Conventional solar cells preferentially absorb solar insolation in the red part of the spectrum compared to the blue; thereby, leading to inefficient use of the entire spectrum of solar insolation for power generation. Recent research has explored the use of cheap, crystalline solar cell based on perovskite to help convert the blue part of the … More Tandem solar cells improve power conversion efficiency
Current catalyst design and development relies on trial and error experimentation and expert intuitive knowledge of the chemists. Since each catalyst is compositional and structurally distinct, many combinatorial possibilities abound in the catalyst design space. Such a vast design space would be impossible to search for if the toolbox of the chemist only comes with … More Machine learning algorithms facilitate the design and development of new catalysts
Additive manufacturing techniques such as 3D-printing has been used to create various structures using materials such as polymers, cells, and metal powder. However, the technique has not been used in the fabrication of hierarchical structured materials where a 3D structure is fabricated within another material. Using 3D-printing technologies, recent research has described the successful fabrication … More Fabrication of hierarchical structured materials by 3D-printing
Machine learning relies on training data to derive patterns useful for making predictions in test set data. Iterative in nature, training of machine learning algorithms relies on large amount of data where the larger the training set, the better would be the pattern recognition capability of the algorithm. Most training data are positive data, that … More Failed experiments represent a source of training data for machine learning
Using electron scattering and diffraction, transmission electron microscopy is able to achieve resolution higher than that of optical microscopy. However, the effect of aberration due to refraction of electron beams also introduce uncertainty into the image and reduces resolution. Nevertheless, the advent of aberration correction lenses has helped improve the resolution of transmission electron microscopy … More Aberration correction lenses help improve resolution in transmission electron microscopy
Outsole of running shoes typically do not flex in response to the feet landing on the ground. However, New Balance has designed conformal outsole that flexes in response to each stride landing on the ground. Specifically, New Balance Fresh Foam Zante v2’s outsole flexes in response to the feet landing on the ground, which delivers … More Conformal outsole of New Balance Fresh Foam Zante v2
Rockets for satellite launches remain the most important cost item of the launch process of any commercial satellite project, given the single use nature of the rocket. Thus, commercial space launch companies such as SpaceX and Blue Origin have endeavoured to develop reusable rocket systems for reducing the cost of commercial satellite launches, and helping … More Reusing the first stage of a commercial rocket: Economic cost of retrofitting a used rocket
With increasing use of lithium ion batteries for personal mobile devices and computers, there is a concomitant need to plan the end of life treatment of these batteries that contain precious metals as well as toxic and flammable substances. Specifically, while lithium ion is thought to be the most important element for recover in the … More Challenges of recycling lithium-ion batteries
Grip is of utmost importance to the delivering of engine power to the race track for Formula 1 cars. But, compared to normal road cars, Formula 1 cars derived its grip from two main sources: mechanical and aerodynamic grip. Mechanical grip refers to the contact patch between the tyres and the road surface, where … More Aerodynamic and mechanical grip in Formula 1
Article in Nature, Vol. 531, 24 March 2016, pp. 489, “On-surface synthesis of graphene nanoribbons with zigzag edge topology” Summary of article: Using a combination of polymerisation and dehydrogenation, zigzag graphene nanoribbons with bandgaps suitable for spintronics were synthesized and characterized, the latter by scanning tunnelling microscopy and tip functionalized non-contact atomic force microscopy. … More Synthesis of zig-zag shape graphene nanoribbons
Looking at life with a scientific lens 