Materials chemistry news, September 2016

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Two wrongs make a right for novel multiferroic material

Researchers have managed to create a new room-temperature multiferroic by combining two non-multiferroic materials.

Roll-process technology for flexible electronics

Roll-process technology that transfer and packages large-scale integrated circuits

New technique can simultaneously shape and surface treat plastic parts

Researchers have developed a new way to shape and surface treat plastic components at the same time.

Common asphalt shows road to carbon capture

Scientists have developed an improved method for turning asphalt into a porous material that can capture greenhouse gases from natural gas.

New theory puts spring into polymer elasticity

The recent development of a method for measuring structural defects in polymers led to a theory for predicting their elasticity.

Cellulose and polymers help create range of novel nanorods

Using cellulose and polymers, scientists have developed a new strategy for crafting nanorods from a wide range of precursor materials.

Cage crystals point way to new fuel cell membranes

Scientists have synthesized nanometer-sized cage molecules that can be used to transport charge in proton exchange membranes.

New method allows materials to heal at sub-zero temperatures

Scientists have developed a method for allowing materials to self-heal cracks at temperatures well below freezing.

Flexible semiconductor adopts DNA’s double helix structure

Scientists have discovered an inorganic semiconductor with a double helix structure that makes it highly flexible.

New microscopy technique can write with metallic ink

For the first time, scientists have used a scanning transmission electron microscope to directly write tiny patterns in metallic ‘ink’.

Patterned amyloid nanowires could help create novel nanodevices

Scientists have developed a versatile method for patterning the structure of ‘nanowires’ made from amyloid peptides.

New fuel cell membrane not fussy about temperature

A novel polyphenyline membrane for fuel cells operates over a wide temperature range and lasts three times longer than existing membranes.

Rotating buckyballs retain heat in superatom crystals

The thermal conductivity of buckyball-containing superatom crystals is directly related to the rotational disorder within those structures.

Electron microscopy builds up structure of novel materials

Using electron microscopy, scientists have uncovered the first atomic scale evidence for strain-induced ferroelectricity in a layered oxide.

New material displays impressive optical and thermal properties

Samarium nickelate can be electrically tuned between a transparent and an opaque state over an unprecedentedly broad spectrum range.

Aquatic ferns show how to clean up oil

The hairy leaves of aquatic ferns can help to clean oil spills.

Silicon nanoparticles that can manipulate light

Silicon nanoparticles based devices that can be controlled for light manipulation.

New sandwich process creates 2D gallium nitride

By sandwiching gallium and nitrogen atoms between layers of graphene and silicon carbide, scientists have produced 2D gallium nitride.

Nanofiber scaffolds that help direct cell behavior

Spider silk offers cheap and accessible superlens

spider silk superlens improves on traditional microscopy