National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation
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The National Science Foundation is an independent U.S. federal agency established by Congress in the NSF Act of 1950 "to promote progress of science," and "advance national health, prosperity, and welfare," and "to secure the national defense." NSF provides financial support for fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. The majority of the funds are provided to support basic research performed in U.S. academic institutions.
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2013
3 May 2013
Energy harvester rolls to market production
A new concept becomes proven reality, as MicroGen's nanotechnology-based energy harvester - researched and developed by the company at the Cornell NanoScale Science and Technology Facility (CNF) - begins commercial-scale production this summer.26 Apr 2013
Small in size, big on power
"A battery can deliver far more power than anybody ever thought. In recent decades, electronics have gotten small. The thinking parts of computers have gotten small. And the battery has lagged far behind. This is a microtechnology that could change all of that. Now the power source is as high-performance as the rest of it."2 Apr 2013
Even graphene has weak spots
Graphene, the single-atom-thick form of carbon, has become famous for its extraordinary strength. But less-than-perfect sheets of the material show unexpected weakness.20 Mar 2013
Researchers hope to reap benefits of energy harvesting
University of Texas at Dallas researchers and their colleagues at other institutions are investigating ways to harvest energy from such diverse sources as mechanical vibrations, wasted heat, radio waves, light and even movements of the human body.6 Mar 2013
Solar-to-fuel roadmap for crystalline silicon
Bringing the concept of an "artificial leaf" closer to reality, a team of researchers at MIT has published a detailed analysis of all the factors that could limit the efficiency of such a system.1 Mar 2013
Nano beads on a string could advance battery technology
Chemists and materials scientists have designed a tiny silicon structure for batteries that can last through more charging cycles than previous designs did.26 Feb 2013
Nanoscale antennas boost solar energy harvesting
A novel fabrication technique developed could provide the breakthrough technology scientists have been looking for to vastly improve today's solar energy systems.8 Feb 2013
Improved technology could lock in colour for high-res displays
Researchers have found a way to lock in so-called structural color, which is made with texture rather than chemicals.21 Jan 2013
A new world record for solar cell efficiency
In a remarkable feat, scientists at Empa, the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, have developed thin film solar cells on flexible polymer foils with a new record efficiency of 20.4% for converting sunlight into electricity.2012
31 Dec 2012
Flexible silicon solar-cell fabrics may be possible
For the first time, a silicon-based optical fiber with solar-cell capabilities has been developed that has been shown to be scalable to many meters in length.24 Dec 2012
Flexible, light solar cells could provide new opportunities
MIT researchers have produced a new kind of photovoltaic cell based on sheets of flexible graphene coated with a layer of nanowires.17 Dec 2012
Researchers find a cause of lithium-ion battery degradation in EVs
A new study of the batteries commonly used in hybrid and electric-only cars has revealed an unexpected factor that could limit the performance of batteries currently on the road.13 Dec 2012
Flexible silicon solar-cell fabrics may soon become possible
For the first time, a silicon-based optical fiber with solar-cell capabilities has been developed that has been shown to be scalable to many meters in length.12 Dec 2012
How 'transparent' is graphene?
The amazing electrical, optical and strength properties of graphene, a single-atom-thick layer of carbon, have been extensively researched over the last decade.5 Dec 2012
Boosting heat transfer with nanoglue
A team of interdisciplinary researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has developed a new method for significantly increasing the heat transfer rate across two different materials.27 Nov 2012
Fabrication on patterned silicon carbine for graphene-based electronic
By fabricating graphene structures atop nanometer-scale "steps" etched into silicon carbide, researchers have for the first time created a substantial electronic bandgap in the material suitable for room-temperature electronics.23 Nov 2012
Multi walled carbon nanotubes for interconnects
Using a new method for precisely controlling the deposition of carbon, researchers have demonstrated a technique for connecting multi-walled carbon nanotubes to the metallic pads of integrated circuits without the high interface resistance produced by traditional fabrication techniques.6 Nov 2012
New technique reveals lithium in action
Exactly what goes inside advanced lithium-air batteries as they charge and discharge has always been impossible to observe directly. Now, a new technique developed by MIT researchers promises to change that, allowing study of this electrochemical activity as it happens.1 Oct 2012
Promising breakthrough in solar cells based on nanocarbon
An exciting advance in solar cell technology has produced the world's most efficient photovoltaic cells made from nanocarbons, materials that have the potential to dramatically drop the costs of PV technology in the future.1 Oct 2012
Biocompatible electronics vanish when no longer needed
An interdisciplinary team of researchers from Northwestern University, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Tufts University are the first to demonstrate "transient electronics" - which are electronics that gradually disappear on a specified schedule, whether it be a few days or six months.