Active Materials

GE Global Research, the centralized research organization of the General Electric Company, announced that scientists on their Nano Photovoltaics (PV) team have demonstrated a scalable silicon nanowire-based solar cell, which has the potential to achieve up to 18% efficiency and be produced at a dramatically lower cost than conventional solar cells. This demonstration represents a promising development in the effort to make PV systems more economically viable for consumers. More here

Scientists at George Mason University’s Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine have invented an innovative nanotechnology tool that may lead to a dramatic improvement in treatment results for patients diagnosed with cancer or other diseases. The novel diagnostic tool is uniquely suited for the discovery of new protein biomarkers in the blood that provide sensitive and specific disease detection at the earliest stage when treatment is most effective. More here

Researchers have turned a stubborn alloy into a shape-shifting foam by just giving it a little breathing room. David Dunand, James N. and Margie M. Krebs Professor of Materials Science and Engineering in Northwestern University’s McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, has teamed up with Boise State University professor Peter Müllner and McCormick postdoctoral fellow Vee Boonyongmaneerat to create a foam from a nickel-manganese-gallium alloy (Ni-Mn-Ga) that changes shape when exposed to a magnetic field. The new foam could translate to smaller, lighter pumps and more aerodynamic airplane wings. More here

A Piezoelectric injector, common-rail direct fuel injection system allows
the engine to use of a lower static compression ratio. More here and here

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures are generating significant interest due to unique characteristics that make them good candidates for UV optoelectronic applications such as biosensors and resonators. These properties are due to the wide bandgap of ZnO (3.37eV at room temperature) and to its large exciton energy (60meV), which makes it possible to employ excitonic recombination as a UV-lasing mechanism. ZnO is also a piezoelectric and biosafe material that has probably spawned the richest family of nanostructures to date. Moreover, the ferromagnetic properties of ZnO doped with rare earth metals are also of interest for the design of novel devices that store information as a particular spin orientation (spintronics). Read the rest of the article here

As Australian Treasurer seeks to make savings of more than $10 billion, it has been decided that one of the casualties will be the four-year, $21.5 million National Nanotechnology Strategy. It is to be cut short by two years, saving Treasury almost $12 million.  More here

This is a story of two nanos.

Over the course of the last 12 months, the LexisNexis database of newspaper articles records 239 stories referring to nanotechnology in the British press. In the same period there have been 239 stories referring to “iPod” and “nano”.

On the one hand, there is considerable concern represented in the newspapers about the possibilities of nanotechnology. At the same time it has become a manufacturers’ shorthand for things that are really, really small. More here

Piezoelectric pump powers liquid cooling
Electronics Talk (press release) - UK
Alps Electric has completed development of a piezoelectric-type pump for liquid cooling of electronic devices that offers long operational life as well as …

Open-door alarm prevents accidental defrosts
EDN.com - Newton,MA,USA
The circuit allows the door to remain open for a software-selectable interval—in this instance, 20 seconds—before activating a piezoelectric buzzer that …

Class G amp drives thin piezoelectric speakers
Eetasia.com (subscription) - USA
One of the main attractions for using ceramic piezoelectric speakers is their thin form factor. But to maintain the advantage of the ceramic speaker, …

ALPS - Piezoelectric-type slim-format liquid cooling pump developed
Electropages (press release) - Poole,Dorset,UK
Using a piezoelectric element, ALPS has succeeded in developing a light and slim pump with a low current drain. It is far less susceptible to tilt, …

Power Generating Spacesuits
Slashdot - USA
Maggie McKee writes “Piezoelectric sensors could help power future space missions. Astronauts’ spacesuits may one day be covered in motion-sensitive …

Class G Piezoelectric Speaker Drivers from Maxim
ECN Asia - Singapore
Maxim Integrated Products has introduced the MAX9788, a mono, Class G amplifier designed to drive the high capacitive load of piezoelectric loudspeakers. …

Handheld windmills serve as electric generators
PhysOrg.com - Evergreen,VA,USA
To convert wind energy into electric energy, they use a piezoelectric structure, where bimorphs (thin plastic sheets) aligned in a row are caused to vibrate …

Piezoelectric Ceramics Materials – Types of Piezoceramics and …
Azom.com - USA
Several types of piezoelectric ceramic materials are available. Each type is tailored towards the requirements of particular applications. …

Mini-windmills eyed for special uses
MSNBC - USA
Piezoelectric ceramics are at the core of the windmills the researchers have made so far. These materials convert mechanical stress into electricity. …

Energy harvesting modules unveiled for wireless sensor nets
CommsDesign - USA
“Energy Harvesting modules provide a crucial link between the source of the energy, such as piezoelectric or thermoelectric materials, and the application. …

Increasing Awareness and Expanding Application Drive Adoption in …
Business Wire (press release) - San Francisco,CA,USA
This research service titled Piezoelectric materials and devices-Global
Technology Developments provides an overview of emerging technologies in
the field …
<http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20070222005055&newsLang=en>

Piezoelectric Materials for Imaging
Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine (subscription) - USA
The purpose of this article is to present the reader with a brief
description of those characteristics of piezoelectric materials that
directly influence …
<http://www.jultrasoundmed.org/cgi/content/abstract/26/3/283>

From Kyoto with links
Rather than using piezoelectric crystals to convert movement to energy, NASA is using protein found within the inner ear to help turn astronaut’s body movements into energy for their space-suits. This story has been talked about in a …
<http://us18l.ddneo.com/From-Kyoto-with-links/>

BaTiO3, vs oxalate coprecipitation
By wuledlenggoro
Ceramics International, Volume 33, Issue 1 , January 2007, Pages 35-40 doi:10.1016/j.ceramint.2005.07.019 Re-investigation of synthesis of BaTiO3 by conventional solid-state reaction and oxalate coprecipitation route for piezoelectric …
<http://blog.goo.ne.jp/wuledlenggoro/e/c5922ad520617106b7e7e61adbab2c13>

Tourmaline Piezoelectric Composition Rebalancing Electrical …
By Blacksmith(Blacksmith)
A rebalancing device for the electric potential of the cell membrane includes a base support (2), constituted by a epoxy resin including isocyanate and toluol, associated with a piezoelectric mineral composition (3) fit for emitting …
<http://biogenesislab.blogspot.com/2007/02/tourmaline-piezoelectric-composition.html>

Detroit Auto Show: Audi unleashes the beastly Q7 V12 TDI
Autoblog - Santa Monica,CA,USA
The piezoelectric injectors with their eight-hole nozzles have also undergone a thorough reworking. The tiniest quantities of diesel fuel are injected into …
See all stories on this topic

Bioceramics – Advanced Materials and Processing Techniques …
Azom.com - USA
… (MAC) and Morgan Electro Ceramics (MEC), is a leading manufacturer of innovative ceramic, glass, precious metal, piezoelectric and dielectric materials. …

‘Bridge’ Concept Can Turn Anything Into Braille
Gizmodo.com - Budapest,Hungary
The braille screen works with electromagnetic or piezoelectric principles. When the current or voltage goes through every array of six stitches, …

Portable sensor can detect cyanide in water
Water Technology Online - Latham,NY,USA
The online, real-time technology uses a flow cell that allows water to react with the gold electrode of a piezoelectric crystal to indirectly sense cyanide …

STM images quantum dot epitaxy inside an MOCVD chamber
Compound Semiconductor - Bristol,UK
This is because the piezoelectric tube, which provides the scanning needed to generate images, cannot operate above 150 °C due to depolarization effects and …

BMW 335i Coup
Independent - London,England,UK
Apparently, this has something to do with its piezoelectric crystals that open electronically to facilitate the direct injection of fuel. …

Fantastic Voyage: Departure 2009
Wired News - USA
The piezoelectric materials vibrate a twisted microstructure inside the robot at ultrasonic frequencies. When the twisted structure is compressed against …

Miniature Piezoelectric Accelerometer has mass of 5 g.
ThomasNet Industrial News Room (press release) - New York,NY,USA
San Juan Capistrano, California - VIP SENSORS introduces a new product - The Model 2017A is an adhesively mounted piezoelectric accelerometer with integral …

Stanley Develops Mirror Device for Ultracompact Projector
Tech-On English - Hong Kong
Stanley developed a micromirror actuator able to scan laser light along two axes in vertical and horizontal directions with the use of piezoelectric …

“Smart” Aircraft Structures: a Future Necessity
High Performance Composites - USA
… accelerometers, strain gages and pressure sensors, recent advances in micro-sensors have produced miniature eddy current, ultrasonic, piezoelectric, …

X-Change Corporation Receives Purchase Order from the US Navy
Business Wire (press release) - San Francisco,CA,USA
SAW devices are built on the surface of piezoelectric crystalline materials. This allows the devices to provide long read ranges, work well in proximity to …

Dynamic Pressure Sensors come in miniature package.
ThomasNet Industrial News Room (press release) - New York,NY,USA
Products feature piezoelectric sensing elements and are suited for continuous monitoring or periodic walk-around cylinder balancing. …

Rensselaer Announces Winners of “Change the World Challenge” Idea …
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - Troy,NY,USA
Two teams of students — responsible for inventing a healthier means for open-flame food preparation and a piezoelectric ambient energy harvester — were each …

Nanotechnology: Smaller is Better
Stanford Daily - Palo Alto,CA,USA
To do that, Khuri-Yakub has cast aside the piezoelectric materials that have traditionally been used. Instead he makes arrays in silicon using techniques …

ALPS Develops Piezoelectric-type Slim-format Pump
presseagentur.com (press release) - Munich,Germany
Duesseldorf, Germany, January 29, 2007 - ALPS ELECTRIC EUROPA GmbH has completed development of a piezoelectric-type pump compatible for all broadcast …

Sensor Technologies Witness Tremendous Advancements
Business Wire (press release) - San Francisco,CA,USA
… Diverse technologies are used in pressure sensing. These include piezoresistive, piezoelectric, capacitiuve, potentiometric, inductive, and resonant. …

New Technology Turns Any Surface Into Interactive Instrument
Synthtopia - AZ,USA
… This video (WMV) shows the technology being used as a musical instrument control surface. Tai-Chi uses tiny piezoelectric sensors to sense surface vibrations. …

Focus on nanoscale science and technology
PhysicsToday.org - USA
… Instrumente has announced the M-511.HD hybrid nanopositioning translation stage, which combines the advantages of electromagnetic and piezoelectric drives. …

Integrated Scanning Force Microscope For Better Characterisation …
AZoNano.com - Sydney,Australia
… The SFM uses an interferometric beam deflection system for detecting cantilever displacement and a piezoelectric scanner which is feedback controlled in the x …

Wireless Factory Sensors Get Kinetic
Electronic Design - USA
… on a design developed at the University of Southampton in the UK Unlike other energy ” scavengers” or “harvesters” that rely on the piezoelectric principle, it …

Noise Cancelling Stethoscope
Slippery Brick - Portland,OR,USA
… with some headphone earbuds. It uses a stack of conventional piezoelectric disk elements driven by a movable piston. The idea is …

Thermal radiation scanning tunnelling microscopy
Nature.com (subscription) - London,England,UK
… emission. The sample holder is thermally insulated with ceramics from the piezoelectric transducer used to scan the sample. The …

Digital printing forges ahead
just-style.com - UK
… colours depending on resolution. Piezoelectric drop on demand ink jet print heads are used, each with 256 nozzles. Four heads print …

Mercedes-Benz adding big diesel to S-Class
Autoblog - Santa Monica,CA,USA
… The turbodiesel engine is also clean enough to meet European emission standards for diesels by using common-rail technology, piezoelectric injectors and diesel …

(PRN) - Arlington Park to Install State-of-the-Art Racing Surface …
Bolsamania.com - Madrid,Madrid,Spain
… First Time … [+. PRN) - Advances in Piezoelectric Materials and Devices Drive Novel Applications … [+. PRN) - Immunomedics …

Advances in Piezoelectric Materials and Devices Drive Novel …
Yahoo! News (press release) - USA
7 /PRNewswire/ — One key obstacle that material manufacturers face while developing piezoelectric materials is the non- availability of piezoelectric material …

Nikon Enhances Its LiveScan Swept Field Confocal Microscope
Yahoo! News (press release) - USA
… LiveScan SFC now supports fast piezoelectric Z and a variety of traditional and EMCCD detectors including the Nikon DQC-FS EMCCD camera with the acquisition …

Robotic hand gets touchy-feely
DailyIndia.com - Jacksonville,FL,USA
… The hand’s sensors consist of patches of piezoelectric crystals surrounded by circuitry, all screen printed directly onto the each fingertip through a …

‘Bridge’ Concept Can Turn Anything Into Braille
Gizmodo.com - Budapest,Hungary
… and pirating at the library). The braille screen works with electromagnetic or piezoelectric principles. When the current or voltage …

Ford plant begins production of 2008 Super Duty truck
Reliable Plant Magazine - Tulsa,OK,USA
… The engine utilizes Ford’s Clean Diesel Technology, which includes a high-pressure, common-rail fuel system, piezoelectric fuel injectors and an advanced …

Harvesters gather energy from the ether, power lightweight systems
EDN.com - Newton,MA,USA
… The company previously offered a piezoelectric harvester for the same application but claims that the new design is more efficient. …

Advances in Piezoelectric Materials and Devices Drive Novel …
Newswire Today (press release) - London,UK
… newswire/ - Palo Alto, CA, United States, 12/12/2006 - Frost & Sullivan finds that emerging technology developments in piezoelectric materials and devices will …

Advanced Ceramics in Aerospace Applications Including Electro …
Azom.com - USA
… and Morgan Electro Ceramics, is a leading manufacturer of innovative products made from a range of ceramic, glass, precious metal, piezoelectric and dielectric …

Privateers ahoy! Big buyouts take bull by the horns
The Australian - Sydney,Australia
… go. In the meantime, the market was told its other technology is a “piezoelectric ballistic crowd control product ShockRounds”. …

Remote Robo-Flagellum to Swim in Humans
Robots.net - Dallas,TX,USA
… lab. The piezoelectric motor will drive a rotor connected to whip-like propellers modeled after the flagellum of E. coli bacterium. …

‘Bridge’ Concept Can Turn Anything Into Braille
Medgadget.com - San Francisco,CA,USA
… It is small and easy to carry, allowing it to be used anywhere. How does it work? The braille screen works with electromagnetic or piezoelectric principles. …