Characterization news

New battery study brings lithium islands back from the dead

Researchers have discovered a way to mobilize isolated islands of metallic lithium in a battery and get them to reconnect with the anode.

Semiconductor particles possess facets of 2D materials

Researchers have discovered that the junctures at the facet edges of 3D semiconductor particles have 2D electronic properties.

Distortion leads to more stable perovskite crystals

Researchers have developed a method for stabilizing a specific perovskite material in solar cells, without compromising its near-perfect performance.

Mapping the material genome with megalibraries and AI

By applying machine learning to the data in their own megalibraries, researchers have successfully guided the synthesis of new nanomaterials.

Nitrogen atoms stabilize zigzag edges of graphene nanoribbons

Researchers have developed a method to stabilize the zigzag edges of graphene nanoribbons and directly measure their magnetic properties.

Electron transport printed to order in 2D materials

Researchers have discovered how electronic charge is transported in several inkjet-printed films of 2D materials.

Nanoscale double helices have interesting magnetic textures

Using 3D printing, researchers have created magnetic double helices that can produce nanoscale topological textures in the magnetic field.

Composite Structures Board Member Prof. Leng Jinsong elected Academician of the Chinese Academy of Science

2021 Materials Today Innovation Award Winner

New scheme for creating a stable artificial photosynthesis device

Using a design known as a Z scheme, researchers have developed a new artificial photosynthesis device with remarkable stability and longevity.

Lighting the way to flexible electronics

Researchers have created a polymer-based photodetector that can be stretched by up to 200% without significantly losing its conductivity.

Electron surfers catch spin waves on graphene

Researchers have developed a new way to probe the properties of spin waves in graphene, by measuring the energy needed to flip electron spins.

Friction of fuzzy nanoparticles creates tough materials

Researchers have discovered that silica nanoparticles coated in polymer chains that are not too short or too long can produce extremely tough films.

Restructured catalysts prove better at splitting water

By studying the restructuring of water-splitting catalysts, researchers have been able to manipulate their surfaces to greatly increase their efficiency.

Low temperature milling makes hBN active

Hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) can be made ‘active’ by ball milling at extremely low temperatures

Carbon-fiber vitrimer composites reverse fatigue

carbon-fiber reinforced polymer composite based on vitrimeric polymer matrix that can reverse fatigue damage

Short pitch could lead to fast switch for new liquid crystal

Researchers have discovered that a novel liquid crystalline cholesteric compound has the shortest known pitch.

New technique places boundary on thermal behavior of polycrystals

Researchers have used electron energy loss spectroscopy to investigate the effect of heating on the grain boundaries of a polycrystal in nanoscale detail.