Metals and alloys news, July 2018

Green light for polymer material that can change from hard to soft and back again

A novel polymer material can change its structure in response to light, converting from a rigid substance to a softer one that can heal itself.

Firm findings about brittle mechanisms in nickel

By examining general grain boundaries, engineers have shed new light on the mechanisms behind sulfur embrittlement of nickel.

Fredy Zypman receives the 2018 Materials Today Embracing Challenge Award

Fluorine electrolyte keeps aggressive electrodes under control

By stabilizing aggressive electrodes with a highly-fluorinated electrolyte, researchers have been able to increase the capacity of lithium-ion batteries.

Improving nuclear reactor performance is a gas

Nearly a third of the reaction products generated during fission of U235 in light-water reactors are unwanted gases.

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MOPs self-assemble into porous, gel-like materials

Researchers have developed a way to fabricate soft, porous materials via the self-assembly of metal-organic polyhedra made of rhodium atoms.

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Gold star for novel hydrogen-producing photocatalyst

Star-shaped gold nanoparticles coated with titanium dioxide can harness visible and infrared light to generate hydrogen from water.

No place to sit keeps electrons on the move in graphene

Connecting a graphene layer with two other atomic layers can extend the lifetime of excited electrons in graphene by several hundred times.

New study sheds light on hybrid improper ferroelectrics

Researchers have found that a novel hybrid improper ferroelectric possesses ferroelectric, magnetoelectric and optical properties.

Metal alloy nanowires help confirm superconducting theory

Using nanowires of a molybdenum-germanium alloy, scientists have been able to explore the transition from a superconducting to a normal metal state.

New microscopy technique reveals strengths of new alloy

A new microscopy technique can track microstructural changes in materials in real time as they are exposed to extreme heat and stress.

Twisting and bending nanoscale materials creates novel optical devices

By using an ion beam to twist and bend a nanometer-thick layer of metal, scientists have created nanodevices for manipulating light.

Scientists find way to tune magnetism in layered halide materials

Altering the composition of a layered halide material allows researchers to vary its magnetization continuously between in-plane and out-of-plane.

New sintering process produces novel ceramic composite

Researchers have used a novel cold sintering process to produce, for the first time, a composite made from a ceramic and the 2D material MXene.

Electron camera produces atomic movie of melting gold

Using a high-speed electron camera, researchers have recorded the most detailed atomic movie of gold melting after being blasted by laser light.

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