact with 2D semiconductor for hole transport

NREL theory establishes path to high-performance 2D semiconductor devices

Researchers at the Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have uncovered a way to overcome a principal obstacle in using two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors in electronic and optoelectronic devices. 2D semiconductors such as molybdenum disulfide are only a few layers thick and are considered pro

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Date:

04/25/2016

fUCI concept bike

Advanced concept bike leaps beyond racing rules

Ever wonder why you don't see things like recumbents in the Tour de France? Well, it's because of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), which is the world governing body for bicycle racing. Among other things, the UCI places unwavering restrictions on the design of racing bikes. While this is intended to keep

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Date:

04/22/2016

Ultraflexible organic photonic skin

Ultrathin organic material empowers e-skin display

University of Tokyo researchers have developed an ultrathin, ultraflexible, protective layer and demonstrated its use by creating an air-stable, organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display. This technology will enable creation of electronic skin (e-skin) displays of blood oxygen level, e-skin heart rate sensors fo

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Date:

04/20/2016

Energy Department announces funding to train engineers

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced approximately $35 million in funding, subject to congressional appropriations, to assist small- and medium-sized U.S. manufacturers with increasing their energy efficiency, productivity, sustainability and competitiveness and to help address the shortage of engineering pr

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Date:

04/07/2016

NREL reveals potential for harvesting waste heat via nanotubes

A finely tuned carbon nanotube thin film has the potential to act as a thermoelectric power generator that captures and uses waste heat, according to researchers at the Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The research could help guide the manufacture of thermoelectric devices based on

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Date:

04/04/2016

Ambitious Concepts is using microbots to lay circuits directly onto any surface

Ambitious start-up uses microbots to build SMT circuits on surfaces

Silicon Alley startup Ambitious Concepts is attempting to bypass traditional PCB manufacturing processes and the related infrastructure by using microbots to lay circuits directly onto any surface. Called "TraceBots", the tiny machines lay strips of quick-drying adhesive flex circuitry, lacing a device's casing with the circuitry neede

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Date:

04/01/2016