King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)

Integration of single-crystal hybrid perovskites into electronics

A team of researchers has developed a technique that, for the first time, allows single-crystal hybrid perovskite materials to be integrated into electronics. Because these perovskites can be synthesized at low temperatures, the advance opens the door to new research into flexible electronics and potentially reduced manufacturing costs for electronic devices.

Paper sensors remove the sting of diabetic testing

A technique that enables biologically active enzymes to survive the rigors of inkjet printing presents a promising alternative to routine blood screening exams faced by diabetic patients.

Sensitive robots feel the strain

An artificial soft skin imbued with flexible electronics could enhance the way robots sense and interact with their surroundings.

Turn your house into solar panels with printable solar materials

Scientists have developed a photovoltaic organic material that captures light efficiently and that potentially could be coated on building materials.

Thin films for more efficient solar cells

The efficiency of solar cells can be increased by thin-film contacts. Improving the performance of solar cells requires scrutinizing every aspect of their design. First, this means improving the crystalline quality of the absorbing material to maximize the conversion of photons to negatively charged electrons and positively charged holes. Next, the device's architecture must be optimized to ensure these charge carriers can move efficiently through the material. Finally, the electrical contacts that extract the carriers from the device and into an external circuit need to be perfected.

Laser-scribed disordered graphene improves sodium-ion batteries

Sodium-ion batteries have potential to replace the currently used lithium-ion batteries by using the cheaper (less than a thirtieth of the cost of lithium) and more abundant sodium resource. This has particular potential in Saudi Arabia, where sodium is readily available and easily extracted as a byproduct of water desalination, a significant source of potable water in the country.

Smart skin for flexible monitoring

An electronic tag that stretches and flexes while it records location and environmental data can monitor marine animals in their natural habitat as reported in Printed Electronics World.

Clear leads to fully transparent devices

Large-area, two-dimensional semiconductors wired through transparent oxide conductors produce high-performance see-through electronics.

Flexible batteries for smart dental aids

Smart 3D-printed braces that incorporate nontoxic batteries and lights could reduce the time and costs involved in realigning and straightening teeth.

Thermoelectric developments continue

Despite a speed up of electrification which is bad news for thermoelectric based waste heat recovery in internal combustion engines, not all has been bad for this energy harvesting technology.

A simple additive to improve film quality

Thin films for use in solar cells are more effective when simple chemicals called glycol ethers are added to the film-forming mix.

QD Solar secures Series A Financing from an international consortium

QD Solar has announced the closing of Series A funding led by DSM Venturing with participation from existing investors, KAUST Innovation Fund and MaRS Innovation.