Comdel's CV Series Delivers Stable Power for VHF Applications

Comdel's CV series offers stable power at frequencies from 30 to 80 MHz.  Ideal for use in VHF plasma systems, solar/photovoltaics, CW and pulsed laser systems.   Learn more.

Comdel 
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Tel: 978-282-0620 or 800-468-3144
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The DOE has released the latest edition of its Critical Materials Strategy examining the role of rare earth metals and other materials in the clean energy economy.  "The 2011 report includes updated criticality assessment, market analyses and technology analyses to identify critical materials challenges.  It was prepared by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) based on data collect and research performed during 2011.  The report highlights are:

• Several clean energy technologies - including electric vehicles, PV thin films and fluorescent lighting - use materials at risk of supply disruptions in the short term.  Risks will generally decrease in the medium and long term.
• Supply challenges for five rare earth metals (dysprosium, terbium, europium, neodymium and yttrium) may affect clean energy technology deployment in the years ahead.
• In the past year, DOE and other stakeholders have scaled up work to address these challenges. This includes new funding for priority research, development of DOE's first critical materials research plan, international workshops bringing together leading  experts and substantial new coordination among federal agencies working on these topics.
• Building workforce capabilities through education and training will help address vulnerabilities and realize opportunities related to critical materials.
• Much more work is required in the years ahead. "

Source: Read the full article...

Energy.gov: http://energy.gov/articles/department-energy-releases-its-2011-critical-materials-strategy

Image:  U.S. Department of Energy   

From NASA Tech Briefs, March 1, 2012: "Sealing materials that can be applied and left in place in vacuum over a wide range of temperatures (especially temperatures of a few thousand degrees Celsius) have been conceived and investigated for potential utility in repairing thermal-protection tiles on the space shuttles in orbit before returning to Earth. These materials are also adaptable to numerous terrestrial applications that involve vacuum processing and/or repair of structures that must withstand high temperatures. These materials can be formulated to have mechanical handling characteristics ranging from almost freely flowing liquid- like consistency through paste-like consistency to stiff putty-like consistency, and to retain these characteristics in vacuum until heated to high curing temperatures."

NASA Tech Briefs: http://www.techbriefs.com/component/content/article/13044 

Image: NREL 

"A novel material developed by researchers at the University of Cambridge is opening up new possibilities for next generation electronic and optoelectronic devices, and paving the way for further component miniaturisation.

The material, a new form of hafnium oxide, was developed by Dr Andrew Flewitt's research group in the Department of Engineering. The material provides exceptionally high dielectric constant compared with currently existing forms of hafnium oxide, which is already a key material in the electronics industry. 

In order to enable much greater control of the material properties, Dr Flewitt and his team began using a novel deposition technology to promote plasma sputtering. The technology, known as HiTUS (High Target Utilisation Sputtering), was developed by a UK-based company, Plasma Quest Ltd. One of the first materials that the Cambridge team looked at using HiTUS was hafnium oxide."  

Seventeen U.S.-based firms say they will boost spending on new plants and equipment by 14.1% this year to a combined $13.0 billion.  The increase marks a more modest uptick in capital expenditures compared with last year's hefty rise of 31.2% to $11.4 billion.  Nonetheless, this year will mark the third annual spending increase after 2009, when investment sank during the great Recession.  Eight U.S.-based firms report they will lift their research spending by 3.0% in2012 to a combined $4.4 billion.

The polarizer developed by the Rice lab of Junichiro Kono, a professor of electrical and computer engineering and of physics and astronomy, is the most effective ever reported; it selectively allows 100 percent of a terahertz wave to pass or blocks 99.9 percent of it, depending on its polarization. The research was published in the online version of the American Chemical Society journal, Nano Letters.

The broadband polarizer handles waves from 0.5 to 2.2 terahertz, far surpassing the range of commercial polarizers that consist of fragile grids wrapped in gold or tungsten wires."