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Categories: Energy: Batteries, Physics: Optics

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Computer Science: Quantum Computers Engineering: Nanotechnology Physics: General Physics: Optics Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Let there be (controlled) light      (via sciencedaily.com) 

In the very near future, quantum computers are expected to revolutionize the way we compute, with new approaches to database searches, AI systems, simulations and more. But to achieve such novel quantum technology applications, photonic integrated circuits which can effectively control photonic quantum states -- the so-called qubits -- are needed. Physicists have made a breakthrough in this effort: for the first time, they demonstrated the controlled creation of single-photon emitters in silicon at the nanoscale.

Energy: Batteries Energy: Technology Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

New design for lithium-air battery could offer much longer driving range compared with the lithium-ion battery      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Scientists have built and tested for a thousand cycles a lithium-air battery design that could one day be powering cars, domestic airplanes, long-haul trucks and more. Its energy storage capacity greatly surpasses that possible with lithium-ion batteries.

Energy: Batteries Energy: Fossil Fuels Energy: Technology Engineering: Graphene
Published

Ramping up domestic graphite production could aid the green energy transition      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Given the growing importance of graphite in energy storage technologies, a team of esearchers has conducted a study exploring ways to reduce reliance on imports of the in high-demand mineral, which powers everything from electric vehicles (EVs) to cell phones.

Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Physics: Optics
Published

Artificial intelligence conjures proteins that speed up chemical reactions      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Scientists have used machine learning to create brand-new enzymes, which are proteins that accelerate chemical reactions. This is an important step in the field of protein design as new enzymes could have many uses across medicine and industrial manufacturing. The research team devised deep-learning, artificial intelligence algorithms that created light-emitting enzymes called luciferases. Laboratory testing confirmed that the new enzymes can recognize specific chemicals and emit light very efficiently.

Computer Science: General Energy: Batteries Energy: Technology
Published

New technology turns smartphones into RFID readers, saving costs and reducing waste      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Imagine you can open your fridge, open an app on your phone and immediately know which items are expiring within a few days. This is one of the applications that a new technology would enable.

Biology: Botany Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Ecology: Animals Physics: Optics
Published

Researchers uncover how photosynthetic organisms regulate and synthesize ATP      (via sciencedaily.com) 

The redox regulation mechanism responsible for efficient production of ATP under varying light conditions in photosynthetic organisms has now been unveiled. Researchers investigated the enzyme responsible for this mechanism and uncovered how the amino acid sequences present in the enzyme regulate ATP production. Their findings provide valuable insights into the process of photosynthesis and the ability to adapt to changing metabolic conditions.

Energy: Alternative Fuels Energy: Technology Engineering: Nanotechnology Physics: Optics
Published

Nanoparticles self-assemble to harvest solar energy      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers design a solar harvester with enhanced energy conversion capabilities. The device employs a quasiperiodic nanoscale pattern, meaning most of it is an alternating and consistent pattern, while the remaining portion contains random defects that do not affect its performance. The fabrication process makes use of self-assembling nanoparticles, which form an organized material structure based on their interactions with nearby particles without any external instructions. Thermal energy harvested by the device can be transformed to electricity using thermoelectric materials.

Computer Science: General Offbeat: Computers and Math Physics: Optics
Published

The switch made from a single molecule      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have demonstrated a switch, analogous to a transistor, made from a single molecule called fullerene. By using a carefully tuned laser pulse, the researchers are able to use fullerene to switch the path of an incoming electron in a predictable way. This switching process can be three to six orders of magnitude faster than switches in microchips, depending on the laser pulses used. Fullerene switches in a network could produce a computer beyond what is possible with electronic transistors, and they could also lead to unprecedented levels of resolution in microscopic imaging devices.

Geoscience: Environmental Issues Physics: Optics
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Enhanced arsenic detection in water, food, soil      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Scientists fabricate sensitive nanostructured silver surfaces to detect arsenic, even at very low concentrations. The sensors make use of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy: As a molecule containing arsenic adheres to the surface, it's hit with a laser and the arsenic compound scatters the laser light, creating an identifiable signature. The technique is a departure from existing methods, which are time-consuming, expensive, and not ideally suited to on-site field assays.

Physics: Optics
Published

Electronic metadevices break barriers to ultra-fast communications      (via sciencedaily.com) 

EPFL researchers have come up with a new approach to electronics that involves engineering metastructures at the sub-wavelength scale. It could launch the next generation of ultra-fast devices for exchanging massive amounts of data, with applications in 6G communications and beyond.

Energy: Alternative Fuels Physics: Optics
Published

Perovskites, a 'dirt cheap' alternative to silicon, just got a lot more efficient      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers typically synthesize perovskites in a wet lab, and then apply the material as a film on a glass substrate and explore various applications. A team has instead proposes a novel, physics-based approach, using a substrate of either a layer of metal or alternating layers of metal and dielectric material -- rather than glass.

Computer Science: Quantum Computers Energy: Nuclear Physics: Optics Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Engineers discover a new way to control atomic nuclei as 'qubits'      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers propose a new approach to making qubits, the basic units in quantum computing, and controlling them to read and write data. The method is based on measuring and controlling the spins of atomic nuclei, using beams of light from two lasers of slightly different colors.

Computer Science: General Computer Science: Quantum Computers Engineering: Nanotechnology Physics: Optics Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

When the light is neither 'on' nor 'off' in the nanoworld      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Scientists detect the quantum properties of collective optical-electronic oscillations on the nanoscale. The results could contribute to the development of novel computer chips.

Computer Science: Encryption Computer Science: General Engineering: Nanotechnology Mathematics: Puzzles Offbeat: Computers and Math Physics: Optics
Published

Chromo-encryption method encodes secrets with color      (via sciencedaily.com) 

In a new approach to security that unites technology and art, E researchers have combined silver nanostructures with polarized light to yield a range of brilliant colors, which can be used to encode messages.

Energy: Alternative Fuels Energy: Technology Physics: Optics
Published

Research reveals thermal instability of solar cells but offers a bright path forward      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers reveal the thermal instability that happens within the cells' interface layers, but also offers a path forward towards reliability and efficiency for halide perovskite solar technology.

Energy: Batteries Energy: Technology
Published

Novel microscope developed to design better high-performance batteries      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A research team has developed an operando reflection interference microscope (RIM) that provides a better understanding of how batteries work, which has significant implications for the next generation of batteries.

Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engineering: Robotics Research Physics: Optics
Published

Compact, non-mechanical 3D lidar system could make autonomous driving safer      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A new system represents the first time that the capabilities of conventional beam-scanning lidar systems have been combined with those of a newer 3D approach known as flash lidar. The nonmechanical 3D lidar system is compact enough to fit in the palm of the hand and solves issues of detecting and tracking poorly reflective objects.

Energy: Batteries
Published

Beyond lithium: A promising cathode material for magnesium rechargeable batteries      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Magnesium is a promising candidate as an energy carrier for next-generation batteries. However, the cycling performance and capacity of magnesium batteries need to improve if they are to replace lithium-ion batteries. To this end, a research team focused on a novel cathode material with a spinel structure. Following extensive characterization and electrochemical performance experiments, they have found a specific composition that could open doors to high-performance magnesium rechargeable batteries.

Energy: Batteries Energy: Technology Physics: Optics
Published

Controllable 'defects' improve performance of lithium-ion batteries      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Some defects can be good. A new study shows that laser-induced defects in lithium-ion battery materials improve the performance of the battery.