Electronic properties news, March 2020

New model reveals graphene’s twisted state

A novel analytical model can identify how twisted graphene sheets behave and determine their stability at different sizes and temperatures.

Carbon nanotubes get into the groove

Researchers have found that small grooves in filter paper can cause single-walled carbon nanotubes to line up side-by-side in 2D films.

MXene enters the big time with new production process

Researchers have designed a system that can produce large quantities of the 2D material known as MXene while preserving its unique properties.

New approach to GaN nanowire growth for cheaper LEDs

Producing single crystalline GaN nanowire growth based on an amorphous substrate

Metallic glass-based materials in wearable energy storage devices

Wearable all-solid-state supercapacitors with excellent performance

Boron takes the strain out of Li-ion battery electrodes

Ni-rich cathodes used in EV Li-ion batteries show improved performance stability when doped with boron

More active sites for better hydrogen evolution

flakes of material decorated with tiny particles could prove useful for catalyzing hydrogen generation reactions

Making two-dimensional metals the easy way

easy way to make large, freestanding, thin sheets of metallic materials could open up novel applications in catalysis, flexible electronics, soft robotics

Self-powered micromachines could detect explosives

Nanosensors powered by a stream of bubbles can seek out explosives and related hazards in only a few minutes

Knitted devices power up wearable electronics

3D supercapacitors knitted from cotton or nylon yarn coated with a novel conductive material could power smart textiles

Remote battery charging using hydrogels

Hydrogel can ultrasonically charge bioelectronic implants

Counting gamma rays with perovskites

Polymers take charge to produce conductive ink

By combining two different polymers, researchers have managed to produce an ink that does not require any doping to conduct electricity.

Moiré superlattice turns graphene magnetic

Scientists have developed a graphene device that can display three distinct properties: superconducting, insulating and magnetic.

Scientists take steps to grow large-scale sheets of 2D insulator

Using copper as a substrate, scientists have successfully grown atom-thick sheets of hexagonal boron nitride as two-inch diameter crystals.

Underwater glue unstuck with electric jolt

Researchers have shown that the adhesion of a catechol-containing glue that works underwater can be turned off with an electrical current.

Professor’s work gave her a window into gender inequity, so she took action

Prof. Barbara Rothen-Rutishauser is using an Agents of Change grant to empower women in academia

New crystalline material displays both ferroelectricity and chirality

Researchers have synthesized a crystalline material with two properties previously unseen in a single material: ferroelectricity and chirality.

Nanoparticle catalysts promise artificial photosynthesis

new nanoparticle catalyst could drive artificial photosynthesis to provide clean energy while removing anthropogenic CO2 from the atmosphere

Polarized light can give a hand to 2D material

Researchers have used circularly polarized mid-infrared light to control and enhance the chirality of electron distribution in a 2D material.

Scientists predict brand new type of superconductor

Scientists believe there may be a way to make a single material that can conduct both electricity and energy with 100% efficiency.

Magnetically controlled neural implant

Magnetically controlled neural implant

Simple metal films give fuel cells a boost

thin nanostructured films of gold and nickel boost performance of direct methanol fuel cells