Materials World March 2009

The March issue looks at electronics. Related features focus on the sustainable opportunities in the electronics industry and advances in electronic and optoelectronic materials research in the UK.

News examines novel processing techniques to make nanostructured ceramic components and an in-line monitoring system for thin film photovoltaic solar cells.

News

Standardising nanotechnologies

The views of industry, researchers and the wider materials community are being sought to standardise nanotechnologies. The UK was the first country to set up a national committee for this purpose, which is vital to support commercialisation and market development as well as ensure consumer acceptance.

Materials World Magazine, 01 May 2009

Materials World print error

If your March Materials World has missing or duplicate pages, contact us for a replacement.

Materials World Magazine, 10 Mar 2009

Support call for construction Diploma

Co-ordinators of the UK’s Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment are seeking more building material manufacturers to take part. The qualification for 14-19-year-olds focuses on design, creation of the built environment, and value in use, and includes 10 days’ work experience in industry, as well as specialist units.

Materials World Magazine, 01 Mar 2009

Chemical vapour deposition at speed

Synthesis and screening of thin film samples on glass may become faster using modified atmospheric pressure chemical vapour deposition equipment developed at University College London (UCL), UK. This is combined with rapid automated analysis of each cell to identify new and suitable phases.

Materials World Magazine, 01 Mar 2009

Surface solution for writing nanodata

A carbon nanotube (CNT) probe tip, with silicon oxide outer layer for wear resistance, could enable ultrahigh density data storage. The ‘nanopencil’ can write bit sizes as small as 6.8nm onto ferroelectric films, while the silicon oxide makes it less prone to bending or buckling.

Materials World Magazine, 01 Mar 2009

Strengthening tailored composites

The mechanical properties of lightweight composites that are made using tailored fibre placement (TFP) technology could be improved using a new online design tool, say scientists in Germany. The software maps out the concentrated stress areas of the base materials

Materials World Magazine, 01 Mar 2009

Implantable blood pressure sensor

UK researchers are exploiting surface acoustic wave (SAW) technology to create a wireless and implantable blood pressure sensor. Scientists at Imperial College London, UK, believe this is the first implantable SAW device.

Materials World Magazine, 01 Mar 2009

Bomb-proof concrete

A high performance concrete that is designed to reduce the impact of bomb blasts is being investigated by engineers at the University of Liverpool, UK. Steel fibres reinforce the material.

Materials World Magazine, 01 Mar 2009

Making nanoceramic components

Manufacturing nanostructured ceramic components could now become more industrially viable using processing techniques developed at Loughborough University, UK.

Materials World Magazine, 01 Mar 2009

Inspecting solar cell production

An in-line monitoring system that is compatible with copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) and cadmium telluride solar cell production is available from LayTec, based in Berlin, Germany. The company claims the technology will accelerate development and reduce processing costs for a range of thin film deposition processes.

Materials World Magazine, 01 Mar 2009

Capturing carbon dioxide in China

Preliminary geological surveys suggest there may be potential for ‘significant [onshore] storage in Chinese basins for CO2’, says Dr Mike Stephenson, Head of Science for Energy at the British Geological Survey.

Materials World Magazine, 01 Mar 2009

Biogas field of dreams?

German researchers are building what they say is the first-ever biogas pilot plant to run entirely on agricultural waste, while achieving 30% more biogas than previous facilities. This technique could create a sustainable source of energy that does not rely on edible materials, preventing competition for food crops and land.

Materials World Magazine, 01 Feb 2009

Features

Powerful partnership - a UK-US collaboration on energy

UK and US researchers have been working to assist development of energy materials and processes.

Materials World Magazine, 01 May 2009

British coal

Eickhoff SL 500 coal shearer prior to installation underground

Daw Mill in north Warwickshire is the UK's largest underground coal mine. An expansion is planned and the mine is making the most of modern technology.

Materials World Magazine, 01 Mar 2009

Climate change, a geologist’s view

Professor Ian Plimer of the University of Adelaide, Australia, presents his conclusions on climate change. He predicts that the Earth will cool in coming years and that volcanic action is responsible for this process.

Materials World Magazine, 01 Mar 2009

Future packaging - trends in microelectronic packaging

The microelectronic packaging market is described with forecasts for 2009.Electronics packaging will continue to grow in complexity over coming years.

Materials World Magazine, 01 Mar 2009

Up to speed - introducing chalcogenides to electronics

A chalcogenide microsphere, approximately 100µm in diameter lasing in a resonant mode

Dan Hewak, from the Optoelectronics Research Centre at the University of Southampton, UK, describes the use of chalcogenide glass for new electronic and optoelectronic materials.

Materials World Magazine, 01 Mar 2009

Improving the view - coating applications for photovoltaics

Describing developments foe electronic applications. Existing technologies are being applied to thin film photovolteic solar cells for improved products.

Materials World Magazine, 01 Mar 2009

Sample Screening

Accelerated product development for (opto)electronics may be possible with high throughput methods developed by Ilika Technologies Ltd. Automated technologies can to make ‘libraries’ of hundreds or thousands of systematically varying materials, which can then be screeded for useful properties.

Materials World Magazine, 01 Mar 2009

Eco-electronics

Rapid developments in electronic equipment have led to a disposable culture. Martin Goosey, Industrial Director of the Innovative Electronics Manufacturing Research Centre at Loughborough University, UK, discusses regulations and drivers for more eco-friendly electronics.

Materials World Magazine, 01 Mar 2009

Book reviews

Materials for Engineers

Materials World Magazine, 01 Mar 2009

Dissociative Recombination of Molecular Ions

Materials World Magazine, 01 Mar 2009