Rice University researchers have found evidence of piezoelectricity in lab-grown, two-dimensional flakes of molybdenum dioxide. Their investigation showed the surprise electrical properties are due to electrons trapped in defects throughout the material, which is less than 10 nanometers thick. They characterize these charges as electrets, which appear in some insulating … [Read more...] about 2D oxide flakes pick up surprise electrical properties
Artificial intelligence is energy-hungry — new hardware could curb its appetite
To just solve a puzzle or play a game, artificial intelligence can require software running on thousands of computers. That could be the energy that three nuclear plants produce in one hour. A team of engineers has created hardware that can learn skills using a type of AI that currently runs on software platforms. Sharing intelligence features between hardware and software … [Read more...] about Artificial intelligence is energy-hungry — new hardware could curb its appetite
Shedding new light on nanolasers using 2D semiconductors
In his latest line of research, Cun-Zheng Ning, a professor of electrical engineering in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University, and his peers explored the intricate balance of physics that governs how electrons, holes, excitons and trions coexist and mutually convert into each other to produce optical gain. Their results, led by Tsinghua … [Read more...] about Shedding new light on nanolasers using 2D semiconductors
Supercapacitor promises storage, high power and fast charging
A new supercapacitor based on manganese oxide could combine the storage capacity of batteries with the high power and fast charging of other supercapacitors, according to researchers at Penn State and two universities in China. "Manganese oxide is definitely a promising material," said Huanyu "Larry" Cheng, assistant professor of engineering science and mechanics and faculty … [Read more...] about Supercapacitor promises storage, high power and fast charging
Multifunctional porous carbon fibers show significant promise in capacitive desalination
Researchers in the College of Science have developed a material that is up to 40 times faster in desalinating small batches of water than other materials available today. Guoliang "Greg" Liu, an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry, has been researching the design and synthesis of porous carbon fibers for the last several years. The material is composed of long, … [Read more...] about Multifunctional porous carbon fibers show significant promise in capacitive desalination