New transistors: An alternative to silicon and better than graphene

New transistors: An alternative to silicon and better than graphene

Smaller and more energy-efficient electronic chips could be made using molybdenite, a material developed in Switzerland

		IMAGE: This is a digital model showing how molybdenite can be integrated into a transistor.

Smaller and more energy-efficient electronic chips could be made using molybdenite. In an article appearing online January 30 in the journal Nature Nanotechnology, EPFL's Laboratory of Nanoscale Electronics and Structures (LANES) publishes a study showing that this material has distinct advantages over traditional silicon or graphene for use in electronics applications.

A discovery made at EPFL could play an important role in electronics, allowing us to make transistors that are smaller and more energy efficient. Research carried out in the Laboratory of Nanoscale Electronics and Structures (LANES) has revealed that molybdenite, or MoS2, is a very effective semiconductor. This mineral, which is abundant in nature, is often used as an element in steel alloys or as an additive in lubricants. But it had not yet been extensively studied for use in electronics

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Gorilla Glass has a new competitor called Dragontrail

As smartphones move to ever larger displays they become an important part of the strength component of the overall handset. At the same time users don’t want them to scratch easily or crack if dropped. The best solution at the moment seems to be Gorilla Glass which is used by a range of manufacturers, and has recently even been scaled up to work with tablets and LCD TVs.

But Gorilla Glass isn’t going to be the only option for much longer. Japanses company Asahi has unveiled its own super-strong glass solution called Dragontrail. Although there have been no direct comparisons between the two strong glass products, you can tell from the tests in the video that Dragontrail has some serious strength on offer."

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Drunk scientists pour wine on superconductors and make an incredible discovery

Drunk scientists pour wine on superconductors and make an incredible discovery

Superconductors behave like most metals; they conduct electricity. They do so, however, with a twist. All metal has some resistance to the flow of electricity. But when the temperature drops, superconductors get less and less resistant (and therefore more conductive). When they reach very low temperatures, their resistance drops to zero.

Yoshihiko Takano and other researchers at the National Institute for Materials Science in Japan were in the process of creating a certain kind of superconductor by putting a compound in hot water and soaking it for hours. They also soaked the compound in a mixture of water and ethanol. It appears the process was going well, because the scientists decided to have a little party. The party included sake, whisky, various wines, shochu, and beer. At a certain point, the researchers decided to try soaking the compound in the many, many liquors they had on hand and seeing how they compared to the more conventional soaking liquids.

When they tested the resulting materials for superconductivity, they found that the ones soaked in commercial booze came out ahead. About 15 percent of the material became a superconductor for the water mixed with ethanol, and less for the pure water. By comparison, Shochu jacked up conductivity by 23 percent and red wine managed to supercharge over 62 percent of the material. The scientists were pleased, if bemused with their results.

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More @ io9

Horizon MiniPak personal fuel cell charger hits shelves for $100

Horizon MiniPak personal fuel cell charger hits shelves for $100

Designed for charging portable electronics on the go, the MiniPak has two refillable cartridges, each with the juice equivalent of around 1,000 AA batteries. The MiniPak -- which uses Hydrogen to produce electricity -- isn't the first portable fuel cell, but it's certainly the cheapest.

More @ Engadget [Video]