Materials news, November 2020

Graphene reveals role of oxygen vacancies in memristor memory

Researchers have used graphene to help analyze the behavior of strontium titanium oxide, a platform material for memristor research.

Ions behave strangely at graphene-water interface

Computer simulations and X-ray analysis have uncovered new findings on the role of ionic interactions at the interface between graphene and water.

Nature inspires strong yet supple composite polymers

Researchers have developed a new way of making strong, supple composite polymers that closely mimic materials found in the natural world.

Call for Papers: Special Issue - Fundamentals of Phase Change Materials (PCM)

Moth eye inspires antireflective coating

Moths’ eyes inspire design of antireflective coating for solar panels, smartphones and tablet computers

Picking polymers to vanquish viruses

Researchers have developed a high-throughput method for analyzing the interactions between polymers and virus-like particles.

Nafion as a patternable high-speed ionomer for electronics applications

Improving bioelectronics with Nafion films

New technology for imaging nanoparticles takes gold

A new optical imaging technology uses a glass slide covered with gold nanodiscs to detect nanoparticles as small as 25nm in diameter.

New luminescent wood film is eco-friendly

Bio-based, luminescent, water-resistant wood film for lighting

ZnO permittivity takes control over light

huge changes in permittivity ZnO can be used to control light in advanced optical devices

Absorbent sponges made from waste mussel shells

Environmentally friendly use of mussel shell waste with interesting properties

Scientists mix and match to find perovskite candidates

Researchers have developed a quick and easy method for assessing new compositions of perovskite materials for use in solar cells.

Nanowire radius selects crystal structure

framework evaluates how a single nanowire grows and effects of different growth factors

Graphene-based superlattice plays host to new family of quasiparticles

Researchers have discovered and characterized a new family of quasiparticles in graphene-based superlattices under an applied magnetic field.

Materials Today Sustainability - Impact Factor Incoming

Lateral interactions set stage for fiber performance

lateral interactions at different scales determine the performance of polymers fibers in composites

Lead-free perovskites work better indoors

Researchers have found that lead-free perovskite materials are much more effective than conventional perovskites at absorbing indoor light.

Moth eye nanoscale structure for transparent molds and films

Anti-reflective coatings inspired by the biostructure of moth eyes

Structural change in SiGe leads to light emission

altering the crystal structure can induce SiGe to emit light efficiently

Aerogel and hydrogel stay cool together

A two-layer material comprising an upper layer of aerogel and a bottom layer of hydrogel makes an effective system for passive cooling.

New study brings order to organic thermoelectric materials

By adding a sidechain and dopant to spherical carbon molecules, researchers have developed an efficient organic thermoelectric material.

Microscope helps synthesize nanographene from the bottom up

Researchers have shown they can synthesize nanographene by removing hydrogen from organic molecules with an atomic force microscope.

Silica-coated DNA helps construct superconducting nanomaterials in 3D

By coating self-assembled DNA structures with silica, researchers were able to use them as scaffolds for the construction of 3D nano-superconductors.

Novel technique takes CNTs to new lengths

novel approach based on chemical vapor deposition produces forests of nanotubes 14 cm long

Spintronics could benefit from new lead-free magnetic perovskite

Researchers have developed a lead-free magnetic double perovskite, which raises the possibility of coupling spintronics with optoelectronics.

Novel biomaterial scaffold produces smoother healing

Researchers have developed a biomaterial for treating wounds that reduces scar formation by triggering an adaptive immune response.

2020 Materials Today Innovation Award Winner

Biomaterial approval opens citrate route to medical implants

Biomaterial approval opens citrate route to medical implants

Hard calcium carbonate goes all soft

Scientists have discovered that treating the hard calcium carbonate in mussel shells with acetic acid turns it into a soft, spongey material.

New computational approach offers optimal way to design materials

Researchers have developed a new computational approach, based on Bayesian optimization, to accelerate the design of materials.

Call for papers: Biomaterials for Future Food

Moths see better way to anti-reflective coatings

Researchers have developed a novel method for replicating the non-reflective nanostructure of moth eyes in molds and films at large scales.

New organic photodiode can detect low light over large areas

New flexible, large-area organic photodiodes can detect as little as a few hundred thousand photons of visible light every second.

Heat-powered desalination technology gets boost from 2D material

By coating a metal mesh with a 2D material, researchers have created a heating element for desalinating highly corrosive industrial-strength brine.

Potassium additives can prevent dendrite growth in lithium-metal batteries

Researchers have discovered that adding potassium ions to the electrolyte in lithium-metal batteries can prevent the growth of dendrites.

Aluminum nanoparticles take heat out of carbon dioxide removal

Localized surface plasmons on aluminum nanoparticles can power the conversion of carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide by graphite.

Gold and indium make contact with quantum dot transistors

Researchers have found a way to construct transistors out of non-toxic quantum dots and then assemble them into functional logic circuits.

New process turns plastic into graphene in a flash

Scientists have developed a new process for converting plastic into graphene, based on applying timed pulses of AC and DC electricity.

JMBBM Frontiers Webinar - Celebrating the Life and Work of John Currey

Thursday, Nov. 19, 9am Boston, 2pm London, 3pm Berlin, 6am San Francisco, Honolulu 4am

Just the right pressure can turn graphene into diamond

Theoretical research has revealed that applying pressure to a tiny spot on layers of graphene could help to turn them into 2D diamond, or diamane.

Nanoparticles alert to composite failure

adding nanoparticles to carbon fiber composites could provide an early warning of failure

Vanadium dioxide light sensors heat up

improved photoresponse of vanadium dioxide make it a candidate for photodetectors

Chemical scissors cut out nanoribbon catalysts

Researchers have developed chemical scissors than can cut transition metal dichalcogenides into thin, catalytic nanoribbons for splitting water.

Precision method builds rather than cuts graphene nanoribbons

Researchers have developed a novel bottom-up method for synthesizing graphene nanoribbons on a nonmetallic substrate with precision.

Valleys on view in layered 2D perovskite

Researchers have found that a layered 2D perovskite is adept at storing the valley states of electrons, making it potentially ideal for valleytronics.