Materials news, June 2016

Advanced material keeps heat off new space telescope

A lightweight sunshield has been developed to protect the mirrors and instruments aboard the James Webb Space Telescope from solar radiation.

Joining the dots in flexible electronics

First field-effect transistor made from solution processed colloidal nanoparticles.

HardwareX: New Open Access Journal for Open Source Hardware from Elsevier

HardwareX: New Open Access Journal for Open Source Hardware from Elsevier

Catalyst makes chemical production greener

New copper nanoparticle/graphene catalyst can transform carbon dioxide into useful hydrocarbons with high temperatures and pressures.

Flat future for boron

Two-dimensional sheets of boron one atom thick have unique electronic properties.

Richard Brow announced as winner of the 2016 N.F. Mott Award

Physica E announces special issue in memory of Markus Büttiker

Journal of Nuclear Materials award winners announced

Ultra-thin solar cells bend and flex while they work

Scientists have made ultra-thin solar cells from gallium arsenide that are flexible enough to wrap around the average pencil.

Scientists develop the ‘ultimate’ nanomaterial discovery tool

Novel combinatorial libraries of nanoparticles can allow the rapid screening of millions of different nanoparticles for specific properties.

Charge density waves indicate new ways to control superconductivity

Charge density waves induced at the interfaces between layers of ferromagnetic and superconducting materials extend deeply into superconducting regions.

Latest journal Impact Factors released

Surface modelling reveals novel photocatalyst features

Researchers have discovered previously unknown features of titanium dioxide that could reveal why it is such an effective photocatalyst.

Scientists map extreme magnetoresistance similarities in different materials

Scientists have uncovered a unifying connection between seemingly unrelated materials that exhibit extreme magnetoresistance.

Supercomputer model could lead to new superconductors

Using a supercomputer, scientists have managed to produce an accurate model showing how superconductivity develops in cuprates.

Perovskite materials gain stability by branching out

By using novel branched ligands, scientists have produced perovskite nanocrystals with greatly improved stability and uniform particle size.

Spiders help create sweet music with composite violin

A violin with acoustics that can be customized is made from a novel composite material that incorporates spider's silk.

Gold nanocluster reveals secret side

Researchers have discovered that a gold nanocluster can exist in two different atomic arrangements, or polymorphs.

Ferroelectric materials can’t take the strain

When layered perovskites are stretched or compressed, their electrical polarization does not increase as expected but instead goes away completely.

New metasurface will get its time in the sun

Scientists have developed a novel tri-layer metasurface solar absorber comprising a layer of amorphous carbon sandwiched between thin gold films.

DNA design helps create novel nanomaterials

Scientists have created complex 2D and 3D structures, including a cube and a prism, made from DNA and nanoparticles.

Scientists catch ‘fishing float’ nanoparticle

Scientists have discovered a unique copper-silver nanoparticle with a structure that resembles a traditional Japanese glass fishing float.

Research, Innovation and Leadership at the Crossroads of Science, Engineering and Medicine - in honor of Professor Subra Suresh

Read about the event at IMDEA Materials Institute, Madrid, Spain, which will honor Professor Subra Suresh.

Researchers find MOF to go nuclear

Researchers have discovered a metal-organic framework that can capture xenon and krypton as part of nuclear fuel recycling.

Metal-plated polymer film is holey transparent and conductive

By electroplating a nanofiber polymer mat, scientists have produced an ultrathin film that is both transparent and highly conductive.

Osmium-based materials could harbor elusive massless particle

Neutron and X-ray studies have revealed that an elusive massless particle known as a Weyl fermion could exist in an osmium-based material.

New method for embedding nanoparticles could lead to smart glass

A method for embedding light-emitting nanoparticles into glass without losing any of their unique properties could lead to the development of smart glass.

One step closer to self-powered switchable glazing?

Windows that change transparency could be powered by photovoltaic solar cells, say Irish researchers.

Nanoparticles charge through tumors

Nanoparticles deliver anticancer drugs to tumors in the body more effectively than current medicines.

Graphene patches over diabetes treatment

Graphene-based wearable patch provides noninvasive blood glucose monitoring for diabetic patients.

Pulling advanced materials out of fibers

Scientists have unexpectedly found that pulling a multi-layered fiber causes the core material to break into many equal-sized pieces.

Caged silver clusters shine brightly

By incorporating tiny clusters of silver atoms into zeolite pores, scientists have produced a novel and efficient phosphorescent material.

Cleaning flue gas with nanotubes

A collaboration between US and Chinese researchers has investigated the use of titanate nanotubes in removing CO2 from flue gas.

Materials & Design Virtual Special Issue: "Materials and Design for Sports Technology” Call for Papers

Publishing Connect author workshop

Register for the workshop here.

New OLED design displays promise of graphene electrodes

A highly flexible OLED with excellent efficiency uses graphene as a transparent electrode between layers of titanium dioxide and a conducting polymer.

Novel aluminum alloy could boost rare earth production

New aluminum-cerium alloys are not just easy to work with and heat tolerant, but could also boost US production of rare earth elements.

Modifying polymers with a terahertz laser

Scientists have used a terahertz laser to induce permanent changes in the conformation of a polymer, giving it an increased pattern of crystallization.

Journal of Science: Advanced Materials and Devices: First issue published

Flipping and hopping produce magnetism in metallic material

The orbital movement of electrons, rather than electron spin, is the driving force behind the strong magnetism of a metallic material.

Making metal wires – no heating required

Engineers from North Carolina State University, have developed a simple route to fabricating metallic wires at room temperature

Novel nanofibers can sort themselves out

Scientists have developed two different types of nanofibers that can sort themselves into organized structures under artificial conditions.

Shrimp ‘smasher’ leads to new super-strong materials

By investigating the structure of the dactyl club used by mantis shrimp to bash prey, scientists have been able to develop new super-strong composites.

Light and heat make solid change to novel ionic liquid

A novel ionic liquid can transform into a solid polymer when exposed to light and then return to liquid form when heated.

Nature provides concrete ideas for better construction

Investigating connections between the structure and mechanical properties of bones and shells can improve the performance and longevity of concrete.

New boride material forms own protective coating

A new material comprising alternating layers of molybdenum boride and aluminum can form its own corrosion-resistant coating.

Starting the pathway to Materials Discovery

Discover the first issue of Materials Discovery.

New steel alloy is both strong and ductile

A high-entropy steel alloy that can switch between two crystal structures is both strong and ductile.