Nov

23

Big Improvement to Erbium Doping Materials

November 23, 2011 | 1 Comment

Erbium isn’t likely on most folks news watch list, but the rare earth element is used more than we realize and a material doping improvement has significant potential across a wide set of fields. Arizona State University researchers have created a new crystal material compound called erbium chloride silicate.  Electrical engineering professor Cun-Zheng Ning at [...]

Oct

14

Perhaps the First Molecular Filter Arrives

October 14, 2011 | Leave a Comment

At the University of Minnesota a research team has designed a specialized type of molecular sieve that could make the production of gasoline, plastics and various chemicals more cost effective and energy efficient. After more than a decade of research, the team devised a means for developing freestanding, ultra-thin zeolite nanosheets that as thin films [...]

Oct

13

Concern Grows About Minerals and Metals

October 13, 2011 | 1 Comment

Many if not most metals, rare earth minerals and other elements used to make everything from photovoltaic panels and cellphone displays to the permanent magnets in cutting edge new wind generators and motors will become limited in availability.  Geologists are warning of shortages and bottlenecks of some metals due to an insatiable demand for consumer [...]

Jul

27

Diamond for Tillage

July 27, 2011 | 3 Comments

Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials IWM in Freiburg and their partners in the RemBob project are working on coating plowshares with diamond-like carbon (DLC) to reduce friction.  When it comes to moving earth, a significant amount of energy is used in food production, fuel production and construction. Less friction equals less [...]

Jul

25

3-D Photonic Crystals Go Electric

July 25, 2011 | Leave a Comment

Previous attempts at making 3-D photonic crystals have resulted in devices that are only optically active, which means they can direct light but are not electronically active, so they can’t turn electricity to light or vice versa.  It’s been a tantalizing problem.  Getting to electric crystals could offer new or extremely efficient energy devices. University [...]

Jul

22

Super Strong Metal Discovery

July 22, 2011 | Leave a Comment

PhD student Tianbo Yu at Risø DTU in Denmark has discovered a new phenomenon that will make nanometals more useful in wider use while working at the Materials Research Division at Risø.  Yu has taken the research a step further in discovering the new phenomenon. The new discovery could speed up the practical application of [...]

Jul

13

Building Structures With Quantum Dots

July 13, 2011 | Leave a Comment

Quantum dots are particles of semiconductor material that can absorb and emit light efficiently.  For many looking into the future these really tiny dots of material offer great promise. University of Toronto (UT) researchers examining the photosynthetic apparatus in plants have been inspired to devise and engineer a new generation of nanomaterials that control and [...]

Jul

7

Rare Earth Elements Found At Sea

July 7, 2011 | 1 Comment

Spooked by the Chinese embargo of rare earth elements the rare earth mining industry is busily looking and investing in rare earth mineral extraction.  Several prospects look practical.  Meanwhile Japan’s Yasuhiro Kato, associate processor at the University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Engineering is leading a research group that’s found widely distributed high-quality rare earth-rich [...]

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