New research from North Carolina State University shows that unique materials with distinct properties akin to those of gecko feet—the ability to stick to just about any surface—can be created by harnessing liquid-driven ...
Polymers
Oct 14, 2019
0
312
The growing popularity of lithium-ion batteries in recent years has put a strain on the world's supply of cobalt and nickel—two metals integral to current battery designs—and sent prices surging.
Materials Science
Sep 10, 2019
0
291
Researchers have found a way to use polymer printing to stretch and flatten twisted molecules so that they conduct electricity better. A team led by chemical and biomolecular engineers from the University of Illinois report ...
Materials Science
Aug 9, 2019
0
70
All matter consists of one or more phases—regions of space with uniform structure and physical properties. The common phases of H2O (solid, liquid and gas), also known as ice, water and steam, are well known. Similarly, ...
Materials Science
Jul 30, 2019
0
166
By one official estimate, American manufacturing, transportation, residential and commercial consumers use only about 40 percent of the energy they draw on, wasting 60 percent. Very often, this wasted energy escapes as heat, ...
Polymers
Jul 10, 2019
0
66
Before designing the next generation of soft materials, researchers must first understand how they behave during rapidly changing deformation. In a new study, researchers challenged previous assumptions regarding polymer ...
Condensed Matter
Jun 24, 2019
0
0
The ability to confine water in an enclosed compartment without directly manipulating it or using rigid containers is an attractive possibility. In a recent study, Sara Coppola and an interdisciplinary research team in the ...
Polymers are usually the go-to material for thermal insulation. Think of a silicone oven mitt, or a Styrofoam coffee cup, both manufactured from polymer materials that are excellent at trapping heat.
Materials Science
Apr 29, 2019
1
297
Human skeletal muscles have a unique combination of properties that materials researchers seek for their own creations. They're strong, soft, full of water, and resistant to fatigue. A new study by MIT researchers has found ...
Materials Science
Apr 22, 2019
0
94
Natural gas and biogas have become increasingly popular sources of energy throughout the world in recent years, thanks to their cleaner and more efficient combustion process when compared to coal and oil.
Materials Science
Apr 9, 2019
1
184
