Computation and theory news, July 2019

Researchers discover new spintronics mode in 2D heterostructure

Scientists have discovered a previously unseen mode of a ferromagnetic property known as giant magneto-resistance in a 2D heterostructure.

Nanowire advance into two dimensions

Selective-area epitaxy helps nanowires into 2D for more complex devices

Automated materials knowledge extraction

Automated materials knowledge extraction

Magnetism helps provide ‘pairing glue’ in iron-based superconductor

Researchers have confirmed that magnetic fluctuations can act as an electron ‘pairing glue’ in iron-based superconductors.

Block copolymers form complex patterns when frustrated

Researchers have discovered a phenomenon that allows block copolymers to self-assemble in patterns that deviate from regular symmetrical arrays.

Researchers find first native ferroelectric metal

Researchers have uncovered the first example of a native metal with bistable and electrically switchable spontaneous polarization states.

Novel thermoelectric materials uncovered by text-mining algorithm

Researchers have shown that a text-mining algorithm with no training in materials science can accurately predict novel thermoelectric materials.

Recipients of the 2018 Acta Student Awards

Jets speed up nanomaterial fabrication

By energizing precursor molecules using a supersonic jet of inert gas, researchers have been able to accelerate the fabrication of nanomaterials.

Artificial leaf provides ideal support for adsorbing MOFs

Leaves provided the template for hierarchical porous structures of mixed-metal oxides that act as supports for metal-organic framework crystals.

Scientists tailor liquefied gas electrolytes for improved battery performance

By utilizing theory and experiment, researchers have managed to improve the performance of liquefied gas electrolytes with lithium-metal anodes.

Novel gold heterostructures could play host to exotic quantum particles

Gold heterostructures could potentially be used to demonstrate the existence and nature of quantum particles known as Majorana fermions.

New 2D superconductor proves old theory about magnetic vortices

Scientists have used a novel bismuth-based, 2D superconductor to experimentally confirm a 23-year-old theory of superconductors.

Exotic quantum states found in double-layer graphene

Researchers have demonstrated previously unknown quantum states of matter that arise in double-layer stacks of graphene.

New model goes against type to predict thermoelectric materials

Researchers have developed a model to explain the disparity in performance between the p-type and n-type forms of thermoelectric materials.

Researchers find rare tunneling in layered superconducting material

Placing a topological insulator on a thin superconducting film has revealed a novel form of electron tunneling known as Klein tunneling.

‘Defective’ 2D material turns out to be magnetic

Scientists have discovered that the 2D material platinum diselenide is magnetic, due to irregularities in the arrangement of its atoms.

New map helps guide scientists to undiscovered nitrides

Using high-throughput computational materials science, scientists have developed a chemical map to guide the exploratory synthesis of nitrides.