Unique material could unlock new functionality in semiconductors

New ferroelectric material can be manipulated using light in previously impossible ways

03-Mar-2020 - If new and promising semiconductor materials are to make it into our phones, computers, and other increasingly capable electronics, researchers must obtain greater control over how those materials function. In an article published in Science Advances, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute researchers ...

New discovery makes fast-charging, better performing lithium-ion batteries possible

Materials could boost battery performance in consumer electronics, electric vehicles, and more

18-Apr-2019 - Creating a lithium-ion battery that can charge in a matter of minutes but still operate at a high capacity is possible, according to research from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute just published in Nature Communications. This development has the potential to improve battery performance for ...

Modelling how fracturing metallic glass releases energy at the atomic level

20-Jul-2018 - Metallic glasses -- alloys lacking the crystalline structure normally found in metals -- are an exciting research target for tantalizing applications, including artificial joints and other medical implant devices. However, the difficulties associated with predicting how much energy these ...

Tungsten offers nano-interconnects a path of least resistance

06-Oct-2017 - As microchips become ever smaller and therefore faster, the shrinking size of their copper interconnects leads to increased electrical resistivity at the nanoscale. Finding a solution to this impending technical bottleneck is a major problem for the semiconductor industry. One promising ...

Graphene foam detects explosives, emissions better than today's gas sensors

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute engineering researchers overcome decade-old hurdle hampering development of nanostructure-based gas sensors

30-Nov-2011 - A new study from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute demonstrates how graphene foam can outperform leading commercial gas sensors in detecting potentially dangerous and explosive chemicals. The discovery opens the door for a new generation of gas sensors to be used by bomb squads, law enforcement ...

'Nanoscoops' could spark new generation of electric automobile batteries

New nanoengineered batteries developed at Rensselaer exhibit remarkable power density, charging more than 40 times faster than today's lithium-ion batteries

06-Jan-2011 - An entirely new type of nanomaterial developed at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute could enable the next generation of high-power rechargeable lithium (Li)-ion batteries for electric automobiles, as well as batteries for laptop computers, mobile phones, and other portable devices. The new ...

A revolutionary breakthrough in terahertz remote sensing

Unique THz 'fingerprints' will identify hidden explosives from a distance

13-Jul-2010 - A major breakthrough in remote wave sensing by a team of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute researchers opens the way for detecting hidden explosives, chemical, biological agents and illegal drugs from a distance of 20 meters. The new, all-optical system, using terahertz (THz) wave technology, has ...

Researchers develop ultra-simple method for creating nanoscale gold coatings

18-Jun-2010 - Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have developed a new, ultra-simple method for making layers of gold that measure only billionths of a meter thick. The process, which requires no sophisticated equipment and works on nearly any surface including silicon wafers, could have important ...

Measuring the immeasurable: New study links heat transfer, bond strength of materials

16-Apr-2009 - The speed at which heat moves between two materials touching each other is a potent indicator of how strongly they are bonded to each other, according to a new study by researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Additionally, the study shows that this flow of heat from one material to ...

Smart lighting: New LED drops the 'droop'

Researchers use streamlined polarization to boost performance of LEDs

16-Jan-2009 - Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have developed and demonstrated a new type of light emitting diode (LED) with significantly improved lighting performance and energy efficiency. The new polarization-matched LED, developed in collaboration with Samsung Electro-Mechanics, exhibits an ...