TechBlog

Energy now lost as heat during the production of electricity could be harnessed through the use of silicon nanowires synthesized via a technique developed by researchers with the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and the University of California (UC) at Berkeley.

 The far-ranging potential applications of this technology include DOE’s hydrogen fuel cell-powered “Freedom CAR,” and personal power-jackets that could use heat from the human body to recharge cell-phones and other electronic devices.

Continue reading ‘Researchers Make Thermoelectric Breakthrough In Silicon Nanowires’ »

Energy now lost as heat during the production of electricity could be harnessed through the use of silicon nanowires synthesized via a technique developed by researchers with the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and the University of California (UC) at Berkeley.

Continue reading ‘Researchers Make Thermoelectric Breakthrough In Silicon Nanowires’ »

SiC MEMS Pressure Sensors: Technology, Applications and Markets

Silicon Carbide: Material Platform for Harsh Environment Solutions Silicon carbide (SiC) has been used for many conventional applications that require mechanical and chemical stability at high temperatures. Mechanical stability is defined as the ability of a particular material to preserve its mechanical properties – elasticity, fracture toughness, hardness – at temperatures below and above room temperature.

Chemical stability is similarly defined as the ability of a particular material to preserve its composition at temperatures below and above room temperature. For high temperature applications, mechanical properties tend to deteriorate and chemical stability is compromised as corrosion processes occur.

Any material that can overcome these mechanical and chemical limitations becomes a candidate for what are called “harsh environment” applications. Harsh environment means a combination of media properties that can interact with the exposed material and alter its originally intended behavior. Harsh environments can be classified in three broad categories: 1) mechanically aggressive: high loads, vibration, shock; 2) thermally aggressive: high temperature; and 3) chemically aggressive: corrosive media.

Continue reading ‘SiC MEMS Pressure Sensors: Technology, Applications and Markets’ »

A schematic of graphene nanoribbon field-effect transistor with palladium contacts (S,D) on a 10 nm thick insulating silicon dioxide surface (purple). Beneath the Si02 layer is a highly conductive silicon layer (G). Credit: Stanford University.

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.

Continue reading ‘Carbon nanoribbons could make smaller, speedier computer chips’ »

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

Continue reading ‘PREMATECH ADVANCED CERAMICS’ »

Ortech has a wide range of Technical Ceramics Materials to offer. Each one with its own unique characteristics designed to meet the requirements of many diverse applications. Some of the more widely used materials are described below.

Continue reading ‘Technical Ceramics Materials’ »

The all new LandMark20 MEMS IMU is a silicon low noise digital Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) that provides internally temperature compensated RS485 output of delta velocity and delta theta.
Features:

• Low Noise Silicon MEMS Digital IMU
• Low Gyro Noise 0.028º/sec/?Hz
• Fully Temperature Compensated Bias and Scale Factor
• Compensated G-Sensitivity and Misalignment
• In Run Gyro Bias 6° to 60°/hour typical
• Low Power < 1/2 watt typical
• Light Weight 113 grams
• Small Size < 67.5cm3/4.1in3
• Low Voltage +3.0 to 4.2V (single sided power)
• Bandwidth 100 Hz (user selectable)
• RS485 Output 200 Hz (user selectable)
• Bandwidth Filtering Capability
• Vibration Isolation
• Precision Alignment
• 3 Internal Temp. Sensors
• Self Test
• Shock Resistant
• Long Life
• Export Classification: Commerce ECCN7A994 Pending

The LandMark20 IMU is ideal for applications requiring improved performance MEMS gyros, but also needing ultra low power consumption, small size, light weight and no inherent wear out modes for long life. The signature feature of the LandMark20 IMU is the improved gyro performance. The low noise gyros enable precision measurement and improved in-run and bias over temperature. The IMU’s performance is optimized with fully temperature compensated bias and scale factor and compensated misalighnment and g-sensitivity. The rate outputs are free from bias steps and linear outputs are without acceleration hysteresis. The unit is highly durable and can withstand environmental vibration and shock typically associated with commerical aircraft requirements.

Continue reading ‘Silicon Low Noise Digital Inertial Measurement Unit Landmark 20 IMU’ »

Scratch-resistant Gorilla glass provides an ultra-durable screen for handheld devices without compromising image quality.

At Corning Incorporated’s annual investor meeting in New York, the 800-pound gorilla in the room will be a thin and elegant sheet of glass tough enough to withstand daily use and abuse—without scratching. Developed for touch-screen applications and high-end portable devices, Corning’s Gorilla glass technology addresses the challenge of providing an ultra-durable screen for handheld devices without compromising image quality. The fusion-formed glass features a pristine surface that requires no polishing, reducing time and cost for customers.

Dr. Joseph A. Miller, Chief Technology Officer, will confirm during his investor update that Gorilla glass is now commercially available and is being sold to mobile-device manufacturers. Corning’s newest technology joins a growing platform of innovations addressing key challenges, shaping the future of portable displays: durability, longevity, and functionality.

Other recent technology developments addressing these challenges include: Continue reading ‘Corning Extends Fusion Process to Touch-Screen Applications’ »

Berkeley, CA — Energy now lost as heat during the production of electricity could be harnessed through the use of silicon nanowires synthesized via a technique developed by researchers with the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and the University of California (UC) at Berkeley. The far-ranging potential applications of this technology include DOE’s hydrogen fuel cell-powered “Freedom CAR,” and personal power-jackets that could use heat from the human body to recharge cell-phones and other electronic devices.

“This is the first demonstration of high performance thermoelectric capability in silicon, an abundant semiconductor for which there already exists a multibillion dollar infrastructure for low-cost and high-yield processing and packaging,” said Arun Majumdar, a mechanical engineer and materials scientist with joint appointments at Berkeley Lab and UC Berkeley, who was one of the principal investigators behind this research.

“We’ve shown that it’s possible to achieve a large enhancement of thermoelectric energy efficiency at room temperature in rough silicon nanowires that have been processed by wafer-scale electrochemical synthesis,” said chemist Peidong Yang, the other principal investigator behind this research, who also holds a joint Berkeley Lab and UC Berkeley appointment.

Continue reading ‘Feeling The Heat: Berkeley Researchers Make Thermoelectric Breakthrough In Silicon Nanowires’ »

New York — Applied Materials, Inc. recently announced it was named Green Energy Innovator of the Year for its pioneering work on the Applied SunFab Thin Film Line, at a gala presenting the prestigious 9th Annual Platts Global Energy Awards.

“Applied Materials is focused on lowering the cost of solar photovoltaic generated energy through the application of nanomanufacturing technologies,” said Mark Pinto, Senior Vice President, Chief Technology Officer and General Manager Energy and Environmental Solutions. “The nominees in the category of Green Energy Innovator were international in breadth and included leading global green energy innovators. Amongst such competition, I am pleased to receive this acknowledgement and proud of the great work our teams around the world are doing to help make solar energy an affordable solution to the world’s power needs.”

The award highlighted the revolutionary SunFab, the world’s first and only integrated production line for manufacturing thin film silicon solar modules using 5.7 square meter (m2) glass panels. These ultra-large substrates, sized at 2.2m x 2.6m, are four times bigger than today’s typical thin film solar modules. Key to the SunFab’s success is that it can be replicated by customers around the globe to rapidly establish solar panel manufacturing capacity and achieve lower production cost per watt to drive down the cost of solar electricity.

Continue reading ‘Applied Materials Named Green Energy Innovator Of The Year’ »