14-10-2013
The salient feature of liquid crystal elastomers and networks is strong coupling between orientational order and mechanical strain. Orientational order can be changed by a wide variety of stimuli, including the presence of moisture. Changes in the orientation of constituents give rise to stresses and strains, which result in changes in sample shape. We have utilized this effect to build soft cellulose-based motor driven by humidity. To read the published article, please click:http://www.nature.com/srep/2013/130104/srep01028/full/srep01028.html Polycrystalline 10-20 nm average size Au-NPs were obtained during thermal evaporation at 250°C of a 2nm Au layer. In the near infrared region was observed an absorption enhancement of amorphous silicon films deposited onto the Au-NPs layers with a corresponding increase in the PL peak for the same wavelength region. This is important to boost the efficiency of solar cells. To read the published article, please click: http://www.nature.com/srep/2013/130403/srep01469/full/srep01469.html A clutch of crushed eggs and embryonic material ascribed to the group of dinosaurs known as megalosauroids has been discovered in the Lourinhã Formation in Portugal (Late Jurassic). The find represents the only unequivocal evidence of basal theropod embryos discovered to date, furthering our understanding of dinosaur eggshell morphology and structure, and bridging a phylogenetic gap among the theropods. To read the published article, please click: http://www.nature.com/srep/2013/130530/srep01924/full/srep01924.html
