Research Bits: Nov. 21


Graphene heater for phase-change switches Researchers from the University of Washington, Stanford University, Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, University of Maryland, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology designed an energy-efficient, silicon-based non-volatile switch that manipulates light through the use of a phase-change material and graphene heater. Aiming to reduce the power consum... » read more

Technical Paper Roundup: Sept 27


New technical papers added to Semiconductor Engineering’s library this week. [table id=53 /] Semiconductor Engineering is in the process of building this library of research papers. Please send suggestions (via comments section below) for what else you’d like us to incorporate. If you have research papers you are trying to promote, we will review them to see if they are a good fit f... » read more

Optimizing Quantum Sensors


A new technical paper titled "Dissipative Superradiant Spin Amplifier for Enhanced Quantum Sensing" was published by researchers at the University of Chicago and Simon Fraser University, British Columbia. According to the University of Chicago news release, the researchers examined how qubits interact with each other and discovered a better way of extracting information out of the qubits by ... » read more

System Bits: Feb. 19


Eco-friendly material for wireless IoT sensors Researchers at Canada’s Simon Fraser University and in Switzerland collaborated on developing a wood-derived cellulose material that could be used in a 3D printer, instead of the customary plastic and polymeric materials for electronics. With 3D printing, the material can offer flexibility to add or embed functions onto 3D shapes or fabrics, the... » read more

Manufacturing Bits: Jan. 7


Climbing Terminator Robots Simon Fraser University has developed a family of climbing robots that mimic the stickiness of gecko lizard feet. Based on a “footpad terminator” adhesive technology, the robots could be used in space missions and on Earth. The climbing robot, called Abigaille, features six legs. This allows the robots to crawl on vertical and horizontal structures. The techno... » read more

Power-Performance Bits: Nov. 19


Different Species of Carbon Nanotubes We all know that humans can be either left or right handed, but what about carbon nanotubes? Apparently, single-walled carbon nanotubes come in a plethora of different “species,” each with its own structure and unique combination of electronic and optical properties. Researchers with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s Lawrence Berkeley National... » read more