Purdue University

Robotic fabric could bring active clothing, wearable robots

Researchers are developing a robotic fabric that moves and contracts and is embedded with sensors, an approach that could bring "active clothing" and a new class of "soft" robots.

Graphene flaws key to creating hypersensitive electronic nose

Researchers have discovered a way to create a highly sensitive chemical sensor based on the crystalline flaws in graphene sheets.

Thermoelectric material to hit market later this year

California-based Alphabet Energy plans to begin selling a new type of material that can turn heat into electricity. Unlike previous thermoelectrics, as such materials are known, it is abundant, cheap, and nontoxic.

Electrical component hitches a ride with mechanical support

A new composite material that can simultaneously withstand mechanical loads and store electrical energy has been created by scientists in the UK and Belgium.

Silicon alternatives key to future computers, consumer electronics

Researchers are reporting key milestones in developing new semiconductors to potentially replace silicon in future computer chips and for applications in flexible electronics.

'Inverse opal' structure improves thin-film solar cells

Researchers have shown how to increase the efficiency of thin-film solar cells, a technology that could bring low-cost solar energy.

Enhancing solar cells with heat

Researchers recently demonstrated a photonic-crystal based thermophotovoltaic system, which converts heat to electricity.

Project aims to mass-produce nanopetals for sensors, batteries

Research findings indicate the material shows promise as a sensor for detecting glucose in the saliva or tears and for "supercapacitors" that could make possible fast-charging, high-performance batteries.

Transparent, electrically conductive, flexible solar cells

Researchers have created a new type of transparent electrode that might find uses in solar cells, flexible displays for computers and consumer electronics and future "optoelectronic" circuits for sensors and information processing.

Trees used to create reyclable, efficient solar cell

Solar cells are just like leaves, capturing the sunlight and turning it into energy. It's fitting that they can now be made partially from trees.

Nano machine shop shapes nanowires, ultrathin films

A new "nano machine shop" that shapes nanowires and ultrathin films could represent a future manufacturing method for tiny structures with potentially revolutionary properties.

Nanocrystal-coated fibers might reduce wasted energy

Researchers are developing a technique that uses nanotechnology to harvest energy from hot pipes or engine components to potentially recover energy wasted in factories, power plants and cars.

Breakthroughs may lead to more energy efficient transistors

Researchers at Penn State and the University of Notre Dame have announced breakthroughs in the development of tunneling field effect transistors (TFETs), a semiconductor technology that takes advantage of the quirky behavior of electrons at the quantum level.

Rap music powers medical sensor

The driving bass rhythm of rap music can be harnessed to power a new type of miniature medical sensor designed to be implanted in the body.

Cyanobacterial genes that capture the sun's energy

A new computer model of blue-green algae can predict which of the organism's genes are central to capturing energy from sunlight and other critical processes.

Printed electronics widens its scope

Printed electronics has its origins in conductive patterns printed as part of conventional electronics, forming flexible keyboards, antennas and so on.

Self-repairing solar cells

Researchers are creating a new type of solar cell designed to self-repair like natural photosynthetic systems in plants by using carbon nanotubes and DNA, an approach aimed at increasing service life and reducing cost.

New solar cell self-repairs like natural plant systems

Researchers are creating a new type of solar cell designed to self-repair like natural photosynthetic systems in plants by using carbon nanotubes and DNA, an approach aimed at increasing service life and reducing cost.

Sony names Nobel chemist Negishi as research advisor

Electronics giant Sony said Monday it had named Eiichi Negishi, the Japanese co-recipient of this year's Nobel Prize for chemistry, as a senior advisor for research and development.

Thermoelectrics boost hybrid efficiency

Researchers at Purdue University are creating a system that harvests heat from an engine's exhaust to generate electricity, reducing a car's fuel consumption.