Crystalline materials news

New way to probe quantum properties of perovskite materials

Using novel analytical techniques, scientists have been able to study the behavior of excitons trapped in quantum wells made of perovskite compounds.

Elsevier 3D Printing Grand Challenge winners announced

Isolated nanowires improve heat-to-electricity conversion

Atomically thin nanowires improve efficiency of conversion of heat to electricity.

Nanowires can make highly effective thermoelectric materials

Scientists have found that the most effective thermoelectric materials can be realized by shaping substances such as tin telluride into 1D nanowires.

Protein guides creation of synthetic enamel material

Researchers have developed a new way to grow mineralized materials that could regenerate hard tissues such as dental enamel and bone.

Facial-recognition technology identifies material features

Scientists have trained a neural network to recognize features in a material's x-ray absorption spectrum that are sensitive to the arrangement of atoms.

Water layers play unexpected role in novel energy storage material

Atomic force microscopy has revealed the role of atomically thin layers of water in an energy storage material called crystalline tungsten oxide dihydrate.

Doping leads to good vibrations

Doping a crystal with a small amount of a different element offers a way to alter the speed and frequencies of natural vibrations known as phonons.

New imaging technique spots defects in quantum dots

Using a novel X-ray scattering technique, researchers have uncovered previously unknown defects in tiny electronic devices called quantum dots.

Experiment and computation combine for 2D protein crystal

A combination of experiment and computation helped to create a 2D protein crystal that toggles between states of varying porosity and density.

Inorganic semiconductors more flexible in the dark

Scientists have discovered that crystals of the semiconductor zinc sulfide are brittle when exposed to light but flexible when kept in the dark.

Thinning down for enhanced magnetic properties

A novel iron-based alloy has promising magnetic properties for spintronics applications, provided it’s created in layers less than 200nm thick.

Diamond sensor probes secrets of superconductivity

A new type of optical magnetometer, the NV magnetoscope, can map a unique feature of superconductive materials known as the Meissner effect.

Acta Journals’ Outstanding Reviewers in 2017

The Acta Journals are delighted to announce the recipients of the 2018 Outstanding Reviewer awards for excellence in reviewing in 2017.

Zirconium nanoribbons wrap up high current densities

Engineers have discovered that zirconium tritelluride nanoribbons can carry a current density 50 times greater than conventional copper interconnects.

New algorithm speeds up search for novel exotic materials

A new algorithm for predicting exotic materials helped to reduce the time needed to develop a thermoelectric material from 15 years to 15 months.

Frustrating material may lead to quantum spin liquid

By enforcing a phenomenon called ‘magnetic frustration’, a new osmium-based material could house a quantum spin liquid for use in quantum computing.

Pomegranate-like catalyst promises hydrogen evolution