Materials news, April 2020

Scientists find the beat in halide perovskites

Using rapid, powerful bursts of light, scientists have uncovered evidence of Rashba effects in bulk organometallic halide perovskites.

Weyl fermions point the way to advanced computer memory

Researchers have found that they can switch Weyl points between two different states in a novel antiferromagnetic manganese-tin alloy.

White graphene stretches to achieve record-breaking color change

By stretching hexagonal boron nitride, scientists have obtained the largest spectral color-tuning range from an atomically thin quantum system.

Strain forces piezoelectric material to bulk up

Researchers have created a self-adapting material that can change its stiffness in response to an applied force by incorporating minerals.

Sustainable energy at higher temperatures

Capturing carbon using calcium oxide

Carbon nanotubes can identify stressed plants

Researchers have developed a carbon nanotube-based sensor that can track how plants respond to stresses such as injury, infection and light damage.

New study finds the boundaries of perovskite traps

The traps that capture charge carriers in perovskite crystals occur at the boundaries between distorted grains and pristine grains.

Calculating superconductors

Neural networks search the periodic table for superconductors

Light-emitting hybrid promises erasable data storage

data can be written and erased in novel light-emitting hybrid combining bioimaging organic dyes and luminescent solid-state metal clusters

Copper-based material pressurized into maintaining its skyrmions

Researchers have uncovered a new material able maintain its skyrmion properties at room temperature when exposed to high pressures.

Carbon nanotubes could create polymer composite for unmanned vehicles

Researchers have discovered that polymers filled with carbon nanotubes could improve how unmanned military vehicles dissipate energy.

Plate-based carbon nanolattice proves stronger than diamond

Using 3D laser printing, researchers have fabricated plate-based carbon nanolattices that are stronger than diamond.

Magnetic finding about extra-terrestrial crystal proves electric

The transition of iron sulfide into a magnet can produce changes in its crystalline structure that cause it to switch from a conductor to an insulator.

Silica nanoparticles for cancer therapy

Zinc-loaded particles might have the potential to fight breast cancer

Nanofibers split up in the body to deliver drugs

biocompatible drug-carrying nanofiber that splits into tiny nanoparticles once inside the body could offer a new strategy for anticancer therapy

New liquid crystal elastomer can do the twist again

Researchers have designed a novel liquid crystal elastomer that can be ‘programmed’ to both twist and bend in the presence of light.

New silicon-germanium alloy could light up photonics

Researchers have developed an hexagonal silicon-germanium alloy that can emit light, which could prove of great use for photonics.

Special Issue on Advanced methods of Machine Learning/ Artificial intelligence applied to the discovery and design of materials - Call for Papers

Extreme Mechanics Letters (EML) announces a weekly webinar series

New machine-learning method can predict battery health

Researchers can monitor batteries by sending electrical pulses into them and then processing the response with a new machine-learning algorithm.

Seeking simpler tests for viruses

The coronavirus pandemic highlights the importance of testing for viruses; a simple physical procedure might make it easier, cheaper and quicker

Combination of 2D and 3D required for stable tin-based perovskite film

Adding a low concentration of a 2D tin-based perovskite to a 3D version in solution produces a stable and efficient photovoltaic thin film.

New machine-learning algorithm goes against the grain

Researchers have developed a novel machine-learning algorithm for quantitatively characterizing material microstructure in three dimensions.

Unusual superconductor may place host to exotic quasiparticle

Scientists have uncovered evidence for the presence of Majorana particles on the surface of the unconventional superconductor uranium ditelluride.

Materials Letters - Updated Aims & Scopes

Platinum compound senses new application

new material for electrochemical sensing of hydrogen peroxide based on platinum dichalcogenide promises outstanding performance

Laser-texturing can make metal surfaces lethal to bacteria

By using a laser to fabricate nanoscale patterns, researchers could potentially make the surface of metals such as copper lethal to bacteria.

From brittle to flexible at a stretch

Scientists have created a flexible membrane from a normally brittle complex oxide, and shown that stretching can change its electronic properties.

All ‘bio’ yarn doesn’t cause a reaction

‘bio’ yarn made from human cells can be braided, knitted, or woven into medical devices or scaffolds that don't elicit an immune reaction

Pair density waves show up in cuprate superconductor

Scientists have uncovered evidence that a state of matter known as a pair density wave coexists with superconductivity in a cuprate superconductor.

A power management system that powers itself

Triboelectric energy harvesters get a boost from Georgia Tech

Indium-carbon bonding for catalysis

Indium-carbon bonding for catalysis

Positive results help explain metal’s negative thermal expansion

A new study shows that samarium sulfide expands at low temperatures due to electrons moving into the outermost shell of the samarium atoms.

Neural network for materials discovery learns to go with the flow

A novel neural network was able to reduce the time needed to discover promising materials for a flow battery from 50 years to five weeks.

Biohydrogels act in different ways at different temperatures

Researchers have shown how different temperatures can be used to create different products from biohydrogels depending on their intended application.

Three materials produce one wearable, printable composite

By combining a conducting polymer, rubber and an ionic liquid, researchers have produced a conducting, flexible organic composite.

Material reveals hot ‘super-Planckian’ identity

When heated, a novel photonic crystal appears to emit more coherent light at infrared wavelengths than can be explained by Planck's Law.

Crumpled graphene can detect DNA without amplification

Researchers have found that crumpling graphene makes it more than 10,000 times more sensitive to DNA by creating electrical ‘hotspots’.

Composite metal foam passes pool fire test

Composite metal foams have passed so-called ‘simulated pool fire testing’, which indicates they could be used for transporting hazardous materials.

Layered nanotubes produce solar fuel tiles

Scientists have developed an artificial photosynthesis system that utilizes nanotubes made of layers of cobalt oxide, silica and titanium dioxide.

Making sensors from 2-D materials

Sheets that are just a single molecular layer thick could be used to detect toxic gases

Announcing the launch of Best Paper Prizes on Elseviers Leading Polymer Journals

Semiconductors can show facets of metals and superconductors

Researchers have shown that the crystal structure at the surface of semiconductor materials can make them behave like metals and even superconductors.

New study dives into solar cell materials for underwater use

Researchers have demonstrated that solar cells made from organic materials may be better than traditional silicon solar cells for use underwater.

New rubber-like material could replace human tissue

Researchers have created a new rubber-like material based on plexiglass that could act as a replacement for human tissue in medical procedures.

Machine learning with synthetic data improves indentation tests

Utilizing 'hybrid data', a new analytical technique can improve the estimation of mechanical properties of metallic materials from indention tests.