TechBlog

Stanford chemists have developed a new way to make transistors out of carbon nanoribbons. The devices could someday be integrated into high-performance computer chips to increase their speed and generate less heat, which can damage today’s silicon-based chips when transistors are packed together tightly. For the first time, a research team led by Hongjie Dai, the J. G. Jackson and C. J. Wood Professor of Chemistry, has made transistors called “field-effect transistors”—a critical component of computer chips—with graphene that can operate at room temperature. Graphene is a form of carbon derived from graphite. Other graphene transistors, made with wider nanoribbons or thin films, require much lower temperatures.

“For graphene transistors, previous demonstrations of field-effect transistors were all done at liquid helium temperature, which is 4 Kelvin [-452 Fahrenheit],” said Dai, the lead investigator. His group’s work is described in a paper published online in the May 23 issue of the journal Physical Review Letters.

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Engineers and applied physicists from Harvard University have demonstrated the first room-temperature electrically-pumped semiconductor source of coherent Terahertz (THz) radiation, also known as T-rays. The breakthrough in laser technology, based upon commercially available nanotechnology, has the potential to become a standard Terahertz source to support applications ranging from security screening to chemical sensing.Spearheaded by research associate Mikhail Belkin and Federico Capasso, Robert L. Wallace Professor of Applied Physics and Vinton Hayes Senior Research Fellow in Electrical Engineering, both of Harvard’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), the findings will be published in the May 19 issue of Applied Physics Letters. The researchers have also filed for U.S. patents covering the novel device.

Using lasers in the Terahertz spectral range, which covers wavelengths from 30 to 300å, has long presented a major hurdle to engineers. In particular, making electrically pumped room-temperature and thermoelectrically-cooled Terahertz semiconductor lasers has been a major challenge. These devices require cryogenic cooling, greatly limiting their use in everyday applications.

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Researchers at Northwestern University and Princeton University have created a new kind of polymer that, because of its extraordinary thermal and mechanical properties, could be used in everything from airplanes to solar cells.

The polymer, a nanocomposite that incorporates functionalized, exfoliated graphene sheets, even conducts electricity, and researchers hope to use that property to eventually create thermally stable, optically transparent conducting polymers.

The results of their research were published May 11 in the online version of Nature Nanotechnology.

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The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory has authorized Raytheon Company to demonstrate target recognition technology designed to increase protection for ground forces without compounding risk to an aircraft stalking enemies who threaten those forces.

First in a laboratory and then aloft, the company expects to show how its Air-to-Ground Radar Imaging II program would permit aircraft at a safe distance to detect, track and target hostile forces in motion on the ground.

The laboratory demonstration is expected in autumn 2008, followed by a flight next spring aboard a Raytheon test aircraft.

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CRYSTEX Composites

Mykroy/Mycalex (MM) Glass bonded mica material is a trade name of CRYSTEX Composites LLC. Since 1921, Mykroy/Mycalex composite remains the most versatile and efficient electrical and thermal-insulating materials refined to meet the exacting demands of technical markets. MM material is the only mineral, fully inorganic material, to bridge the performance gap between organic plastics and mineral ceramics. Mykroy/Mycalex material is a union, under simultaneous pressure and heat, of finely powdered electrical quality glass and precisely defined and classified mica. The resulting stone-like, dense ceramic, inherits all the insulating advantages of both constituents. It can be easily machined to close tolerances or transfer molded into intricate shapes with or without metal inserts. MM material is impervious to moisture, and does not outgas under high temperature or in vacuum environments. It manifests exceptional dimensional stability even at high temperature. It does not burn or carbonize and has an unlimited shelf life.

Unique in the United States, CRYSTEX Composites LLC has produced its own Synthetic Mica since 1955.

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PREMATECH ADVANCED CERAMICS combines the highest level of service with an extensive knowledge of ceramic machining. A truly scientific approach is applied to the process to maintain consistency, reliability, and cost-effectiveness.

Sample List of Materials Machined

• Aluminum Nitride
• Aluminum Oxide
• Boron Nitride
• Cemented Carbide
• CMC / MMC Composites
• Cordierite
• CVD Silicon Carbide
• Ferrites
• Hexoloy ®
• Hot Pressed Silicon Carbide
• Hot Pressed Silicon Nitride
• Macor ®
• Quartz
• Reaction Bonded Silicon Carbide
• Reaction bonded Silicon Nitride
• Ruby
• Sapphire
• Zirconium Oxide

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Corning Glass

Corning is a world leader in delivering advanced optical solutions for a wide variety of markets. For over 150 years, Corning has solved complex material and process challenges across multiple, diverse industries. By calling upon its unmatched heritage in innovation and its unrivaled understanding of glass science, Corning enables applications for a broad array of commercial and industrial markets and sets the bar for state-of-the-art product design, superior manufacturing processes and techniques and above all, performance excellence.

Vertically Integrated Manufacturing

Corning is one of very few manufacturers with deep capabilities in materials science, optical design, shaping, coating, finishing and assembly. For customers this means reduced complexity, shortened manufacturing cycles and ultimately increased value. Corning delivers what its customers need - complete, end-to-end advanced solutions - efficiently, predictably and consistently. Continue reading ‘Corning’s Specialty Materials’ »

Founded in 1948, Andrews Glass Company has been a leader in custom glass fabrication for over fifty years. Andrews Glass Company slowly grew as its reputation for high quality standards and specialty glassware spread. Over the years, Andrews Glass has expanded its capabilities in specialty and precision glass fabrication for industrial and scientific applications and its Lab-Crest product line is highly respected for quality and precision. Andrews Glass Company has retained its unique mix of scientific and precision glassmaking capabilities, and is today counted among the USA’s top ten manufacturers in the field.

The heart of Andrews’ value to its customers lies in the skill and dedication of its employees. The average length of service is over ten years, with the average length of glassworking experience well over 15 years.

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Ceramic Bearings – Replacing Steel Bearings with Alumina Bearings in Circulator Pumps by Morgan Technical Ceramics

Background

With an annual production of approximately 10 million products a year and manufacturing operations in 12 countries Grundfos is one of the most recognised and respected pump manufacturers in the world. Dedicated to making its products as reliable and durable as possible, Grundfos works with partners, education institutions and suppliers to research and develop the best pump technology for its products. One of the longest relationships of this kind is with Morgan Advanced Ceramics, which supplies the manufacturer with bearings, shafts and washers for its circulator pumps.

Case Study – Ceramic Bearings for Circulator Pumps

Circulator pumps are used in central and district heating systems and domestic service systems. They need to be able to run quietly and consistently for long operational periods - often up to 5,000 hours a year. As part of its on-going work to improve its products, Grundfos realised that the traditional steel-shaft carbon bearings used in the pump were having a direct impact on the pump’s longevity and noise.

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Background

Boron nitride is a synthetic material, which although discovered in the early 19^th century was not developed as a commercial material until the latter half of the 20^th century. Boron and nitrogen are neighbours of carbon in the periodic table - in combination boron and nitrogen have the same number of outer shell electrons - the atomic radii of boron and nitrogen are similar to that of carbon. It is not surprising therefore that boron nitride and carbon exhibit similarity in their crystal structure.

In the same way that carbon exists as graphite and diamond, boron nitride can be synthesised in hexagonal and cubic forms.

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