Towards energy-efficient brain-like computers

Researchers identify key mechanisms and novel materials for biologically inspired information processing

04-Jan-2024 - Every search engine query, every AI-generated text and developments such as autonomous driving: In the age of artificial intelligence (AI) and big data, computers and data centres consume a lot of energy. By contrast, the human brain is far more energy-efficient. In order to develop more powerful ...

Airy material with explosive power

New method for the generation of controllable electrical explosions

17-Nov-2021 - Theoretically, it only takes 450 grams of this material to lift an elephant: "Aerographene" owes this ability to its unique structure at the nano level. Visually similar to a black foam, it actually consists of a finely-structured tubular network based on graphene with numerous cavities. This ...

Nano coatings with many functions

Materials scientists synthesize nanoscale gradient copolymers with contradictory properties for the first time

05-Nov-2020 - Materials that simultaneously have contrasting properties – for example, they are soft on the one hand and hard on the other, the transition is gradual - could enable completely new applications like gradual anti-reflective lenses. In nature, such merging properties are indeed common, for example ...

Artificial solid fog material creates pleasant laser light

Extremely porous material made of "white graphene" for new laser light applications

20-Mar-2020 - With a porosity of 99.99 %, it consists practically only of air, making it one of the lightest materials in the world: Aerobornitride is the name of the material developed by an international research team led by Kiel University. The scientists assume that they have thereby created a central ...

Controlling adhesive material remotely with light

Bioinspired intelligent material transports micro-objects

26-Jan-2017 - Adhesive mechanisms in the natural world, as used by geckos and other animals when they walk upside down on the ceiling, have many advantages: they are always strongly adhesive - and without any glues or residues. Scientists at Kiel University are researching how these mechanisms can be ...

Tin follows zinc: stretchable ceramics made by flame technology

09-Jun-2015 - Synthesizing nanoscale materials takes place within high-tech laboratories, where scientists in full-body suits keep every grain of dust away from their sensitive innovations. However, scientists at Kiel University proved that this is not always necessary. They have successfully been able to ...