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An Iron-Based Generator That Uses Waste Heat to Power Small Electrical Devices

An Iron-Based Generator That Uses Waste Heat to Power Small Electrical Devices

Researchers have discovered a way to convert heat energy into electricity by using a material mostly composed of iron.


News May 11, 2020 by Luke James
Solar Materials of the Future are Great on Performance. But What About Toxicity?

Solar Materials of the Future are Great on Performance. But What About Toxicity?

The materials in solar photovoltaic panels can be toxic when improperly disposed of. Are alternative materials any better?


News May 11, 2020 by Tyler Charboneau
Stanford Researchers Discover How Exactly Li-Ion Batteries Degrade

Stanford Researchers Discover How Exactly Li-Ion Batteries Degrade

By knowing more about lithium-ion battery degradation, engineers can define steps to improve lifetime and performance.


News May 11, 2020 by Gary Elinoff
As Suppliers Hunker Down on IoT, Multi-Protocol Chips May Spike

As Suppliers Hunker Down on IoT, Multi-Protocol Chips May Spike

Suppliers are producing more multi-protocol chips to meet the power and connectivity demands of IoT. Can we expect to see more tech like NXP's multiprotocol mesh networking MCUs in the future?


News May 08, 2020 by Gary Elinoff
Printed Circuit Boards Receive an AI Boost Through Fraunhofer’s Modular Platform

Printed Circuit Boards Receive an AI Boost Through Fraunhofer’s Modular Platform

The AI platform from the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Information Technology (FIT) is comprised of modules for artificial intelligence, machine learning, and deep learning.


News May 06, 2020 by Luke James
The Virtues of PWM Combined With a Power MOSFET

The Virtues of PWM Combined With a Power MOSFET

Pulse Width Modulation is a method commonly used to generate an analog signal output from digital input. But how is this feature enhanced when combined with a power MOSFET in a single device?


News May 06, 2020 by John Koon
MRI Scanning Used to Bring Welcome Improvements to Sodium-Ion Batteries

MRI Scanning Used to Bring Welcome Improvements to Sodium-Ion Batteries

Researchers at the University of Birmingham in the UK have used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to pinpoint interactions with sodium-ion batteries.


News May 06, 2020 by Luke James
A Washable Smart Garment? Two Startups Innovate E-Textiles With Conductive Ink and Water-Proof Circuitry

A Washable Smart Garment? Two Startups Innovate E-Textiles With Conductive Ink and Water-Proof Circuitry

After 100 wash cycles, it was the fabric—not the electronics—that failed.


News May 06, 2020 by Gary Elinoff
A New Method of Improving Electric Storage Efficiency and Heat Tolerance for Electronics

A New Method of Improving Electric Storage Efficiency and Heat Tolerance for Electronics

Researchers at The Pennsylvania State University have developed a new method of electric storage efficiency for capacitors using nanofillers at low volume content in a high-temperature semi-crystalline polymer.


News May 05, 2020 by Abdulwaliy Oyekunle
What “E-Mobility” Means to the Electrical Engineer

What “E-Mobility” Means to the Electrical Engineer

"E-mobility" may seem like a mega-trend buzz word in the industry. But the circuit-level designs that drive this term (especially those involving EV batteries and charging technology) directly affect engineers.


News May 04, 2020 by Nicholas St. John
UK Completes Vehicle-to-Grid Project, Step to Eliminating Diesel Cars by 2035

UK Completes Vehicle-to-Grid Project, Step to Eliminating Diesel Cars by 2035

How exactly does the UK plan to ban new diesel and petrol car sales by 2035? The VIGIL project is a start.


News May 04, 2020 by Gary Elinoff
Living on the Edge: A Look at Leading Chipmakers and Their Push for Intelligence

Living on the Edge: A Look at Leading Chipmakers and Their Push for Intelligence

Three dominant megacorporations are empowering edge devices by creating accurate, secure, and low powered chips with capabilities of giant data centers at your fingertips.


Research Suggests We Are Entering the ‘Nickel Age’ of Superconductivity

Research Suggests We Are Entering the ‘Nickel Age’ of Superconductivity

Last summer, scientists discovered a special class of materials called “nickelates” which were promised a “new age” for high-temperature superconductivity because they can conduct an electrical current without any resistance.


News May 01, 2020 by Luke James
Improving the Efficiency of Spintronics by Replacing Magnetism With Electricity

Improving the Efficiency of Spintronics by Replacing Magnetism With Electricity

Electric currents drive our electronic devices, and the emerging “spintronics” field is looking to replace these currents with what are known as spin currents.


News Apr 30, 2020 by Luke James
Using Hydrogel to Cool Down Electronics and Convert Waste Into Electricity

Using Hydrogel to Cool Down Electronics and Convert Waste Into Electricity

The thin polymer-based hydrogel film can be strapped to batteries to convert heat to electricity. It works by transferring electrons when heated to generate power.


News Apr 30, 2020 by Luke James
Rad-Hard Roundup: Protecting Space Vehicles from Overcurrent Events

Rad-Hard Roundup: Protecting Space Vehicles from Overcurrent Events

What's worse than overcurrent events? Overcurrent events in space.


News Apr 30, 2020 by Gary Elinoff
Powered by Human Sweat, A New Electronic Skin Can Send Biometrics via Bluetooth

Powered by Human Sweat, A New Electronic Skin Can Send Biometrics via Bluetooth

In the past, a major obstacle to e-skin technology was its power source. Now, a team at Caltech says they've found the solution: human sweat.


News Apr 27, 2020 by Gary Elinoff
With Air Quality at an All-Time High, Solar Energy Efficiency Skyrockets. But Can It Last?

With Air Quality at an All-Time High, Solar Energy Efficiency Skyrockets. But Can It Last?

England recently reported a record-setting 9.68 GW of solar power generation. New solar technology seeks to keep these levels high—even after government lock-downs lift.


News Apr 23, 2020 by Gary Elinoff
What Does “99% Power Efficiency” Really Mean in Silicon Carbide MOSFETs?

What Does “99% Power Efficiency” Really Mean in Silicon Carbide MOSFETs?

Whenever we discuss power semiconductors, the feature that takes center stage is power efficiency. But what exactly do we mean by that term?


News Apr 21, 2020 by John Koon
The Winding Road Ahead for Electric Vehicles Post COVID-19

The Winding Road Ahead for Electric Vehicles Post COVID-19

Engineers should keep an eye on EV trends to be aware of new design directives that will be handed them from the top down.


News Apr 21, 2020 by Gary Elinoff