Articles
Advanced exoskeleton promises more independence for people with paraplegia
Until recently, ‘wearable robots’ were the stuff of science fiction. In the last 10 years, however, advances in robotics, microelectronics, battery and electric motor technologies have advanced to the point where it has become practical to develop exoskeletons to aid people with disabilities. [ + ]
Using snails’ teeth to improve solar cells and batteries
The teeth of a marine snail found off the coast of California are being used to create less costly and more efficient nanoscale materials to improve solar cells and lithium-ion batteries. [ + ]
A new phase in reading photons
A JQI photodetector beats the quantum limit by a factor of 4. [ + ]
Researchers demonstrate record-setting p-type transistor
A new design for a basic component of all computer chips boasts the highest ‘carry mobility’ yet measured. [ + ]
InGaAs - keeping Moore’s Law alive
The smallest InGaAs transistor ever built is providing a pathway that will allow the number of transistors on microchiops to continue to double every two years. [ + ]
Extension of operation temperature range to 200°C enabled by Al/Cu wire bonds
The demand for an extension of the operation temperature range to 200°C has been promoted by several trends. [ + ]
Unexpected factor could limit battery performance
A recent 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. [ + ]
Red dye powers ‘green’ battery
Rose madder - a natural plant dye once prized throughout the Old World to make fiery red textiles - has found a second life as the basis for a new ‘green’ battery. [ + ]
Self-assembled monolayers create p-n junctions in graphene films
A low-temperature, controllable and stable method has been developed to dope graphene films using self-assembled monolayers (SAM) that modify the interface of graphene and its support substrate. Using this concept, a team of researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology has created graphene p-n junctions - which are essential to fabricating devices - without damaging the material’s lattice structure or significantly reducing electron/hole mobility. [ + ]
Flash testing of PCBs during the initial production stages
PCB manufacturers can take advantage of a fast, reliable and safe solution to meet the growing demand for flash/HIPOT tested (2 kV) unpopulated boards. Electrical safety testing specialist Clare has developed a bespoke system using its HAL104 instrument connected to a test enclosure, which enables the easy flash testing of PCBs during the initial production stages. [ + ]
Tin whisker mystery solved
Tin whiskers are little-known culprits of electronic destruction - tiny killers that leave no evidence the human eye can detect. No one knows how they form and grow, but Yong Sun has solved part of this mystery. [ + ]
Research discovery could revolutionise semiconductor manufacture
A new method of manufacturing the smallest structures in electronics could make their manufacture thousands of times quicker, allowing for cheaper semiconductors. The findings have been published in the latest issue of Nature. [ + ]
Metamaterials manipulate light on a microchip
Using a combination of the new tools of metamaterials and transformation optics, engineers at Penn State University have developed designs for miniaturised optical devices that can be used in chip-based optical integrated circuits, the equivalent of the integrated electronic circuits that make possible computers and mobile phones. [ + ]
Some more electronics may stop us all seeing red about traffic lights
What is it with traffic lights? They often make me see red and seem to be stuck on that colour. They just don’t seem to have kept up with today’s traffic flow and demands on road space. [ + ]
Flexible, low-voltage circuits using CdSe nanocrystals
With the combination of flexibility, relatively simple fabrication processes and low power requirements, CdSe nanocrystal circuits could pave the way for new kinds of devices and pervasive sensors. [ + ]