TyroMotion GmbH (AT)

Swapping Silver for Copper to Break Solar Panel Efficiency Record

SunDrive Solar received certification from the Institute for Solar Energy Research Hamelin that their commercially-sized silicon solar cell had achieved a 25.54% efficiency. This efficiency surpassed the previous world record of 25.26%, held by LONGi Solar, the world's leading manufacturer of mono-crystalline solar modules. Silicon is currently the dominant solar cell technology, and this technology comprised 95 per cent of all solar modules installed in 2020.

Lithium-Carbon Battery Technology Enables Ultra-Fast Charging

By combining the benefits of super capacitors and traditional lithium-ion batteries, the new lithium-carbon technology enables a full charge to be delivered in a similar time to refuelling an internal combustion-powered vehicle.

Life Support Cooked up From Lunar Rocks

Engineers have successfully shown how water and oxygen can be extracted by cooking up lunar soil, in order to support future Moon bases.

Micro-Robots Propelled by Air Bubbles and Ultrasound

A team of engineers created cell-size robots that can be powered and steered by ultrasound waves. Despite their tiny size, these micro-robotic swimmers - whose movements were inspired by bacteria and sperm - could one day be a formidable new tool for targeted drug delivery.

3D Nano-inks Push Industry Boundaries

A new, 3D-printable polymer nanocomposite ink has incredible properties — and many applications in aerospace, medicine and electronics. Mechanical engineering researchers have created a way to make a 3D-printable nanocomposite polymeric ink that uses carbon nanotubes — known for their high tensile strength and lightness. This revolutionary ink could replace epoxies — and understanding why its properties are so fantastic is a first step toward its mass use.

Nanoparticle Paste To Maximize Perovskite Solar Cell Efficiency

An international team of researchers found a way to increase the efficiency of perovskite-based solar cells.

ioTech

ioTech is a company that has developed a rapid, optically driven, non-contact method of depositing patterned layers of a wide range of materials. It is primarily targeting the semiconductor packaging and PCB manufacturing space.

GM Reveals All-New EV Motors to Power an All-Electric Future

General Motors President Mark Reuss has revealed GM's group of three all-new motors that will power its Ultium-based EVs. Designed by GM, the 180-kilowatt front-drive motor, 255-kW rear- and front-drive motor and 62-kW all-wheel drive assist motor are part of Ultium Drive. All three motors were calibrated in-house to ensure the highest level of performance in Ultium-based EVs. The motors were built as a scalable family, sharing design principles as well as similar tooling and manufacturing strategies.

Antibiotic Levels Measurable in Breath for First Time

A team of engineers and biotechnologists has for the first time shown in mammals that the concentration of antibiotics in the body can be determined using breath samples. The breath measurements also corresponded to the antibiotic concentrations in the blood. The team's biosensor - a multiplex chip that allows simultaneous measurement of several specimens and test substances - will in future enable personalized dosing of medicines against infectious diseases on-site and help to minimize the development of resistant strains of bacteria.

3D Printed Modular Houses with Steel Exoskeleton

Architects have designed the world's first steel 3D printed structure of modular houses The studio is the first architecture and design studio in the world to use a steel 3D-printed "exoskeleton" construction system that supports and distributes all the functional elements of the building, using their new solution of construction technique which they called "EXOSTEEL".

TE Connectivity: Materials for Charging Connectors

TE Connectivity held a webinar recently to discuss their new product Tendur for surface plating charging connectors. Tendur is an ultra anti-abrasion surface coating for high voltage charging inlets and is a promising technology to improve the lifetime performance of high-powered charging connectors.

Robots Roll up Stairs, Carry Carts and Race One Another

Researchers have designed a 4D-printed soft robot that self-assembles when heated and can take on challenging tasks like rolling uphill and navigating a bumpy and unpredictable landscape.

Airtech

Airtech Advanced Materials Group is a carbon fiber composite materials company. IDTechEx spoke with Philip Lunn, Global Technical Manager, at the 2021 International Composites Summit about their carbon fiber pellets for 3D printing.

Lyten Introduces Next Generation Lithium-Sulfur Battery for EVs

Company's proprietary platform of advanced materials will enable a safer EV battery with higher gravimetric energy density than conventional lithium-ion and solid state technologies

EV Power Electronics: Driving Semiconductor Demand in a Chip Shortage

Semiconductors are the lifeblood of the modern age. From your watch to a washing machine, everything these days seems to be 'smart', 'connected' and therefore enabled by semiconductors. Unsurprisingly then, a massive shortage of chips present 'across all categories', according to some industry executives, is having a profound impact.

EV Battery Packs Is the Major Application the Aerogel Industry Needed

Electric vehicle battery packs have increasing requirements concerning their thermal runaway mitigation strategy. Meanwhile, the aerogel industry is overly dependent on oil & gas and in need of diversification. Could this be the perfect match between a problem looking for a solution and a solution looking for a problem?

TOF Sensor for Patient Monitoring: Track Human Skeletal Movement

Omron engineers have worked hard to create long lasting and reliable sensing products for manufacturers and product designers. With continued growth of smart sensor demand within the touchless market and for the medical industry, Omron has continued improvements on their latest sensing product, the B5L Time of Flight sensor.

First-in-World Heart Implant: Women Receives Novel Artificial Heart

A cardiothoracic surgical team has performed the world's first Aeson bioprosthetic total artificial heart implantation in a female patient. The investigational device, currently intended as a bridge to heart transplant, is part of an Early Feasibility Study.

New AI Tool Accelerates Discovery of Truly New Materials

Researchers have created a collaborative artificial intelligence tool that reduces the time and effort required to discover truly new materials.

Now We're Cooking with Lasers

Imagine having your own digital personal chef; ready to cook up whatever you want; able to tailor the shape, texture, and flavor just for you; and it's all at the push of a button. Engineers have been working on doing just that, using lasers for cooking and 3D printing technology for assembling foods.