A*STAR researchers working with colleagues in Japan have developed a method by which robots can automatically recognize an object as a potential tool and use it, despite never having seen it before. For humans, the ability to recognize and use tools is almost instinctive. There are also many examples in which tool use seems hardwired into the […]
Atomic Nitrogen Route to New 2-D Semiconductors
A simple and non-destructive fabrication technique could aid the manufacture of more energy efficient two-dimensional (2-D) films needed to transform the electronics industry. Atomically thin, 2-D transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) like tungsten disulfide (WS2) exhibit remarkable physical, electronic and optoelectronic properties, such as flexibility, transparency and semi-conducting characteristics. Although there has been significant progress in fabricating 2-D […]
Harnessing Body Heat to Power Electronic Devices
If thermoelectric materials can convert low-grade heat into electricity, we may never need to charge wearable technology at home again. At night, most of us plug in a jumble of wires and devices as we charge our smart watches, phones and fitness trackers. It’s a pile that’s unlikely to get any smaller as more and […]
Hybrid Nanoantenna Designed to Manipulate Visible Light
A nanoscale optical antenna developed by researchers at A*STAR allows the manipulation of visible light waves on the scale of microchips. Such nanoantennae may enable the development of high-resolution imaging systems in small mobile devices. Photons in light beams can carry more information than electrons traveling through electrical wiring. If light could be directed within nanoscale chips as […]
Direct Nanoscale Patterning Of LED Surfaces Brings New Possibilities For The Control Of Light
Nanoscale patterns designed to bend, deflect and split light can now be fabricated directly on light-emitting diode (LED) surfaces using an innovative etching method developed by A*STAR researchers. The new fabrication scheme creates new possibilities for the facile control of light output. Recent advancements in LED lighting have transformed daily life and cutting-edge technology—from efficient […]
High-Resolution Full Color Images Can Be Formed Using Silicon-Nanostructure Pixels
Color prints produced on contemporary printers have a resolution of a few thousand dots per inch (dpi), but an alternative strategy that harnesses the power of nanotechnology can improve this resolution by an order of magnitude. Depositing ink droplets on a surface to create color pictures is a centuries-old technology. A*STAR researchers are now testing […]
Sensing Scheme Improves Accuracy When Reading Data From Spin-Based Memory Storage
A voltage sensing scheme developed by researchers from Singapore could improve the accuracy of reading data from spin-based memory systems with only minimal modifications. The scheme responds dynamically to voltage changes in the system, so that it can better discern whether it is reading a binary on (1) or off (0) state. The cutting-edge data […]
Integrated Design Strategy Lowers The Mass And Costs Of Motors That Move Objects Nanometers At A Time
Probing intricate cells or high-tech microchip components requires ‘nanopositioners’ that can scan large areas with extremely small steps. Normally, these positioners have separate fine- and coarse-movement stages, but A*STAR researchers have introduced a parallel-actuated system that integrates the two units for improved energy efficiency. When engineers design bearings for guiding moving parts, they typically work […]
A Layer Of Diamond Can Prevent High-Power Electronic Devices From Overheating
Powerful electronic components can get very hot. When many components are combined into a single semiconductor chip, heating can become a real problem. An overheating electronic component wastes energy and is at risk of behaving unpredictably or failing altogether. Consequently, thermal management is a vital design consideration. This becomes particularly important in devices made from […]
Humidity Sensors Provide Better Moisture Control for Manufacturing, Storage
A*STAR researchers have designed a low-cost, stable and ultrafast responsive sensor that is easy to manufacture, overcoming the challenge of producing a simple, fast and highly sensitive version. Fuke Wang and colleagues from the Singapore Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, A*STAR have developed an optical humidity sensor that exploits the unique properties of ultrathin layers of graphene […]