Computation and theory news

New design rules allow ribosomes to create advanced materials

Researchers have formulated design rules that guide how ribosomes can incorporate new kinds of monomers to produce synthetic polymers.

Two phases and four wells found in single crystal

Scientists have discovered two co-existing phases in a layered, copper-containing crystal that are connected through a quadruple energy well.

Storing renewable energy even when there is no sun or wind

New class of polymers brings cheaper grid batteries

Cooper pairs responsible for superconductor acting like a regular metal

The electron pairs responsible for the abilities of superconductors can also conduct electricity with some amount of resistance, like metals do.

Bending not so simple for multilayer graphene

Scientists have found that multilayer graphene is stiff when bent a little, but becomes much softer when bent a lot, as the layers slide past each other.

Theoretical nanotube structure inspires super-hard polymer material

A lightweight polymer material full of holes, inspired by theoretical nanotube structures called tubulanes, is nearly as hard as diamond.

Open Call - Materials Today Chemistry: Special Issue on FINAEC (Functional Interfaces based Nanomaterials for Applications in Environment and Chemistry)

Solvent dance leads to crystal growth

Using computer-based simulations of atoms and molecules in solution, scientists have identified a general mechanism governing crystal growth.

Deadline Extended for the 2020 Robert Cahn Award

Why do some crystals shrink when they’re heated?

By analyzing the atomic structure of scandium fluoride, scientists have discovered why certain crystalline materials shrink when they're heated.

New technique provides unprecedented insight into crystallization

Using computer modeling and a novel imaging technique, scientists have been able to study the self-assembly of crystalline materials at a high resolution.

Graphene resists stresses and strains with kirigami

Applying kirigami, the Japanese art of cutting and folding, to graphene can make it more strain tolerant and adaptable to movement.

Understanding thermionic emission in graphene

Improving on Dirac cone approximation in graphene thermionic emission

Navigational aids provide geometrical explanation for polymer spindles

Navigational tools from the 16th century have helped researchers understand how polymer spheres can be transformed into twisted spindles.

Rediscovered material has superconductivity useful for quantum computing

Material with unconventional behavior affected by strong magnetic fields

Novel approach lets scientists draw superconducting patterns

Scientists have produced a heavy fermion material with superconducting regions coexisting alongside regions in a normal metallic state.

Graph theory provides transformative discovery about zeolites

A novel mathematical approach based on graph theory can predict which pairs of zeolite types can be transformed from one to the other.

Better understanding of defect interaction could lead to better alloys

Engineers have identified two aspects of the interaction between a metal and its alloying material that can predict how a particular alloy will behave.