An artificial soft skin imbued with flexible electronics could enhance the way robots sense and interact with their surroundings, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) researchers have shown (Advanced Electronic Materials, “Toward programmable materials for wearable electronics: Electrical welding turns sensors into conductors”). The team has discovered how to program electrical conductivity and…
Laser Kicks Out Charged Particles
Improvements in how samples are prepared will add range and flexibility to a method that detects the location of selected molecules within a biological sample, such as a slice of tissue. In the chemical analysis tool known as matrix-assisted laser-desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI MS), a laser beam kicks charged particles, known as ions, out of…
Computing Solutions for Biological Problems
Producing research outputs that have computational novelty and contributions, as well as biological importance and impacts, is a key motivator for computer scientist Xin Gao. His Group at KAUST has experienced a recent explosion in their publications. Since January 1, 2018, they have produced 27 papers, including 11 published in the top three computational biology…
Lasers Achieve Superior Anodes
Sodium-ion batteries have potential to replace the currently used lithium-ion batteries by using the cheaper (less than a thirtieth of the cost of lithium) and more abundant sodium resource. This has particular potential in Saudi Arabia, where sodium is readily available and easily extracted as a byproduct of water desalination, a significant source of potable…
Flatter Materials Have Fewer Imperfections, Which Makes for Better Solar Cells and Light Sensors
Improving the efficiency of solar cells requires materials free from impurities and structural defects. Scientists across many disciplines at KAUST have shown that 2-D organic-inorganic hybrid materials feature far fewer defects than thicker 3-D versions. Modern-day electronics rely on technologies that can develop almost perfect crystals of silicon; flawless to the atomic level. This is…
Smart Sensors Could Save Lives
3-D-printed, disposable sensors capable of detecting noxious gases and changes in temperature and humidity, could revolutionize environmental monitoring. In an emergency, early warning is key to escaping from a hazard, such as a forest fire or a chemical leak. Motivated to improve on safety, a team from KAUST is using 3-D printing to develop a cheap, reliable…
Flexible Electronics Take on Different Shapes
The healthcare industry forecasts that our wellbeing in the future will be monitored by wearable wirelessly networked sensors. Manufacturing such devices could become much easier with decal electronics. A King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)-developed process prints these high-performance silicon-based computers on to soft, sticker-like surfaces that can be attached anywhere. Fitting electronics…
Microscale Energy Storage Units Advance Wearables, Electronics
Energy storage units that can be integrated into wearable and flexible electronic systems are becoming increasingly important in today’s world. A research team from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) has now developed a microsupercapacitor that exploits three-dimensional porous electrodes. These micropower units are expected to enable a new generation of “smart” products,…
Enabling Direct Carbon Capture
Carbon dioxide capture is a high-profile area of chemical research offering a direct approach to tackling the rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide. This greenhouse gas is largely blamed for global warming and climate change. Professor Mohamed Eddaoudi, associate director of the University’s Advanced Membranes and Porous Materials Research Center, leads a team of researchers at…
Brain Disorders Diagnosed by Gentle, Inexpensive Sensors
Flexible, low-cost sensor technology leading to safer and improved diagnoses and treatment of brain disorders has been developed by scientists at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). Mapping the electrical activity of the brain is critical in understanding neurological disorders, such as depression and Alzheimer’s disease. Currently, multielectrode arrays, called Michigan or Utah…
Graphene Flakes Boost Solar Cell Efficiency
Small flakes of graphene could expand the usable spectral region of light in silicon solar cells to boost their efficiency, new research from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) shows. Solar cell materials have become significantly cheaper to produce in recent years, yet further cost savings are needed to make solar technologies commercially…