In-depth articles written by our editorial team focusing on the latest developments in materials science and technology
The study of olive oil's physical and chemical characteristics is carried out in labs with chemicals, which is expensive and time-consuming. Near-infrared spectroscopy stands out among the different options for measuring olive oil quality characteristics.
By Akhlaqul Karomah
11 May 2022
As long as the X-ray source can generate sufficiently high energy photons to excite or ionize the core electrons in an element of interest, X-ray fluorescence can be used to measure any element. This is advantageous for robotics applications in mining and geology, where it may be desirable for the robot to detect the presence of previously unexpected elements.
By Rebecca Ingle, Ph.D
29 Apr 2022
Camera sensors are light-sensitive detectors that convert the incident photons into an electrical signal that can be read out by a digital device. Most cameras make use of 2D array detectors and choosing the right sensor type for a given application is often a trade-off between cost, desired final image resolution and the necessary read-out speed.
By Rebecca Ingle, Ph.D
29 Apr 2022
Cryo-EM is a significant development in biological imaging and relies on flash-freezing a sample for imaging, rather than requiring high-quality crystalline samples that can be challenging to grow.
By Rebecca Ingle, Ph.D
29 Apr 2022
The development and use of advanced coating technologies have ensured many technological breakthroughs. While the end application of the optical thin films can vary, the need for precise control over their thickness and optical properties remains consistent regardless of their use.
By Cvetelin Vasilev
29 Apr 2022
Compatibility with a diverse range of material types has made atomic force microscopy a very popular technique in materials science. Recently, atomic force microscopy has become increasingly popular for geological characterization applications.
By Rebecca Ingle, Ph.D
28 Apr 2022
The addition of spectroscopy to machine vision systems makes them even more effective. While a combination of machine learning analysis and visible light cameras can be used to inspect defects or check size tolerances in a manufacturing process, spectroscopic methods provide new dimensions of information for quality control and product performance assessment.
By Rebecca Ingle, Ph.D
28 Apr 2022
In a Raman spectroscopy experiment, a sample is irradiated with a given wavelength of light and the intensity and energy of the inelastically scattered radiation are measured. The energy difference between the incident radiation and scattered radiation gives information about the energy levels in the system.
By Rebecca Ingle, Ph.D
28 Apr 2022
Thermal imaging technology has dramatically reduced in cost since the mid-2000s, enabling its use in a wide variety of settings. A critical area that cheaper thermal imaging has impacted is wildlife conservation. Here, it can enable wide-reaching, impactful surveys and ongoing, passive monitoring at a fraction of the cost of other methods.
By Ben Pilkington
27 Apr 2022
Most industrial manufacturing processes depend on accurately knowing product particle sizes for quality control. Particle size analysis images and characterizes the shape and size of particles in materials. Manufacturing industries conduct particle analysis to ensure that the products meet the standards required to maintain product quality and consistency.
By Ilamaran Sivarajah
27 Apr 2022