Optical materials news, November 2017

Synthetic microspheres reveal secret of leaf hopper camouflage

Synthetic microspheres with nanoscale holes that can absorb light at many frequencies have helped to reveal how leaf hoppers hide from predators.

Nanoscale features make glass invisible

Surface reflections from glass surfaces can be reduced to nearly zero by etching tiny nanoscale features into them.

Novel, flexible method for producing nanoporous materials

Researchers have developed a new technique for creating novel nanoporous materials with unique optical, magnetic, electronic and catalytic properties.

Horizontal trumps vertical for 2D solar cells

Lateral heterojunctions between 2D semiconducting monolayers produce more efficient solar cells than vertical stacks.

Insert electrons to alter atomic structure

Researchers have found a way to reversibly change the atomic structure of a two-dimensional material by injecting electrons.

Jeffrey Hubbell, recipient of the 2018 Acta Biomaterialia Gold Medal

Ali Khademhosseini, recipient of the 2018 Acta Biomaterialia Silver Medal

Subhash Mahajan, recipient of 2018 Acta Materialia Gold Medal

Nikhilesh Chawla, recipient of the 2018 Acta Materialia Silver Medal

Efficient photodetector developed that uses quantum processes

Prototype photodetector with double the efficiency of standard models.

Octopus camouflage inspires fast-changing stretchable material

Inspired by the octopus, engineers have developed polymer-based stretchable surfaces with programmable 3D texture morphing.