Crystalline materials news, February 2020

Brittle perovskites turn out to be easy to fix

Perovskite films tend to crack easily, but scientists have now found that those cracks are easily healed with some compression or a little bit of heat.

Chemistry reveals promising properties of 2D material

Researchers have uncovered a layered compound with a trio of properties, including high electronic mobility, not previously known to exist in one material.

New zeolite membrane strips water from methanol

By filtering out the water produced when carbon dioxide is converted to methanol, a novel zeolite membrane can improve the reaction efficiency.

Appealing new method for stacking complex oxide layers

Using a peel-away layer of graphene, researchers can produce freestanding ultrathin layers of complex oxides and then stack them together.

Elsevier - The Researcher Journey Through a Gender Lens

Overdoping reveals role of electron spin in high-temperature superconductivity

Researchers have discovered that spin fluctuations may bind electrons into the pairs required for high-temperature superconductivity in cuprates.

Spotting trapped hydrogen settles embrittlement debate

detecting trapped hydrogen could help design of embrittlement-resistant steels for low-carbon technologies

Fermi arcs hinge on topology of Dirac semimetals

Researchers have discovered an exotic new form of topological state in a large class of 3D semi-metallic crystals called Dirac semimetals.

Hydrogen and titanium atoms finally appear together

Using a novel transmission electron microscope technique, scientists have been able to visualize hydrogen atoms and titanium atoms in a single image.

Novel machine learning algorithm can predict crystal structures

A novel machine learning algorithm can accurately determine the crystal structure of materials by analyzing electron backscatter diffraction patterns.

‘Spectator’ molecule plays critical role in COF synthesis

A new method for synthesizing covalent organic frameworks has revealed that so-called 'spectator' molecules can form a critical part of their structure.

New doping technique puts pressure on large solar cell crystals

Researchers have developed a more efficient, safer and cost-effective way to produce large, high purity crystals of cadmium telluride for solar cells.

Template offers control over self-assembled composites

well-known organic synthesis growth technique is applied to inorganic eutectic composites to control their physical structure

Introducing the three new editors of Nuclear Materials & Energy

Blue LED shines light on limitation of halide perovskites

Scientists have discovered that the crystal structure of halide perovskites changes with temperature, humidity and the chemical environment.

New technique sees 2D material defects in the dark

A novel technique that utilizes second harmonic generation and dark field imaging can quickly and sensitively characterize defects in 2D materials.

Electrons like to mix it up in nickelate superconductors

The first detailed study into the electronic structure of superconducting nickelates has found that it differs markedly from the related cuprates.