Materials Science news, September 2021

New model goes to the edge to predict alloy strength

Researchers have developed a theoretical model that can rapidly determine the strength of high-entropy alloys at high temperatures.

31st ICDCM 2021 Early Career Research Award Winner Announced

The 31st ICDCM 2021 Young Scholar Award Winners Announced

NSF funds take 2D materials research center to next phase

Center for Atomically Thin Multifunctional Coatings, operated by Penn State and Rice Universities, secures $1.5 million in Phase II funding from NSF

Cell-penetrating nanomaterial disrupts cancer cells

shape-changing nanomaterial kills non-small cell lung cancer cells and improves the efficacy of anticancer drug cisplatin

Researchers unexpectedly discover 2D superionic conductor

While searching for novel superconductors, researchers unexpectedly discovered a 2D material with an unusually high ionic conductivity.

Oils out of equilibrium produce square droplets

Subjecting combinations of oils with different conductivities to an electric field causes them to adopt unusual shapes and patterns, like square droplets.

Researchers go back to the future with chromium oxides

Using ultrafast laser pulses, researchers were able to observe subtle transitions between the insulating and conducting properties of chromium oxides.

Strain puts twist on emission of light by 2D semiconductor

By applying strain to a monolayer semiconductor, researchers managed to produce chiral valley-polarized light at room temperature.

New synthetic gel creates replica pancreatic tissue

Using a novel gel, engineers can grow tiny replicas of the pancreas called pancreatic organoids, using either healthy or cancerous pancreatic cells.

Precision 2D patterns could lead to next-generation electronics

Researchers have developed a novel etching process for fabricating features and patterns on 2D materials like graphene at near atomic resolution.

Molecular descriptor reveals best material combinations for redox flow battery

Researchers have discovered a universal descriptor for indicating which electrolytes are best paired with organic actives in redox flow batteries.

Metals come together to convert carbon dioxide to ethanol

When cesium, copper and zinc oxide are brought together in a certain configuration they can catalyze the conversion of carbon dioxide to ethanol.

Silicon crystals reveal secrets of the universe

A study that revealed previously unrecognized properties of silicon crystals also uncovered new information about neutrons and a fifth force of nature.

Doping reveals neighborly attraction in cuprate superconductors

By synthesizing the first 1D cuprate that can be doped, scientists have uncovered an unexpectedly strong nearest-neighbor attraction between electrons.

Applied Materials Today Welcomes New Editor

Applied Materials Today Welcomes New Editor

Electrons flow like water in novel superconductor

A strong interaction between electrons and phonons in a novel superconductor causes the electrons to flow like water in a pipe.

Researchers drink to novel ion-separating membrane

Inspired by cell membranes, novel polymer membranes can separate fluoride from chloride and other ions with twice the selectivity of other methods.

Improved carbon membranes offer cheaper petrochemical production

Researchers have improved their carbon membranes for isolating para-xylene and shown how changes to its structure can greatly increase productivity.

MOFs help to protect perovskite LEDs

Researchers have enhanced the brightness and stability of light-emitting perovskite nanocrystals by encapsulating them in metal-organic frameworks.

Nanomaterials self-assemble to monitor chemical reactions

By combining quantum dots and gold nanoparticles with molecular glue, researchers have created a tiny camera for observing chemical reactions.

Electrons caught behaving unexpectedly in iron-based superconductor

Using a novel microscopy technique, researchers have discovered an unexpected arrangement of electrons in an iron-based superconductor.

Commercial silica nanocages make noble effort to trap gases

Researchers have discovered how to get cheap commercial silica nanocages to trap noble gases like argon, krypton and xenon.

Researchers make exciting spin discovery in 2D magnet

Researchers used neutron time-of-flight spectrometry to probe the magnetic properties of a stack of two sheets of 2D chromium triiodide.

New catalyst employs single atoms for splitting water

By anchoring individual iridium atoms to a surface, scientists have produced a highly effective catalyst for splitting water to generate oxygen.

New material generates electricity from movement even when wet

By encasing a liquid metal alloy in a hydrogel, researchers have produced a material that can convert movement into electricity when dry or wet.

Transistors probe electric double layer effect in solid electrolytes

Researchers have used field-effect transistors with diamond channels to investigate the electric double layer effect in solid electrolytes.

Silver terraces play host to 'impossible' double-layer borophene

By utilizing silver terraces as a substrate, engineers have, for the first time, managed to create a double layer of atomically flat borophene.

Molecules make space for sodium ions in graphite anode

By inserting molecular spacers between the layers in a graphite anode, researchers have created sufficient space for sodium ions.

Novel carbon material helps bring chlorine into rechargeable batteries

A novel rechargeable battery that uses sodium-chlorine chemistry can store up to six times more charge than current batteries.

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Researchers strain to produce light from 2D semiconductor

By applying mechanical strain to a 2D semiconductor, researchers were able to get it to emit light, rather than heat, with near 100% efficiency.

Carbon nanotube threads produce heart-monitoring shirts

By developing conducting carbon nanotube threads, researchers have been able to product shirts that can monitor the hearts of wearers.

New topological finding hinges on high-quality crystals

By producing large, high-quality bismuth iodide crystals, researchers have shown these crystals can act as two different types of topological insulator.

Bamboo inspires faster battery recharging

Properties of bamboo inspire more efficient battery electrodes

Materials Today ‘Materials in Society’ Lecture 2021 - Paula E. Colavita

"Carbon-based materials for electrocatalysis: tailored functionalities towards activity and selectivity"

New model catalyzes prediction of electronic structures

Researchers have developed a model for predicting how the compositions of catalytic metal alloys and oxides affect their electronic structures.

Lignin produces 'glow in the dark' threads

By crosslinking lignin from wood within a 3D polymer network, researchers have produced a new sustainable phosphorescent material.

Bio-based nanofibers promise versatile aerogels

Lightweight multifunctional alternatives made from natural resources could mitigate waste problems associated with non-biodegradable materials

Twisting graphene creates space for electron movement

Researchers have found that twisting the layers of bilayer graphene influences the movement of electrons by altering the spacing between the layers.

Perovskites and silicon can work in tandem to break records

By pairing metal halide perovskites with conventional silicon, researchers have produced a solar cell with a record-breaking efficiency of almost 30%.

The effects of microplastics on cell membranes exposed

Microplastics shown to stress cell membranes through physical processes

Ferroelectric layer solves ion problem in perovskite transistors

By utilizing a ferroelectric layer to overcome the ion problem, researchers have managed to create transistors made from metal-halide perovskites.