Materials & Coatings

New Material Will Burn Viruses, Not Skin

A new material uses Joule heating to decontaminate its surface of coronaviruses like SARS-CoV-2 in under 5 seconds, effectively killing at least 99.9 percent of viruses.

Using Coffee to Reduce Waste from 3D Printing

Researchers have already experimented with using coffee grounds to 3D print jewelry, pots for plants, and even, fittingly, espresso cups. The technique is also simple enough that it will work on most low-cost, consumer-grade 3D printers.

Quantum Dot Breakthrough Could Create Cheaper Infrared Sensors

Scientists from the University of Chicago have demonstrated a way to create infrared light using colloidal quantum dots. The researchers said the method demonstrates great...

3D-Printed Ceramics Can Increase Gas Turbine Efficiency

Professor Stephen Lynch, of Penn State’s College of Engineering, along with colleagues at Michigan State University and the University of Wyoming, have developed a process for 3D printing a high-temperature ceramic gas turbine part.

DNA Combined with Glass Results in a Stronger, Lighter Material

Researchers say that by building a structure out of DNA and then coating it with glass, they have created a very strong material with very low density.

Product Launch: Advanced Energy Launches Liquid-Cooled Configurable Power Supply

Advanced Energy Industries, Inc., a provider of precision power conversion, measurement and control solutions announced a new high-power, liquid-cooled...

Tech Focus: A Production-Scale Microwave Plasma Process

6K Energy has developed the UniMelt® plasma process, a production platform to produce battery material, which reduces costs of materials by 50-70 percent, diminishes energy and water...

Solid-State EV Batteries Project to Low Penetration in 2030

Although the automotive industry sees solid-state batteries as the next game-changer for EV driving range, performance and safety, the technology is projected to penetrate the...

EV Battery Recycling Still Being Defined

The efficient and economical recycling of EV batteries is not just possible, but inevitable, said a panel of battery-recycling experts at the 2023 Battery Show North America in Novi, MI, this week....

Leaders Optimistic North America Lithium Supply Gap Can be Eliminated

At the Battery Show North America, a panel of leaders addressed North America’s lithium supply challenges, and talked about signs that aggressive movement from...

Accelerating Solar Energy Research More Sustainably

A robot developed at North Carolina State University can conduct experiments more sustainably and accelerate energy materials research.

2023 Battery Show North America Opens as Automakers, Suppliers Intensify Battery Investments

As the world’s major auto markets begin an inexorable shift to EVs and hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs), any discussion of the engineering behind...

Product Focus: INCELLION™ Binders, Dispersants, and Rheology Modifiers

Arkema will present its full range of specialty materials enhancing the efficiency, sustainability, and reliability of electric vehicle and energy storage system...

Product Focus: A Suite of Electrical, Mechanical, and Thermal Solutions by Indium Corporation

Indium Corporation will feature its Rel-ion™ suite of electrical, mechanical, and thermal solutions to reduce EV manufacturers’ time to...

Tech Focus: Atmospheric Plasma Systems for the Pretreatment of Substrate Surfaces

Mobility-related changes mean that the need for high-performance batteries for EVs is rapidly increasing. Plasma pretreatment is the key technology for...

Zinc-Air Batteries: A Cheaper, Safer Alternative to Li-ion Batteries

Zinc-air batteries have emerged as a better alternative to lithium in a recent study into the advancement of sustainable battery systems.

Products of Tomorrow

See the products of tomorrow, including microscale robots, LOTUS coating, and a wearable e-tattoo.

Detecting Porosity Defects in 3D-Printed Metal Parts

A research team has made new discoveries that can expand additive manufacturing in industries that rely on strong metal parts, including aerospace.

A Sintering Method to Fabricate Large Perovskite Devices

A Penn State-led team of researchers have created a new process to fabricate large perovskite devices that is more cost- and time-effective than previously possible — and may accelerate future materials discovery.

3D Printing Stronger Carbon Nanotubes

Researchers in the Lyding Group at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have discovered an efficient, sustainable method for 3D-printing single-walled carbon nanotube films, a versatile, durable material that can transform how we explore space, engineer aircraft, and wear electronic technology.

A Novel Way to Convert Heat to Electricity

Researchers have fabricated a novel device that could dramatically boost the conversion of heat into electricity. If perfected, the technology could help recoup some of the recoverable heat energy that is wasted in the U.S. at a rate of about $100 billion each year.

Developing More Durable Solar Cells

An international research collaboration led by UCLA has developed a way to use perovskite in solar cells while protecting it from the conditions that cause it to deteriorate.

Synthesizing Complex Optical Materials

Researchers have developed a colloidal synthesis method for alkaline earth chalcogenides. This method allows them to control the size of the nanocrystals in the material.

An Innovative Method to Produce Soft, Recyclable Fibers for Smart Textiles

Drawing inspiration from how spiders spin silk to make webs, a team of researchers has developed an innovative method of producing soft fibers that possess three key properties (strong, stretchable, and electrically conductive), and at the same time can be easily reused to produce new fibers.

Self-Sensing Electric Artificial Muscles

Taking inspiration from nature, a team of researchers at Queen Mary’s School of Engineering and Materials Science has successfully created an artificial muscle that seamlessly transitions between soft and hard states while also possessing the remarkable ability to sense forces and deformations.

Novel Solid Electrolyte Materials for Improved Battery Performance

A team has designed a new blueprint for solid-state batteries that are less dependent on specific chemical elements, particularly critical metals that are challenging to source due to supply chain issues. Their work could advance solid-state batteries that are efficient and affordable.