Polymers and soft materials news, June 2018

New sensitive nanophotonic sensor that can read molecular fingerprints

Metal and polymer combine to produce flexible conductive material

A new hybrid conductive material comprising liquid metal embedded in an elastic polymer can be bent and stretched at will.

Applications aplenty for new electrically conductive hydrogel

A novel composite made of hydrogel and a 2D material can conduct electricity, stretch by more than 3400%, self-heal and adhere to many surfaces.

New technique gets conjugated polymers to smile for the camera

A new scanning tunneling microscopy technique can, for the first time, reveal the detailed molecular structure of conjugated polymers.

New foam brings graphene into third dimension

Scientists have developed a simple way to produce a conductive graphene foam that they can shape into 3D objects such as battery electrodes.

Highly conductive and stretchy circuits made possible

New hybrid conductive material, part elastic polymer and part liquid metal, which can be bent and stretched easily.

Applied Materials Today achieves CiteScore of 9.9

Elsevier releases 2017 CiteScore values.

Fungi-derived pigment could make promising semiconductor

By combining a fungal organic pigment with a transparent polymer, researchers have developed a novel semiconductor material.

Elsevier 3D Printing Grand Challenge winners announced

Listening to the health of granular materials

Scientists have shown they can predict the failure of granular materials such as gravel by monitoring naturally arising acoustic vibrations.

New composite material produces self-repairing circuits

A self-healing material made from liquid metal droplets suspended in a soft elastomer can spontaneously repair itself when damaged.