Oak Ridge Today

UT-ORNL breakthrough aims to improve tech gadgets, TVs

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Ramki-Kalyanaraman

Ramki Kalyanaraman

Whether at home, work, or play, touchscreen devices have quickly become one of the hallmarks of the modern world.

Phones, tablets, computers, and even televisions use the technology, which relies on substances known as transparent conductive films. All but a small fraction of those films are made from a particular class of oxides that, although they do the job very effectively, contain rare and costly elements.

Now, thanks to a breakthrough led by the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, that problem could soon be in the past.

“The electronics industry relies heavily on the use of Indium metal for the many situations requiring the right balance of transparency and current carrying ability,” said UT Professor Ramki Kalyanaraman. “While Indium is scarce, our new material contains elements that are far more abundant such as iron, terbium, and dysprosium.” [Read more…]

Thinner, flexible tablets, TVs possible through UT research, visiting ORNL scientist

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David Mandrus, Stephen Pennycook, and Jiaqing Yen

David Mandrus, Stephen Pennycook, and Jiaqiang Yan, from left, recently helped in a Vanderbilt-led project that could result in paper-thin, flexible tablets and TVs. (Photo courtesy University of Tennessee)

KNOXVILLE—Researchers from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville recently garnered national attention for their part in a study that could lead to the development of tablets, televisions, and mobile devices the width of a piece of paper.

First published in Nature, the article details how researchers have been able to create wires only three atoms wide using an electron beam.

The lead researcher on the project was Vanderbilt Ph.D. student Junhao Lin, who was a visiting scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory at the time.

Through the ORNL connection, UT’s Stephen Pennycook, David Mandrus, and Jiaqiang Yan—all of the College of Engineering’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering—got involved. [Read more…]

Spotlight: Oak Ridge Public Library art show for February

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Robert Forbes Art Show at Oak Ridge Public Library

Photographer Robert Forbes and his banner, “Mystical River.” (Photo courtesy Oak Ridge Public Library)

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The art display at Oak Ridge Public Library for February is a collection of exciting nature compositions photographed by Robert Forbes.

Forbes grew up in the flatlands of the Midwest, but after following his family to East Tennessee in April 2001, he found inspiration in the river rapids and the majestic beauty of East Tennessee’s landscape. Before moving to the Oak Ridge area, Forbes lived just outside the entrance to Cherokee National Forest and also resided on the scenic Cherohala Skyway. These locations spurred him to create and paint with a passion.

John Muir once said, “The clearest way into the universe is through a forest wilderness,” a sentiment that resonates with Forbes. He takes day trips into the mountains almost every weekend and photographs hundreds of scenes each time. [Read more…]