Unlike the slow ferroelastic domain switching expected for ceramics, high-speed sub-microsecond ferroelastic domain switching and simultaneous lattice deformation are directly observed for the Pb(Zr0.4Ti0.6)O3 thin films. This exciting finding paves the way for high-frequency ultrafast electromechanical switches and sensors. Piezo micro electro mechanical systems (piezoMEMS) are miniaturized devices exhibiting piezoelectricity, i.e., the appearance of an…
Changing the Color of Laser Light on The Femtosecond Time Scale
How can the color of laser light be changed? One popular method to achieve this is the so-called second harmonic generation (SHG) effect, which doubles the frequency of light and hence changes its color. However, observing this nonlinear effect requires a polar crystal in which inversion symmetry is broken. For this reason, identifying crystals that…
Algal Residue: An Alternative Carbon Resource for Pharmaceuticals and Polyesters
Saving Energy with 3D Solutions
In electronics, lower power consumption leads to operation cost savings, environmental benefits and the convenience advantages from longer running devices. While progress in energy efficiencies has been reported with alternative materials such as SiC and GaN, energy-savings in the standard inexpensive and widely used silicon devices are still keenly sought. K. Tsutsui at Tokyo Institute…
New Aspect of Atom Mimicry for Nanotechnology Applications
In nanotechnology control is key. Control over the arrangements and distances between nanoparticles can allow tailored interaction strengths so that properties can be harnessed in devices such as plasmonic sensors. Now researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology use dendrimers that mimic the electron valency of atoms and link them into arrays using molecules that coordinate…
Diamonds Act as Supreme Semiconductors
“While we think of diamonds as very expensive jewelry, they can actually be made using methane and hydrogen. Diamonds are really just carbon, a light and simple element. Their simple yet unique characteristics create significant potential for use in a wide range of purposes, including generation of environmental energy and biological applications,” says Professor Mutsuko…
Boron Carrier for Targeted Tumor Therapy
Targeted radiation-based therapies for treating cancerous tumours such as ‘boron neutron capture therapy’ (BNCT), rely on the efficient and effective delivery of the capture agent (in this case, boron) to the tumour. The agent must collect in the tumour in high enough concentrations to trigger an effective reaction during thermal neutron irradiation. Delivering the agent…
Groundbreaking Semiconductor Research Disproves Past Theories
Researchers centered at Tokyo Tech have experimentally discovered that an organic compound can exhibit the large thermoelectric effect when it becomes semiconducting materials at extremely low temperature. The thermoelectric effect is the direct conversion of temperature difference to electric voltage. The effect is known as the Seebeck effect and is measured by a Seebeck coefficient…