Optical materials news, October 2021

Novel topological insulator not fazed by disorder

Researchers have designed a topological insulator in which the transmission of microwave photons can survive unprecedented levels of disorder.

Publishing with Carbon and Carbon Trends: a conversation with the editors in chief

Holey metalens basks in heavenly light

Researchers have developed a novel metasurface that employs deep, narrow holes, rather than very tall pillars, to focus light to a single spot.

Glass nanowires light up novel parts of the spectrum

Fabricating chalcogenide glasses as nanowires can extend their use into the visible and ultraviolet parts of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Exciting way to improve efficiencies of organic solar cells

By engineering electron donor and electron acceptor materials, researchers can overcome a key loss mechanism in organic solar cells.

Materials Today Physics - Hot Papers

Colloidal crystals lose color as the temperature rises

Colloidal crystals that mimic the nanostructure of opals can visibly and continuously document the temperature in the environment over a defined period.

Terahertz radiation spins off from 2D hybrid metal halide

A device comprising a 2D hybrid metal halide layered with a ferromagnetic metal can generate terahertz radiation from an an ultrafast spin current.

Se takes dual role in CdTe solar cell passivation

calculations identify diffusion paths of Se in CdTe, boosting thin film solar cell efficiency

Researchers find harmony in twisted nanoparticles

Researchers have shown that the odd harmonics of light can be used to study twisted, or chiral, nanoparticles and molecules.