Condensed Matter news
Scientists turn dents into smart bumps
Due to a phenomenon called the shape memory effect (SME), certain "memory metals" can be distorted and then brought back to their original shape by a simple temperature change. While a one-way memory effect ...
Aug 23, 2006 |
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Protein-Nanoparticle Material Mimics Human Brain Tissue
A composite material consisting of a horse protein and metallic nanoparticles displays magnetic properties very similar to those of human brain tissue, scientists have found. The work, published in the June 20 online edition ...
Jul 21, 2006 |
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The hidden nanoworld of ice crystals: Revealing the dynamic behavior of quasi-liquid layers
(PhysOrg.com) -- A wide range of phenomena depend on ice – specifically, phase transitions during ice crystal surface melting. In this transition, which occurs near the melting point, the ice surface ...
Jan 30, 2012 |
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Researchers discover promising hydrogen storage material
(PhysOrg.com) -- If hydrogen is to ever to serve as an onboard energy carrier for the transportation industry, a material will be needed that can store large amounts of hydrogen at ambient temperature and ...
Nov 01, 2011 |
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High-purity hydrogen generated from a single device
(PhysOrg.com) -- There are many ways to generate hydrogen, such as water electrolysis and steam reforming of gas, but the hydrogen produced by these methods tends to be combined with other byproduct and residual ...
Oct 07, 2011 |
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Study raises questions on what causes silicon solar cell degradation
(PhysOrg.com) -- After several hours of exposure to sunlight, silicon solar cells experience light-induced degradation, which can decrease their efficiency by up to 10%. In a new study, scientists have attempted ...
Jun 03, 2011 |
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Foldable display shows no crease after 100,000 folding cycles
(PhysOrg.com) -- One of the most difficult problems for designing mobile devices is finding a way to minimize the size of the device while simultaneously maximizing the size of the display. To get the best ...
May 12, 2011 |
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Water waves exhibit negative gravity near a periodic array of buoys
(PhysOrg.com) -- Ocean waves can be incredibly strong and very difficult to block completely. When a wave moving across the ocean interacts with a buoy, the wave can be slightly dampened, but will still pass ...
May 09, 2011 |
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Scientists create one-dimensional ferroelectric ice
(PhysOrg.com) -- Everyone knows that when water freezes, it forms ice. But a lesser known fact is that there is not one, but many different kinds of ice, depending on the way the ice crystals are arranged. ...
Feb 25, 2011 |
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Solving the solar cell power conversion dilemma
(PhysOrg.com) -- "There is a lot of interest in creating more efficient solar cells that are also simpler than many of the designs common now," Wladek Walukiewicz tells PhysOrg.com. "We think that, throug ...
Jan 24, 2011 |
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Enhanced efficiency when determining band gap in solids
(PhysOrg.com) -- "With density functional theory, we are able to put different elements in a computer simulation and do calculations based on quantum mechanics to find out about their different properties," Maria Chan tells ...
Nov 23, 2010 |
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Scientists investigate how ice melts below freezing due to nanowire's pressure
(PhysOrg.com) -- The many ways in which water differs from other molecules is both a scientific curiosity and an important factor in shaping the Earth. Among water's unique properties are that it expands when ...
Sep 02, 2010 |
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Scientists find metallic magnet with largest yet atomic displacement during thermal expansion
(PhysOrg.com) -- Although most materials change shape in the presence of a magnetic field, the change is usually very small. In a new study, scientists have found that a certain magnet containing manganese experiences a change ...
Jul 30, 2010 |
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Quick jolt of energy could improve energy harvesting by a factor of 40
(PhysOrg.com) -- Harvesting mechanical energy from the environment and converting it into electrical energy has recently become a viable method for powering low-energy electronics, such as sensors and actuators. ...
Jul 21, 2010 |
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Evidence of a new phase in liquid hydrogen
(PhysOrg.com) -- We like to think that we’ve got hydrogen, one of the most basic of elements, figured out. However, hydrogen can still surprise, especially once scientists start probing its properties on the ...
Feb 25, 2010 |
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