Thermoelectric material with high-conductivity but slow thermal transfer

Thermoelectric materials like germanium telluride (GeTe) can convert waste heat into electricity, offering a promising energy solution. To better harness this potential, researchers used a novel “neutron camera” technique to study GeTe’s structure. They found that while GeTe maintains its overall crystalline form—essential for conducting electricity—it also exhibits dynamic disorder, where parts of the structure move and slow heat conduction. This unique combination enhances thermoelectric efficiency, making GeTe a strong candidate for advanced solid-state devices like heat pumps and generators. The study also resolved previous inconsistencies in structural measurements.

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Scientists discover an unusual chiral quantum state in a topological material

Chirality, or “handedness,” is a fundamental property where an object differs from its mirror image, seen across nature from molecules to DNA. In a breakthrough, Princeton University researchers have discovered a hidden chiral quantum state in a material previously believed to be non-chiral. This finding not only challenges existing assumptions in physics but also deepens our understanding of quantum phenomena, potentially opening new avenues in quantum research.

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Celera samples the first ever Analog IC completely designed by software

Celera, Alameda, Calif., the leader in fully automated, AI-enhanced analog design, is now sampling the first ever analog IC completely designed by an autonomous software platform.
Using Celera’s ChipHUB platform, the company improved engineering productivity by 10x, allowing the design of a high-performance buck (DC-to-DC) converter from specification to manufacturing release in a matter of days.

“This is a major milestone for Celera and an important breakthrough for our customers,” said Pat Brockett, Celera’s CEO. “Celera has demonstrated that end-to-end automated design of high-performance analog ICs can be done.”

“Using our patented digital twin Nesto technology, we enable our customers to achieve full custom analog IC design in days, at a fraction of the of the cost of current design methods,” said Alberto Viviani, Celera’s COO. “It’s very important to note that the resultant product designs are more than competitive with regard to die size (cost) and performance.”

Ramesh Giri, the head of product definition and applications at Celera highlighted a critical benefit to business managers – “Our design flow integrates an auto-generated behavioral model at the front-end that is tuned to actual silicon behavior. This allows system designers to do a comprehensive virtual bench road test, helping to reliably identify real-world system level issues at the front-end of the design process. This eliminates post-silicon fixes and enables faster time to market.”

“This first customer product is a state-of-the-art high voltage step down converter for industrial and automotive applications,” said Calum MacRae, CTO and founder at Celera. “Our Nesto technology simplifies analog IC design, enabling even non-IC designers to generate custom silicon. A huge benefit of our Nesto technology is that the same algorithm can be used to quickly produce whole families of buck converters in hours.”

Calum added, “Our IP is all in digital form. This allows us to train machine learning (ML) models, producing AI agents for analog design, layout, and modeling. The ability to generate large amounts of synthetic data positions Celera as the only company able to apply ML to analog design.”

“Celera’s patented technology will revolutionize the analog IC industry by making analog custom design available to all,” said Pat Brockett. “We are already engaged with major customers designing products for consumer, data center, wireless, industrial, solar and automotive applications. This is a real example where AI is changing a hundred-billion-dollar industry and we are proud to say Celera is leading that change.”

For more information:

Celera

https://www.celeratechnologies.com

 

 

From roots to rugged circuits: Tree-inspired printing tech for flexible electronics

Researchers at Xi’an Jiaotong University, China, have developed a new Template-Constrained Additive printing technology inspired by tree root systems that enhances the mechanical robustness and precision of flexible electronic circuits, allowing them to withstand extreme conditions like high temperatures and mechanical wear, expanding their applications in smart robotics and advanced sensing systems.

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A film capacitor that can take the heat

The Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and several collaborating institutions have successfully demonstrated a machine-learning technique to accelerate discovery of materials for film capacitors and used it to screen a library of nearly 50,000 chemical structures to identify and synthesize a compound with record-breaking performance.

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Failure and collapse of the Arecibo Observatory telescope assessed by new report

A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Washington, D.C., analyzes the causes of the 2020 collapse of the National Science Foundation’s telescope at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico, where NSF maintained research operations for its National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center, and draws lessons learned for other unique, critical science facilities.

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Nanoscale transistors could enable more efficient electronics

In order to overcome a fundamental limit of silicon semiconductor technology that prevents transistors from operating below a certain voltage, Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers fabricated a different type of three-dimensional transistor using a unique set of ultrathin semiconductor materials.

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Release of the Xtrology fully automated thin film inspection system

HORIBA STEC, Co., Ltd., Japan, released the fully automated thin film inspection system, Xtrology, that combines spectroscopic ellipsometry, Raman spectroscopy, and photoluminescence sensors making it possible to perform important inspections, such as film thickness measurement, defect analysis, and composition analysis of various wafers with a single instrument.

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Faraday enhances 3D-IC design service with Ansys multiphysics analysis

Faraday Technology Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa., a leading application specific integrated circuits (ASIC) design service and IP provider, is expanding its use of Ansys technology to enhance its capabilities in developing advanced designs for multi-die 2.5D/3D-ICs — critical for artificial intelligence (AI), IoT, and 5G applications. With support from Ansys, Faraday will empower its customers to explore more robust design options for more innovative products.

Faraday recently announced a 2.5D/3D-IC advanced package service to address exploding demand for multi-die designs that target products with better performance and lower power consumption. To meet this demand, engineers need the right multiphysics analysis tools to verify that chip designs include reliable signal and structural integrity and reliable power distribution before it goes to fabrication. This challenge is compounded by the trend toward developing denser chips that are more vulnerable to EM issues.

Adding RaptorX into the design flow will enable Faraday to increase precision and efficiency in its development process. Moreover, it enables predictively accurate EM modeling and analysis for advanced 3D-IC products, ensuring data transfer meets stringent modern standards. This will improve the design’s fidelity, enhance performance and reliability, and accelerate time-to-market.

“Our extensive silicon IP allows our customers to start designing from a solid foundation, enabling them to focus solely on innovation and differentiating themselves in the market,” said C.H. Chien, vice president of R&D at Faraday. “Fabrication is exceptionally expensive and there is no room for error. So, keeping the overall project cost low is paramount, and it starts with the initial design. With the addition of RaptorX in this phase, we can offer customers an efficient workflow that includes design verification and signoff as well as access to top-tier test and fabrication services, removing doubts about the chip’s performance and longevity.”

“Ansys’ focus on multiphysics platforms enables innovators like Faraday to address key challenges for 3D-IC and accelerate their time-to-market,” said John Lee, vice president and general manager of the semiconductor, electronics, and optics business unit at Ansys. “Our industry-leading tools facilitate meticulous modeling and analysis of electromagnetic phenomena, helping our customers remain at the forefront of technological advancements in 5G, AI, and IoT.”

 

Image – EMag extraction of an interposer lane, including 48 signals in the presence of their respective VDD/VSS network and indicative simulation results, and S-Parameter analysis and transient (eye diagram) analysis of a signal line.

 

For more information:

Ansys

https://www.ansys.com

Faraday Technology Corporation

http://www.faraday-tech.com/