Research

A collaboration between Glaxo Smith Kline, the pharmaceuticals giant, and Imec aims to create disruptive new solutions for the pharmaceutical sector. The partnership follows a year of explorative collaboration and research leading to promising preliminary results. It will focus on specific R&D and biomanufacturing projects. In R&D, Glaxo and Imec will explore how nanotechnology can accelerate the development and production ...

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has developed a material for cathodes in  li-ion batteries called Layered-Rocksalt Intergrown Battery Electrode Material which ensures high capacity, fast charging time and energy transfer, and superior cycling and thermal stability. The material can be synthesised under ambient atmosphere, easing processing and reducing production costs. Its thermal stability and minimal gas release reduce fire and explosion risks. “We demonstrate ...

The UK Space Agency (UKSA) has awarded £650,000 to Northumbria University to continue its work to develop what it describes as the first commercially available laser-based inter-satellite communications system. Their CubeSats use lasers, instead of radio frequency, for data transmissions with more capacity and security. And the aim is to develop an “off the shelf” product for telecoms providers, which ...

Engineers at Lancaster University have transmitted, received and decoded data sent over a stream of fast neutrons. The proof-of-concept involved modulating neutrons from a calfornium 252 source using an Arduino-controlled mechanical shutter built from high-density polythene. Detection involved a one litre tank of scintillating meterial, a photo-multiplier and a ‘mixed-field analyser’ (made by Hybrid Instruments, based at the university) to separate ...

UK Research and Innovation has announced funding for projects within the UK’s National Quantum Technologies Programme. The £50m comes from UKRI’s previously announced £170m Commercialising Quantum Technologies challenge. The projects are Aeon-Rb £2.5m Led by HCD Research to develop accurate quantum clocks for national infrastructure. Altnaharra (cryoelectronics for quantum circuits) £4.3m Led by Quantum Motion Technologies, brings together experts in: superconductivity, ion ...

Oxford Instruments NanoScience has announced participation in three projects funded through Innovate UK’s quantum computer commercialisation program, with SEEQC, Quantum Motion and SureCore. Complete list of UK funded quantum computing projects just announced SEEQC has a £6.85m grant from Innovate UK’s Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF) to build a commercially scalable application-specific quantum computer for Merck in Darmstadt. “By supplying its ...

Japanese researchers have added another tool to the toolbox for DNA molecular electronics. Not yet possible in any useful sense, DNA has the potential to be the backbone for molecular electronic circuits – electronics at the smallest scale – and towards this scientist are hunting through its structure and testing modifications to find useful non-linear electrical characteristics and switching behaviours. ...

Osram and the University of Padua have been studying the effects of UV-C radiation from LEDs on SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind Covid-19. “It has already been shown that a high intensity of UV-C LED radiation can inactivate the SARS-CoV-2 virus rapidly,” according to the company. “In realistic applications, like upper air treatment or secondary air treatment devices [photos], the necessary dose to ...

Researchers at the University of Sheffield are developing extremely low noise avalanche photodetectors using the band engineering properties of gallium arsenide bismide, says Caroline Hayes. An avalanche photodetector (APD) is able to produce large currents from the input of an extremely low light signal, down to a few photons. When a photon is absorbed, it excites an electron to the ...

The readers of Electronics Weekly can decide the destination of this year’s University Research Elektra Award, which is sponsored by RS Components. The magazine’s editorial team has selected six research projects from the last year as the shortlist and you are invited to vote for the one you think will make the largest impact on the commercial market in the next ...