Asylum Research, an Oxford Instruments company, Santa Barbara, Calif., announces Contact Resonance Viscoelastic Mapping Mode, an option available exclusively for Asylum’s Cypher and MFP-3D Atomic Force Microscopes. Contact Resonance (CR) enables high resolution, quantitative imaging of both elastic storage modulus and viscoelastic loss modulus.
ORNL microscopy uncovers “dancing” silicon atoms in graphene
Jumping silicon atoms are the stars of an atomic scale ballet featured in a new Nature Communications study from the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tenn. The ORNL research team documented the atoms’ unique behavior by first trapping groups of silicon atoms, known as clusters, in a single-atom-thick sheet of carbon called graphene.
Nanoscale material improves smartphone displays
Quantum Materials Corp., San Marcos, Tex., shipped Tetrapod Quantum Dots in sample quantities to a diversified leading Asian-based electronics manufacturer. The tetrapod quantum dots were developed to meet performance specifications. Tetrapod Quantum Dots are an advanced nanoscale material that improves the performance and energy efficiency of very high-resolution computer, TV, and smartphone displays.
Pro-Tec begins hot commissioning of continuous annealing line in Ohio
Pro-Tec Coating Co., Leipsic, Ohio, a joint venture between United States Steel Corp. and Kobe Steel Ltd., has begun hot commissioning of the continuous annealing line supplied by SMS Siemag and installed at the works in Leipsic, Ohio. The line has been designed to produce almost 500,000 tpy of ultra-high-strength steel strips for automotive structural components.
Ceramic converter tackles solar cell problem
Coating a solar cell component in ceramics makes it more heat resistant, which could boost overall efficiency of the cells, say researchers. The component converts heat from the sun into infrared light, which can be absorbed by solar cells to make electricity-a technology known as thermophotovoltaics. Unlike earlier prototypes that fell apart before temperatures reached 2200°F (1200°C), the new thermal emitter remains stable at temperatures as high as 2500°F (1400°C).