National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center (NSRRC)

289-Million-Year-Old “Reptile Mummy” Unearthed

2026/05/192026/05/19

An international collaborative research team composed of the National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center (NSRRC), University of Toronto, Harvard University, the Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering, and Jilin University has achieved a breakthrough in vertebrate paleontology and evolutionary biology. The team successfully characterized a mummified fossil of the early Permian reptile Captorhinus, dating back approximately 289 million years. The discovery not only provides critical insights into the evolution of the respiratory system in early amniotes but also establishes a new record for the oldest known preservation of soft tissues and protein-related molecular signatures. The findings were published in Nature on April 8.

Captorhinus resembled a small lizard and predates dinosaurs by nearly 40 million years. The exceptionally preserved fossil was excavated from the Richards Spur cave system in Oklahoma, USA. Unique geological conditions at the site, including hydrocarbon-rich petroleum seepage and oxygen-poor, muddy sediments, effectively inhibited microbial decomposition, enabling the specimen to be preserved in a near-mummified state. As a result, delicate soft tissues, including skin, cartilage, and thoracic structures, were retained with extraordinary fidelity. To investigate this rare specimen, the research team integrated morphology, molecular analysis, and synchrotron-based techniques into a comprehensive multiscale study of vertebrate evolution.

Unlike amphibians, which primarily rely on cutaneous and buccal pumping for respiration, amniotes — including humans and all terrestrial vertebrates — evolved a rib-based ventilatory system capable of far more efficient oxygen exchange. This rib-driven breathing mechanism represented a major evolutionary innovation, enabling vertebrates to adapt to terrestrial environments and ultimately laying the foundation for the extensive diversification and ecological dominance of amniotes on land.

Image: Mummified fossil of the early Permian reptile Captorhinus

NSRRC Users honoured at MOE 2025 National Awards Ceremony

2026/04/022026/04/02

On March 23, the Ministry of Education (MOE) held the award ceremony for the 2025 National Chair Professorships, National Award for Distinguished Contribution to Industry-Academia Cooperation, and Academic Awards. Five NSRRC users were among the recipients.

Prof. Hsin-Lung Chen, Distinguished Chair in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Tsing Hua University (NTHU), received the National Chair Professorship in Engineering and Applied Sciences. A leading scholar in polymer physics, he has long contributed to theoretical development, textbook writing, and industry-academia collaboration. His research has been widely applied in critical materials and industrial technologies, enhancing the international impact of Taiwan’s materials research.

Prof. Bing-Joe Hwang, Chair Professor in the Department Chemical Engineering at the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, founder and director of the Sustainable Electrochemical Energy Development Center, and NSRRC board member and adjunct scientist, received the National Award for Distinguished Contribution to Industry-Academic Cooperation in Engineering. He pioneered the “anode-free lithium battery,” developed high-energy-density and high-safety technologies, and promoted high-value hydrogen electrolysis, with extensive industrial applications and patents.

Two NSRRC users were awarded the Academic Award in Mathematics and Natural Sciences. Prof. Chen-Wei Liu, Chair Professor in the Department of Chemistry at National Dong Hwa University, is an international pioneer in metal cluster chemistry. His research combines fundamental innovation with practical application, offering forwarded-looking contributions to catalysis and carbon-reduction technologies. Prof. Ying-Hao Chu, Chair Professor and Department Chair of Materials Science and Engineering at NTHU, specializes in oxide heterostructures and flexible mica-based electronic components, with highly cited work that lays a critical foundation for next-generation electronic devices. In Engineering and Applied Sciences, Prof. Chih-Huang Lai, Chair Professor and Vice Dean of the Institute of Semiconductor at NTHU, was recognized for his research in spintronics and magnetic materials, including advanced memory devices and thin-film solar technologies, as well as Taiwan’s first 12-inch MRAM production line.

Turning Non-Magnetic Materials Magnetic with Atomically Thin Films

2025/05/272025/06/24

The rules about magnetic order may need to be rewritten. Researchers have discovered that chromium selenide (Cr₂Se₃) – traditionally non-magnetic in bulk form – transforms into a magnetic material when reduced to atomically thin layers. This finding contradicts previous theoretical predictions, and opens new possibilities for spintronics applications. This could lead to faster, smaller, and more efficient electronic components for smartphones, data storage, and other essential technologies.

An international research team from Tohoku University, Université de Lorraine (Synchrotron SOLEIL), the National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center (NSRRC), High Energy Accelerator Research Organization, and National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology successfully grew two-dimensional Cr₂Se₃ thin films on graphene using molecular beam epitaxy. By systematically reducing the thickness from three layers to one layer and analyzing them with high-brightness synchrotron X-rays, the team made a surprising discovery. This finding challenges conventional theoretical predictions that two-dimensional materials cannot maintain magnetic order.

“When we first observed the ferromagnetic behavior in these ultra-thin films, we were genuinely shocked,” explains Professor Takafumi Sato (WPI-AIMR, Tohoku University), the lead researcher. “Conventional theory told us this shouldn’t happen. What’s even more fascinating is that the thinner we made the films, the stronger the magnetic properties became—completely contrary to what we expected.”

While three-dimensional Cr₂Se₃ crystals exhibit antiferromagnetism (where magnetic moments cancel each other out), the two-dimensional versions transform into ferromagnetic materials. Even more remarkably, the ferromagnetic transition temperature increases as the films become thinner.

Through micro-ARPES analysis of electronic states, researchers identified the mechanism behind this phenomenon: conduction electrons injected from the graphene substrate across the interface into Cr₂Se₃ are the decisive factor enabling high-temperature ferromagnetism in these ultra-thin films.

Image: In 1966, Mermin and Wagner theoretically predicted that while ferromagnetic order can be stabilized in three-dimensional systems, it cannot be sustained in two-dimensional isotropic systems due to thermal fluctuations (left: 3D, right: 2D).

Credit: Takafumi Sato et al.

Breakthrough in Ultra-Thin Memory Devices! Taiwan’s First 2D Ferroelectric Material Unveils a New Era

2025/05/132025/06/06

With long-term support of the National Science and Technology Council and the Ministry of Education, a research team composed of members from the National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center (NSRRC), National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), and Tamkang University published a major breakthrough in Advanced Materials on April 16, 2025. The team successfully developed a reliable method for stacking-controlled van der Waals (vdW) heteroepitaxy, demonstrating for the first time the growth of an epitaxial ferroelectric hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) ultra-thin film on graphene. This material exhibits homogeneous out-of-plane ferroelectricity that can be switched via interlayer sliding, signaling a promising advancement for next-generation high-efficiency, micro-scaled electronic devices and highlighting Taiwan’s leading role in the competitive field of 2D ferroelectric materials.

“Ferroelectricity” refers to a property in which a material exhibits spontaneous electric polarization that can be reversed by an external electric field—essentially functioning like an “electrical switch” to precisely control current flow. This characteristic makes ferroelectric materials ideal for use in memory devices, sensors, and low-power computing components. However, conventional ferroelectric materials are typically too thick, posing challenges for device miniaturization. h-BN, often referred to as “white graphene,” is a highly stable, ultra-thin 2D material with a symmetric hexagonal structure similar to graphene. Due to this symmetry, h-BN does not naturally exhibit ferroelectricity. Recent advances, however, have shown that such properties can be engineered in h-BN by manipulating its stacking arrangement or by integrating it with other 2D materials.

After years of dedicated research, a team led by Prof. Chung-Lin Wu (NCKU) achieved a breakthrough. Using plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy (PA-MBE), they first grew high-quality single-crystalline graphene on a silicon carbide (SiC) wafer, then precisely stacked h-BN layers atop it. This process resulted in an asymmetric stacking configuration of h-BN on the naturally formed Moiré-patterned graphene/SiC interface, inducing switchable out-of-plane polarization—a hallmark of ferroelectric behavior. Their technique not only overcomes a long-standing technological bottleneck but also enables wafer-scale precision control over thin-film growth with exceptional uniformity and stability.

Dr. Cheng-Maw Cheng, Head of the Scientific Research Division at NSRRC, emphasized that this achievement was made possible through close interdisciplinary collaboration across multiple universities. Using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) at the Taiwan Light Source (TLS), the team confirmed the evolution of band structure and interfacial polarization in the layer-controlled, multilayer h-BN/graphene heterostructure. Meanwhile, the theoretical simulations led by Prof. Hung-Chung Hsueh (Tamkang University) verified the electronic band properties of asymmetrically stacked multilayer h-BN. Subsequently, Prof. Yi-Chun Chen (NCKU) employedscanning probe microscopy (SPM) to confirm that the polarization states in these ultra-thin h-BN films are both stable and reversible—performance characteristics highly desirable for ferroelectric memory applications. The asymmetric stacking configuration and robust ferroelectric behavior of these h-BN films make them a promising platform for future volatile memory devices and AI hardware, particularly in high-speed, low-power matrix–vector operations. Moreover, their excellent structural compatibility with other 2D materials, such as graphene and molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂), enables the design of stacked heterostructure chips—paving the way for new breakthroughs in Taiwan’s semiconductor and optoelectronic industries.

Notably, the first author of this publication, Dr. Sheng-Shawn Wong, was awarded a Ph.D. scholarship sponsored by NSRRC. During his graduate studies, he demonstrated a strong commitment to advanced materials research and made full use of NSRRC’s multidisciplinary facilities to conduct his experiments. This publication represents one of his major research achievements and exemplifies the impact of interdisciplinary collaboration among scientists across different institutes. It also highlights the vital role of young physicists in Taiwan and their growing presence in the global scientific community.

Arsenite Accumulation and Bio-Oxidation in Thermoacidophilic Cyanidiales

2024/11/072024/11/12

Addressing geogenic and anthropogenic arsenic (As) pollution is critical for environmental health. This study explored arsenite [As(III)] removal using Cyanidiales, particularly Cyanidium caldarium (Cc) and Galdieria partita (Gp), under acidic to neutral pH, and determined As(III) detoxification mechanisms in relation to As speciation and protein secondary structure in Cyanidiales. Regarding As(III) sorption amounts, Cc outperformed Gp, reaching 83.2 mg g−1 of removal at pH 5.0. Wherein, 23.5 % of sorbed As on Cc presented as arsenate [As(V)] complexation with polysaccharides, alongside other predominant species including As(III)-cysteine (41.2 %) and As(III)-polysaccharides (35.3 %) complexes. This suggested that As(III) was directly transported into cells, rather than As(V). Coupled with the formation of As(III)-cysteine complexes within cells, these mechanisms may be key to efficiently accumulating As(III) in Cyanidiales during the 6-h incubation. These results highlight the potential of Cyanidiales for sustainable As(III) remediation and provide new insights into managing As(III) toxicity.

NSRRC 30th Anniversary of First Light

2023/10/232023/10/26

The National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center (NSRRC) commemorated the “30th Anniversary of First Light” on October 23rd. Premier Chien-Jen Chen of the Executive Yuan graced the occasion with his presence and delivered an address. He highlighted NSRRC’s steady and solid progress over the past three decades, from the “Taiwan Light Source (TLS)” to the “Taiwan Photon Source (TPS),” making it Taiwan’s largest R&D platform. Premier Chen envisions NSRRC as a key player in advancing Taiwan’s industry, academia, and research through its unique scientific and technological strengths. He underscored the imperative for NSRRC to sustain its R&D momentum, thus laying a solid foundation for Taiwan’s science and technology sector.

NSRRC hosts over 2,000 researchers annually from 20 countries, totaling 12,000 visits to utilize its exceptional synchrotron radiation capabilities for research purposes. The successful establishment of the TPS experiment facilities boosts utilization. Premier Chen emphasized the vital roles of both TLS and TPS in material development, cancer detection, biomedicine, pharmaceuticals, and achieving net-zero carbon emissions. NSRRC’s diverse contributions solidify its importance in Taiwan’s scientific and technological progress.

In addition to Premier Chen, notable guests included Deputy Minister of the National Science and Technology Council, Minn-Tsong Lin; former President of Academia Sinica, Yuan-Tsehn Lee; and esteemed Academicians Luo-Chuang Lee, Maw-Kuen Wu, Lih-Juann Chen, Chien-Te Chen, and Yu Wang. Also present were the Directors of the Taiwan Space Agency, the National Center for High-Performance Computing, and the Taiwan Instrument Research Center: Jong-Shinn Wu, Chau-Lyan Chang, and Cheng-Tang Pan, respectively. These attendees witnessed the inception, growth, and flourishing of Taiwan’s synchrotron radiation development.

Image: NSRRC 30th Anniversary address by Premier Chien-Jen Chen of the Executive Yuan

Credit: NSRRC

Groundbreaking advancements in net-zero technology

2023/09/072023/09/12

A transnational collaborative research team, comprising Jeng-Lung Chen, Assistant Scientist, Yu-Chun Chuang, Associate Scientist, and Chung-Kai Chang, Research Assistant from the National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center (NSRRC) under the purview of the National Science and Technology Council, in partnership with Dr. Lu-Ning Chen, Professor Gabor A. Somorjai, and Dr. Ji Su from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California, USA, has dedicated three years to pioneering global advancements in the field of green hydrogen production. Their groundbreaking work centers around the development of a methane pyrolysis catalyst, known as the “nickel-molybdenum-bismuth liquid alloy (NiMo-Bi),” which exhibits high hydrogen production efficiency, excellent stability, and low energy consumption. This study explored the electrostatic charge distribution on the active nickel sites in the molten state, demonstrating the NiMo-Bi liquid alloy’s capability to effectively mitigate the cage effect caused by bismuth. This mitigation facilitates the effective flow of methane to active nickel sites, resulting in efficient hydrogen generation. This outstanding discovery was published in the respected international journal Science on August 25, 2023, emerging as a pivotal driving force for advancing the transition to a net-zero future.

The U.S. research team initially integrated molybdenum into the nickel-bismuth catalyst, resulting in the creation of an innovative catalyst known as NiMo-Bi liquid alloy. Meanwhile, NSRRC scientists engineered an experimental setup tailored for in-situ high-temperature gas-phase reactions. Harnessing the capabilities of the “Quick X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy Beamline” and the “High Resolution Powder X-ray Diffraction Beamline” at the Taiwan Photon Source (TPS), the team validated the catalyst’s efficacy by significantly lowering methane pyrolysis temperatures to values as low as 450 °C. They also showed that at an elevated temperature of 800 °C, the selectivity of converting methane into hydrogen reached 100%, maintaining this optimal level for a stable period of 120 hours. This achievement marks a nearly 37-fold improvement in hydrogen production efficiency compared to previous methods. Concurrently, the optimal pyrolysis temperature was significantly reduced from 1065 degrees Celsius to 800 degrees Celsius, resulting in a significant reduction in the energy requirements of the conversion process.

Image: Quick X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy Beamline

Dr. Chia-Hung Hsu Assumes Position as NSRRC Director

2022/08/012022/09/08

Dr. Chia-Hung Hsu officially assumes the position as the NSRRC Director on August 1, 2022, for a four-year term. Chairman Minn-Tsong Lin of the NSRRC Board of Trustees (BOT) presided over the directorship handover ceremony between the outgoing Director Gwo-Huei Luo and incoming Director Hsu. The BOT started searching and selecting a new director from January, 2022. Dr. Hsu earned a unanimous decision from the BOT for her wealth of experiences in management and exemplary accomplishments in science.

Director Hsu received her PhD degree in physics from Boston University, and possesses expertise in surface science and thin film X-ray scattering. After completing her postdoctoral research at Harvard University in 1993, she joined the NSRRC and took an active role in building the first X-ray beamline in Taiwan and Taiwan beamlines at SPring-8, Japan. Beside conducting scientific research and developing experimental techniques, she also teaches at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University and National Tsing Hua University. She is highly experienced in administrative management through her previous roles as Head of Scientific Research Division, Chief Secretary, and BOT Executive Secretary at NSRRC, as well as a review panel member for physics at the National Science Council, and a council member of the Physical Society of Taiwan.

“NSRRC’s mission is to develop advanced light source technologies and to operate a science user facility that are both excellent and accessible,” said Chairman Lin. “After decades of efforts, NSRRC has empowered the nation through fruitful scientific results from fundamental, innovative and industrial research.”

Image: Dr. Chia-Hung Hsu Assumes Position as NSRRC Director

XRM2022 Hosted Virtually by NSRRC

2022/07/052022/09/13

The International Conference on X-ray Microscopy (XRM), initiated in 1980’s, has evolved into one of the biggest and the most important meetings in the field of X-ray Microscopy. At XRM2016, the National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center (NSRRC) proposed to host the XRM2020 and stood out from the competition. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, XRM2020 was cancelled and rescheduled to 2022.

To respond to the ongoing COVID-19 and to make it easy to attend, the XRM2022, held from June 19 to 24, ran in All-VIRTUAL mode. The online platforms used for facilitating this virtual event were Whova, Gather Town, and Webex. Whova was like a portal for not only social networking but also linking to all online oral presentations, which were livestreamed through Webex. Gather Town allowed participants to spend time with their communities just as easy as real life by making virtual interactions in a fully customizable spaces with other colleagues, poster presenters and exhibitors.

There were 328 participants from all over the world – 42% from Europe, 40% from Asia and Oceania, and 18% from America. In total, 99 posters were presented and 105 talks (6 plenary, 30 invited, and 69 contributed) were scheduled. The XRM2022 will publish post-conference proceedings. The next XRM conference will be hosted by MAX IV in 2024.

Preparing yourself for setbacks

2021/12/062021/12/06

Experimental time at light sources is precious. It can also be unpredictable as Ro-Ya Liu, a Beamline Scientist at NSRRC in Taiwan, discovered during her first synchrotron experiment at the Photon Factory in Japan. As setbacks go it was a pretty dramatic one, as you’ll discover in this #LightSourceSelfie. Quinn Carvalho, a PhD student at Oregon State University and a user at the Advanced Light Source (ALS) in California, advises light sources users to, “Go into anything with a healthy mentality of optimism, but a realistic sense of what will go wrong. Things will go wrong and you will have to overcome those, so being able to face failure and embrace it and learn from it is much more valuable than fearing it, I think.”

Life in synchrotron radiation research

2021/12/012021/12/02

Including the day an earthquake interrupted my beam time!

Today’s #LightSourceSelfie is brought to you by Ro-Ya Liu, Assistant Research Scientist at NSRRC, operators of the Taiwan Light Source and the Taiwan Photon Source. Ro-Ya’s research area is focused on probing the electronic structure of novel materials by using angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy. She was inspired by her Master’s supervisor whose eyes shone as he presented his new data on the quantum well state of ultra-high silver thin film. Ro-Ya wanted to experience this spark and purpose in life. After a shaky first experiment (literally shaky due to an Earthquake!), Ro-Ya has done just that during a career that has already involved working at the Taiwan Light Source, the Photon Factory, Spring 8, HiSOR, Elettra, the Advanced Light Source and Diamond Light Source. Ro-Ya is still learning from colleagues including beamline engineers and users coming to conduct experiments at the Taiwan Light Source. Their deep knowledge helps Ro-Ya in her beamline manager role. She is looking to dig deep to acquire this knowledge and continue to find great purpose in her life in synchrotron radiation research.

NSRRC Outstanding Paper Award established to recognize distinguished research teams

2021/11/242022/09/13

The award ceremony for the 1^st NSRRC Outstanding Paper Award was held on November 24, 2021. The research team led by Prof. Hao Ming Chen from National Taiwan University has earned unanimous recognition from the panel of experts and was awarded a trophy and a prize of TWD 300,000. At the ceremony, Dr. Chun-Jung Chen, the NSRRC Deputy Director, endorsed the team’s contribution and breakthroughs for the scientific innovations resulting from using NSRRC light sources.

The former NSRRC Director, Academician Chien-Ten Chen, received the Presidential Science Prize in 2017. He donated the prize, including the trophy and the award money, to the NSRRC, for the purpose of encouraging and rewarding international and domestic research teams to spur significant scientific innovations by using NSRRC synchrotron facilities.

Academician Chen is a renowned physicist who has dedicated himself to exploring science and building avant-garde instruments. He continues to excel in inventing high-resolution spectrometers, as well as developing soft X-ray experimental techniques and applications. Thanks to the full support from the Ministry of Science and Technology, Academician Chen was able to lead the whole NSRRC team to accomplish the construction of the Taiwan Photon Source, the most cutting-edge and the largest experimental facilities ever built in Taiwan. The team’s efforts have not only enhanced Taiwan’s international academic status and the competitiveness of scientific research, but will also facilitate science and technology that makes a positive impact on improving human life and well-being.

NSRRC, entrusted with the mission of succeeding Academician Chen’s pursuit for the ultimate of science, installed the solar panels at the current site, and also established the NSRRC Outstanding Paper Award in 2021. To supplement the wonderful donation from Academician Chen, the NSRRC will continue to fund the prize with the revenue from the solar panels. This award presented by Academician Chen will motivate and inspire more research teams to uncover the truth in the universe and solve the global challenges using synchrotron radiation.

This year’s recipient, Prof. Hao Ming Chen’s team was recognized for their research on the development of in-situ techniques for chemical reactions, which was granted long-term support by the Ministry of Science and Technology. In particular, they reported that an iron catalyst with activity equaling or exceeding that of the precious metals by measurements of synchrotron techniques. The stabilization of dispersed single iron ions in the +3 oxidation state was shown to be key. Their findings on this novel catalyst were unprecedented and could significantly reduce the cost of catalysts. The research results were published in the world’s leading journal, Science, in 2019.

Possible detection of hydrazine on Saturn’s moon Rhea

2021/06/012021/07/07

We present the first analysis of far-ultraviolet reflectance spectra of regions on Rhea’s leading and trailing hemispheres collected by the Cassini Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph during targeted flybys. In particular, we aim to explain the unidentified broad absorption feature centred near 184 nm. We have used laboratory measurements of the UV spectroscopy of a set of candidate molecules and found a good fit to Rhea’s spectra with both hydrazine monohydrate and several chlorine-containing molecules. Given the radiation-dominated chemistry on the surface of icy satellites embedded within their planets’ magnetospheres, hydrazine monohydrate is argued to be the most plausible candidate for explaining the absorption feature at 184 nm. Hydrazine was also used as a propellant in Cassini’s thrusters, but the thrusters were not used during icy satellite flybys and thus the signal is believed to not arise from spacecraft fuel. We discuss how hydrazine monohydrate may be chemically produced on icy surfaces.

New insights into bioinspired optical crystal materials

2021/01/122021/02/25

A collaborative research team, led by NSRRC scientist Dr. Wei-Tsung Chuang and user Prof. Yeo-Wan Chiang in Materials and Optoelectronic Science at National Sun Yat-Sen University, used TLS 23A1 and TLS 01C2 of the NSRRC to conduct research on bioinspired artificial optical crystal materials. Their latest findings were published in Journal of Materials Chemistry C and were highlighted with an illustration on the inside front cover of the issue.

Helical nanostructures are fascinating subjects in physical, chemical and biological fields, but the fabrication of three-dimensional helical structural templates of metamaterials at submicron scale is still a tricky issue. Their structures are too large to be made by molecular synthesis, and also too time-consuming to process by top-down approaches. On the other hand, the bottom-up strategy offered by self-assembly block copolymers requires synthesis of ultrahigh molecular weight with monodispersion in chiral blocks, and the control of twisting power of helices is a big challenge.

Image: The research of Dr. Wei-Tsung Chuang and Prof. Yeo-Wan Chiang on bioinspired optical crystal materials using Taiwan Light Source was selected as a cover image of Journal of Materials Chemistry C.

NSRRC users and scientists develop novel materials for high-rate vehicle batteries

2020/10/162020/11/01

An international team coordinated by the user of National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center (NSRRC), Professor Cheng-Hao Chuang from the Tamkang University, has developed novel materials for high-rate lithium (Li) ion batteries that can be charged in minutes. Prof. Chuang discovered that the use of black phosphorus (BP) as the active anode for high-capacity Li storage could realize ultra-fast and convenient charging for e-mobility. It takes less than two minutes to recharge the battery for an incredible energy storage with a driving range of 560 kilometers, surpassing gasoline-powered cars’ long-standing advantages of quick-refueling and long driving ranges. The outstanding research result was published in the world’s top journal Science on October 9th, 2020.

Image: Schematic of BP-graphite particles/polyaniline. Credit: NSRRC

Synthetic fibre triumphs steel

2020/10/062020/10/07

Industrial high-strength fibre has been extensively used in daily lives. In addition to the well-known carbon fibre, “aramid fibre” has become the most comprehensive application and the largest production for the high-strength, flame retardant, and corrosion resistant fibre. Thus strong fibre is considered irreplaceable in fields such as national defense, aerospace, automotive, and energy materials. For flourishing market demand, an annual output of aramid fibre is nearly 100K tons in the word. Only several countries, including the US, Japan, Russia, and South Korean, however, are capable of mass production. Among them, the US and Japan occupy 90% market share.

Developing by DuPont company, “Kevlar” is an aramid fibre with currently the world’s leading high-strength fibre. Their strength is 5 times stronger than steel, with merely 1/5 the density of steel. In fact, the light-weight bullet proof clothing is mostly made by Kevlar.

Image: Customized “mini wet-spinning machine”. Credit NSRRC