Materials chemistry news, April 2016

Energy storage materials benefit from a dash of salt

Salt crystals can act as a template for the growth of thin sheets of conductive metal oxides that are highly effective at storing energy.

Gel-encased nanowires could produce long-lived batteries

Scientists have invented a metal nanowire-based battery material that can be recharged hundreds of thousands of times.

Scientists create contradictory polar metal

Using a new synthesis approach, scientists have developed a polar metal that possesses both insulating and conducting properties.

New way to exfoliate phosphorene is no flake

Scientists have developed a quick and efficient method for exfoliating atomically-thin flakes of phosphorene from black phosphorous.

Improving electron transport in organic semiconductors

Plenary Speakers announced for the Fifth International Conference on Multifunctional, Hybrid and Nanomaterials in 2017

View details about the Fifth International Conference on Multifunctional, Hybrid and Nanomaterials, taking place in March 2017.

2015 Acta Journals’ Outstanding Reviewers

Pressurizing solar cells into improving

perovskite solar cells improved by squeezing the material between diamonds

Welcome to three new Editors of Materials Science and Engineering R: Thomas Anthopoulos, Surya Mallapragada and Bradley D. Olsen

Thin films through vacuum filtration

Using vacuum filtration to produce controllable carbon nanotubes films.

A splash of neutrons towards quantum computing

scattering neutrons in a 2D solid state material

3D printing of solid and liquid robots

3D printing of robots from both solids and liquids for the first time.

Lithium-ion batteries take the heat with novel electrolyte

A combined electrolyte and separator containing hexagonal boron nitride can allow lithium-ion batteries to work at high temperatures.

Super-hydrophobic materials require standardized tests, say researchers

Finnish researchers are calling for consistent and standardized testing of super-hydrophobic materials.

Scientists throw light on graphene-based molecular switches

By combining graphene with molecules capable of altering their structure on exposure to light, scientists have created light-responsive molecular switches.

New steel alloy makes a big impact

A new type of amorphous steel alloy possesses a record-breaking ability to withstand an impact without deforming permanently.

Wrinkling and crumpling graphene to good effect

Wrinkled and crumpled graphene sheets offer improved properties.

Nanotubes pack themselves in to form aligned films

Scientists have developed a simple filtration process for creating flexible, wafer-scale films of highly aligned and closely-packed carbon nanotubes.

New solid battery electrolyte crushes competition

Scientists have improved the performance of a solid battery electrolyte through chemical modification and pulverization.

Thin film materials go beyond silicon

Rediscovered synthesis methods for transition metal dichalcogenides could enable future optical, electronic, and mechanical devices.

Space is the place for new paper-like battery electrode

A new paper-like battery electrode made from silicon oxycarbide glass and graphene is able to operate at the low temperatures found in space.

Using sunshine to wash your clothes

Exposure to light helps fabrics with embedded nanostructures to clean themselves.

Renewable and improved thermoplastics

New moldable thermoplastic polymer leads to renewable thermoplastics.