Since just after World War II, U.S. and global researchers have attempted to evolve diamond’s use beyond simple gem. With extreme material properties such as ultra hardness, complete transparency to visible light, ultra high thermal conductivity, ultra fast power and frequency handling and switching, diamond it would seem, would be a perfect fit for technological use.

Continue reading “C2ST Speakeasy: “A Diamond Age of Microelectronics” with Adam Khan”

In the robotics community, there is considerable interest in mobile robots that can climb and perch on a wide variety of building surfaces. Both climbing and perching robots can be useful for sensor placement and long-term surveillance. The key is the design of controllable attachment mechanisms that can easily turn the adhesion on and off to allow the robot to move on the surface. Continue reading “C2ST Speakeasy: “Bio-Inspired Climbing Robots” with Dr. Matthew Spenko”

From tennis rackets to sunscreen, from stained glass windows to computer memory, the applications of nanoscale materials research are all around us. New television displays, cell phones and other digital devices incorporate nanostructured polymer films known as light-emitting diodes, or OLEDs. Continue reading “The Nature of Nano 2”

From tennis rackets to sunscreen, from stained glass windows to computer memory, the applications of nanoscale materials research are all around us. New television displays, cell phones and other digital devices incorporate nanostructured polymer films known as light-emitting diodes, or OLEDs. Continue reading “The Nature of Nano”