Energy: Alternative Fuels Energy: Technology
Published

Physicists solve durability issue in next-generation solar cells      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Physicists jumped a major hurdle standing in the way of the commercialization of solar cells created with halide perovskites as a lower-cost, higher-efficiency replacement for silicon when generating electricity from the sun.

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 Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Securing supply chains with quantum computing      (via sciencedaily.com) 

New research in quantum computing is moving science closer to being able to overcome supply-chain challenges and restore global security during future periods of unrest.

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.

Energy: Technology
Published

Atom-thin walls could smash size, memory barriers in next-gen devices      (via sciencedaily.com) 

For all of the still-indistinguishable-from-magic wizardry packed into the three pounds of the adult human brain, it obeys the same rule as the other living tissue it controls: Oxygen is a must. So it was with a touch of irony that a scientists offered his explanation for a technological wonder -- movable, data-covered walls mere atoms wide -- that may eventually help computers behave more like a brain. 'There was unambiguous evidence that oxygen vacancies are responsible for this,' Tsymbal said.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics Energy: Technology
Published

Chiral phonons create spin current without needing magnetic materials      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers chiral phonons to convert wasted heat into spin information -- without needing magnetic materials. The finding could lead to new classes of less expensive, energy-efficient spintronic devices for use in applications ranging from computational memory to power grids.

Computer Science: Quantum Computers Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Researchers detail never-before-seen properties in a family of superconducting Kagome metals      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have used an innovative new strategy combining nuclear magnetic resonance imaging and a quantum modeling theory to describe the microscopic structure of Kagome superconductor RbV3Sb5 at 103 degrees Kelvin, which is equivalent to about 275 degrees below 0 degrees Fahrenheit.

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: General Computer Science: Quantum Computers Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Scientists boost quantum signals while reducing noise      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have developed a special type of amplifier that uses a technique known as squeezing to amplify quantum signals by a factor of 100 while reducing the noise that is inherent in quantum systems by an order of magnitude. Their device is the first to demonstrate squeezing over a broad frequency bandwidth of 1.75 gigahertz, nearly two orders of magnitude higher than other architectures.

Energy: Technology
Published

Make them thin enough, and antiferroelectric materials become ferroelectric      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Antiferroelectric materials have electrical properties that make them advantageous for use in high-density energy storage applications. Researchers have now discovered a size threshold beyond which antiferroelectrics lose those properties, becoming ferroelectric.

Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Energy: Technology
Published

Fighting climate change: Ruthenium complexes for carbon dioxide reduction to valuable chemicals      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Excessive use of fossil fuels leads to undesired carbon dioxide (CO2) generation, accelerating climate change. One way to tackle this is by converting CO2 into value-added chemicals. On this front, researchers have recently utilized a novel redox couple, for the purpose.

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.

Energy: Technology Geoscience: Severe Weather
Published

Severe weather straining electrical grids: New research mitigates demand surges, increasing grid reliability and reducing costs      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Concerns are mounting among policymakers and utility companies amid the impact of severe weather on the nation's electrical grids. In recent months, electrical grids in Texas have been tested to the point of near failure. So it seems like perfect timing that new research identifies a new method that provides the best way to utilize 'direct load control contracts' to mitigate electricity demand surges, increase grid reliability and reduce electricity cost. All of this right down to the individual household.

Computer Science: General Computer Science: Quantum Computers Offbeat: Computers and Math Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Scientists make major breakthrough in developing practical quantum computers that can solve big challenges of our time      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have demonstrated that quantum bits (qubits) can directly transfer between quantum computer microchips and demonstrated this with record-breaking connection speed and accuracy. This breakthrough resolves a major challenge in building quantum computers large and powerful enough to tackle complex problems that are of critical importance to society.

Energy: Batteries Energy: Technology
Published

New sodium, aluminum battery aims to integrate renewables for grid resiliency      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A new sodium battery technology shows promise for helping integrate renewable energy into the electric grid. The battery uses Earth-abundant raw materials such as aluminum and sodium.

Computer Science: Quantum Computers Offbeat: Computers and Math Physics: Optics Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Entangled atoms cross quantum network from one lab to another      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Trapped ions have previously only been entangled in one and the same laboratory. Now, teams have entangled two ions over a distance of 230 meters. The nodes of this network were housed in two labs at the Campus Technik to the west of Innsbruck, Austria. The experiment shows that trapped ions are a promising platform for future quantum networks that span cities and eventually continents.

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

Researchers devise a new path toward 'quantum light'      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have theorized a new mechanism to generate high-energy 'quantum light', which could be used to investigate new properties of matter at the atomic scale.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics Energy: Technology
Published

A quasiparticle that can transfer heat under electrical control      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Scientists have found the secret behind a property of solid materials known as ferroelectrics, showing that quasiparticles moving in wave-like patterns among vibrating atoms carry enough heat to turn the material into a thermal switch when an electrical field is applied externally.