A non-destructive, spatially resolved, and real-time technique monitors the curing and molecular weight of adhesives and sealants without chemical modification.

      State-of-the-art scanning probe microscopy (SPM) systems, including microwave impedance microscopy (MIM) and near-field scanning microscopy (NSOM), typically operate in a dynamic, non-contact “tapping” mode. Lock-in detection at the probe cantilever’s resonant mechanical oscillation frequency mitigates effects of drift and achieves high measurement sensitivity of local material characteristics. Electrical, mechanical, or other material properties can be measured down to the nanoscale. However, a full time-domain tip-sample response would yield a much richer data set. Unfortunately, existing methodologies require moving the entire scan head to sweep the tip-sample separation at rates far below the resonant frequency of the cantilever or tuning fork—yielding slow scan speeds and outputs vulnerable to drift, 1/f noise, and stray coupling.       To overcome these challenges, UC Berkeley researchers have leveraged high-speed data acquisition, wideband detection electronics, and modern real-time computing to acquire hyperspectral datasets at twice the mechanical resonant frequency of the probe. The invention captures up to hundreds of thousands of curves per second, without sacrificing scan speed, resolution, or stability. It can be straightforwardly integrated on most commercial SPM platforms, and for a wide range of resonantly driven probes, including cantilevers, quartz tuning forks, and qPlus sensor. Among other benefits, the technique enables novel post-processing capabilities, including retrospective enhancement of spatial resolution.

This technology revolutionizes hydrogen production by using induction heating for catalytic methane decomposition, significantly increasing hydrogen yield.

This technology introduces a fast and low-cost method suitable for manufacturing ultra-long carbon nanotubes using water-soluble catalysts and standard optical lithography. Further, it also ensures vertical alignment of electrodes, a crucial component in electronic devices.

A breakthrough in growing long single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with direct electrical contact and exceptional conductivity.

Researchers at the University of California, Davis have developed a sustainable alternative to Portland cement by utilizing alkali-activated binders (AAB) with biomass ash, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Researchers at the University of California, Davis have developed a technology that introduces new electrolyte compositions that significantly enhance the stability and efficiency of non-aqueous flow batteries.

Researchers at the University of California, Davis have developed an innovative technology that incorporates advanced microchannel architecture into scalable solar thermal receiver unit cells, enabling highly efficient solar energy conversion.

      Effective thermal management remains a critical challenge in designing and operating next-generation electronics, data centers, and energy systems. Devices are steadily shrinking and handling increased power densities. Traditional cooling strategies, such as heat sinks and immersive cooling systems, fall short in delivering the targeted, localized cooling needed to prevent or address thermal hotspots. Current solutions for localized hotspot cooling require active, energy-intensive methods like pumping of coolants and complex thermal architecture design.       To overcome these challenges, UC Berkeley researchers present a transformative passive method for localized, autonomous cooling of hotspots. The cooling system delivers effective, localized cooling across various device surfaces and geometries, including those geometries wherein cooling media must move against gravity. The benefits of the present system will be appreciated for computer chip and other electronics cooling, microgravity applications, battery thermal management. Beyond thermal management, the underlying system may also open novel avenues in fluid manipulation and energy harvesting.

Researchers at the University of California, Davis have developed an algorithm for designing and identifying complex structures having custom release profiles for controlled drug delivery.

An innovative approach to joining materials that enhances strength and toughness at interfaces, inspired by natural structures.

A revolutionary low-CO2 cement produced at room temperature, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional Portland cement.

The plant species Banksia speciosa relies on wildfires to propagate its seeds. The specialized coating on the seeds, along with the follicle structure, can protect seeds from temperatures over 1,000°C. Inspired by this coating on the seeds of the Banksia plants, researchers at UC Irvine have developed novel, bioinspired coatings, materials, and structures for thermal management, enabling development of cost-effective and ecological thermal management systems.

CoFe-Al2O3 is a soft magnetic composite that can be formed using net shape manufacturing and offering superior magnetic, electrical and thermal properties.

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Currently, thin films of single-crystalline (SC) alloy material are obtained using costly SC substrates made of a material chemically and physically compatible to that of a SC thin film that is deposited on the SC substrate. Formation of SC thin films of alloy materials on SC substrates are typically achieved through fairly expensive processes such as epitaxy. As a result, the use of a thin film of SC alloy materials or respective multiple thin films is contingent upon the availability of an appropriate SC substrate thereby severely limiting its utilization. Thus, there is a need for alternative methods of forming one or more thin films of SC alloy materials on arbitrary substrates. Crystallization of thin film materials by exploiting laser-induced crystallization has been advancing for the past four decades. This unique thin film technique has been predominantly used in processing thin film materials made of a single chemical element, with a significant emphasis on thin film materials comprised of a single chemical element like silicon (Si), used for the development of thin film transistors. While this approach has worked well for thin film materials comprised of a single chemical element like silicon (Si) it is not easily extended for use with thin film materials containing multiple chemical elements (e.g., metal oxides). For certain bulk manufacturing applications, it would be desirable to efficiently form thin structures on non-single-crystalline (NSC) substrates, such as glass, or on SC substrates that are highly-incompatible, such as silicon. For such applications, it is highly desirable that the treated SC alloy layer(s) have chemical compositions not significantly different from those of their original chemical compositions.

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3D printing of concrete structures is a highly efficient, cheap process. However, imperfections are difficult to detect and can compromise the performance of these structures. UCI researchers have developed a method in which a current sent through the printed structure produces a “fingerprint” that allows the real-time detection of flaws in the concrete structure.

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