Condensed Matter news
New plastic is strong as steel, transparent
Oct 04, 2007 |
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By mimicking a brick-and-mortar molecular structure found in seashells, University of Michigan researchers created a composite plastic that's as strong as steel but lighter and transparent.
Alloy of hydrogen and oxygen made from water
Oct 26, 2006 |
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Water, the only indispensable ingredient of life, is just about the most versatile stuff on Earth. Depending on its temperature we can heat our homes with it, bathe in it, and even strap on skates and glide across it, to ...
Unique Material May Allow Capacitors to Store More Energy
Jul 20, 2007 |
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Imagine an electric car with the same acceleration capability as a gas-powered sports car, or ultrafast rechargeable “batteries” that can be recharged a thousand times more than existing conventional batteries. According ...
Switchable mirror glass produced for energy efficient windows
Jan 30, 2007 |
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Although windows can naturally heat buildings in the cold seasons, some hot sunny days might make you wish that windows would just go away. Scientists from Japan have recently designed new technology that will ...
Flat, Flexible, Wireless Power Source Can Go Anywhere
May 23, 2007 |
4.6 / 5 (135) |
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A team of Japanese researchers has created a novel wireless power-transmission device that is thin, flat, and flexible. Based on a sheet of plastic, the device can be put on desks, floors, walls, and almost ...
Researchers create gold aluminum, black platinum, blue silver
Feb 01, 2008 |
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Using a tabletop laser, a University of Rochester optical scientist has turned pure aluminum, gold. And blue. And gray. And many other colors. And it works for every metal tested, including platinum, titanium, ...
Brown engineers build a better battery -- with plastic
Sep 13, 2006 |
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Brown University engineers have created a new battery that uses plastic, not metal, to conduct electrical current. The hybrid device marries the power of a capacitor with the storage capacity of a battery. ...
New aluminum-rich alloy produces hydrogen on-demand for large-scale uses
Feb 19, 2008 |
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Purdue University engineers have developed a new aluminum-rich alloy that produces hydrogen by splitting water and is economically competitive with conventional fuels for transportation and power generation.
Ultra-intense laser blast creates true 'black metal'
Nov 21, 2006 |
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"Black gold" is not just an expression anymore. Scientists at the University of Rochester have created a way to change the properties of almost any metal to render it, literally, black. The process, using an incredibly intense ...
A Promising Catalyst for Solar-Based Hydrogen Energy Production
Dec 02, 2008 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists have found that a polymer material is an excellent catalyst in a process to produce hydrogen fuel using sunlight and water. The material meets the basic requirements for an ideal catalyst -- including ...
Light Source Lasts 12 Years - No Electricity Needed
Dec 13, 2007 |
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A company called MPK is designing a light source that will glow continuously for more than 12 years without any additional energy.
Transparent aluminium is 'new state of matter'
Jul 27, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- Oxford scientists have created a transparent form of aluminium by bombarding the metal with the world’s most powerful soft X-ray laser. 'Transparent aluminium' previously only existed in science ...
Scientists create darkest material
Jan 14, 2008 |
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A scientist at a Houston university has created the darkest known material -- about four times darker than the previous record holder.
Scientists discover record-breaking hydrogen storage materials for use in fuel cells
Nov 12, 2007 |
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Scientists at the University of Virginia have discovered a new class of hydrogen storage materials that could make the storage and transportation of energy much more efficient — and affordable — through higher-performing ...
New process could cause titanium price to tumble
May 20, 2008 |
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Whether for stopping cars or bullets, titanium is the material of choice, but it has always been too expensive for all but the most specialized applications.
