Laurel Sheppard

Sep 20, 2024 | ceramics.org | Laurel Sheppard

[Image above] Asahi Kasei’s proof-of-concept tests for its acetonitrile-based electrolyte used in lithium-iron phosphate batteries. Credit: Asahi KaseiBy Laurel SheppardFrom portable electronics to electrified transportation, lithium-ion batteries serve as the predominant commercial form of rechargeable battery. Yet as these batteries are adopted into more and more applications, some of their performance limitations are becoming more noticeable, such as their sensitivity to temperature.

Sep 3, 2024 | ceramics.org | Laurel Sheppard

[Image above] Schematic illustration of the preparation of goldene. Credit: Kashiwaya et al., Nature Synthesis (CC BY 4.0)By Laurel SheppardSince the discovery of graphene in 2004, researchers have successfully created single-atom-thick sheets out of several materials, including boron and phosphorus. However, to date, some materials have resisted single-layer formation, such as gold. Gold is of interest to materials researchers because typically it is conducting.

Aug 6, 2024 | ceramics.org | Laurel Sheppard

[Image above] South Island Headland Midden. Left: View across excavation to Blue Lagoon and reef flat. Right: Terrestrial laser scanning of final sections in progress. Credit: Ulm et al., Quaternary Science Reviews (CC BY 4.0)By Laurel SheppardEven without written documents, archeologists can glean a ton of information about ancient civilizations by studying old pottery samples.

Jul 30, 2024 | ceramics.org | Laurel Sheppard

[Image above] In the past 100 years, the ceramics and glass field has expanded enormously, from its traditional industries, such as structural clay products, to advanced applications, such as electronics. Credit: PxHereBy Laurel Sheppard“Ceramics is…the art of producing from natural inorganic materials with the aid of heat a bewildering number and variety of articles with an extremely wide range of usefulness and beauty.”This definition of ceramics was given by Lawrence E.

Jul 23, 2024 | ceramics.org | Laurel Sheppard |Lisa McDonald

[Image above] Noah Stocek, Ph.D. student at the University of Western Ontario, looks inside the customized remote plasma deposition system he designed with physics professor Giovanni Fanchini and assembled with postdoctoral fellow Farman Ullah. Using this system, they produced new record-setting 2D auxetic materials.