University of California

Microfabrication breakthrough for piezoelectric material

Integrating a complex, single-crystal material with "giant" piezoelectric properties onto silicon, University of Wisconsin-Madison engineers and physicists can fabricate low-voltage, near-nanoscale electromechanical devices that could lead to improvements in high-resolution 3-D imaging, signal processing, communications, energy harvesting, sensing, and actuators for nanopositioning devices, among others.

Sorting out the nanotubes, for better electronics.

A new technique developed by Stanford researchers advances commercial potential of semiconducting carbon nanotubes for printable circuits, bendable display screens, stretchable electronics and solar technology.

Hybrid construction vehicle emissions to be analyzed

Scientists at the University of California, Riverside's Center for Environmental Research and Technology have received a $2 million contract for a first-of-its-kind study of hybrid construction vehicles.

Low power electronics for humans, on humans!

The development of low power electronics and devices for integration into the type of active lifestyles that are characteristic of modern humans is a vibrant area of research. Whether the electronics are wearable, epidermal, edible or even implantable, developments are taking place worldwide with new concepts, designs and prototypes that could change everyday life with minimal intrusiveness.

New method of growing graphene will revolutionize electronics

New method of growing high-quality graphene promising for next-generation technology.

Low power electronics for humans, on humans!

The development of low power electronics and devices for integration into the type of active lifestyles that are characteristic of modern humans is a vibrant area of research. Whether the electronics are wearable, epidermal, edible or even implantable, developments are taking place worldwide with new concepts, designs and prototypes that could change everyday life with minimal intrusiveness.

Graphene overtaking carbon nanotubes

Graphene is considered a hot candidate for applications such as computers, displays, photovoltaics, and flexible electronics.

New approach to e-bike batteries

IDTechEx Technology Analyst Harry Zervos interviewed Leyden Energy's Aakar Patel, discussing the company's battery technology, the attributes that make it a technology that's attracting the interest of electric vehicle, consumer electronic, smart grid and EV developers as well as the company's prospects and aims for the future.

Grants to advance energy harvesting computing

We are also fascinated by the prospect of building processors that can run without a battery because they can harvest all the energy they need from the ambient environment.

Graphene nanocomposite a bridge to better batteries

Researchers with the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have created a graphene and tin nanoscale composite material for high-capacity energy storage in renewable lithium ion batteries.

Plasmonic technique helps enhance power conversion by up to 20 percent

Nano Gold Rush: Researchers use tiny gold particles to boost organic solar cell efficiency

Peak car - different electric vehicles needed

We all know about peak oil but peak car has arrived in many respects. Thus although we shall enjoy two decades of rapidly rising sales of electric cars, starting with the decade of the hybrid, the ceiling of the number of cars needed overall is going to drop. In many countries, we have already reached both peak car ownership and peak per-person car travel, though of course the emerging countries are compensating for this temporarily.

Highlights of the IWPMA conference, Virginia Tech, 8-10 August

Professor Ray Baughman from the University of Texas at Dallas discussed in his keynote presentation the bi-scrolled yarns developed by his team.

Polarizing organic photovoltaics could charge your iPhone

Phone losing charge? Technology created by UCLA engineers allows LCDs to recycle energy.

Graphene nanocomposite a bridge to better batteries

Researchers with the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have created a graphene and tin nanoscale composite material for high-capacity energy storage in renewable lithium ion batteries. By encapsulating tin between sheets of graphene, the researchers constructed a new, lightweight "sandwich" structure that should bolster battery performance.

Smart skin powered by solar cells

Engineers have developed a device platform that combines electronic components for sensing, medical diagnostics, communications and human-machine interfaces, all on an ultrathin skin-like patch that mounts directly onto the skin and is powered by solar cells.