Surface science news, February 2016

New technique offers more choice for 2D nanomaterials

A new technique can create nearly two-dimensional nanosheets from compounds that do not naturally form such thin materials.

Scientists caught in polar vortices for the first time

For the first time, scientists have observed 'polar vortices', which could be the electrical cousins of magnetic skyrmions, in a ferroelectric material.

Growing single-crystal graphene fast

New CVD growth process can produce high quality wafers of single crystal graphene fast.

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Desert beetle inspires novel anti-freeze surface

Patterning chemical arrays that attract water on a surface that repels water offers a novel way to control the spread of frost.

New journal Surfaces and Interfaces launched

Model fuel cell catalysts help solve active site mystery

Scientists have worked out the precise arrangement of nitrogen and carbon atoms that allow nitrogen-doped carbon to act as a fuel cell catalyst.

Tunable materials clear the way for advanced optics

Scientists have engineered the transition point of vanadium dioxide, allowing them to control the temperature at which the transition occurs.

New topological insulator nanoribbons could lead to quantum computers

Researchers have used magnetic fields to control the semiconductor properties of topological insulator nanoribbons.

Bubble-pen writes new chapter for nanomaterials

Scientists have developed a novel method, termed bubble-pen lithography, that uses microbubbles to inscribe nanoparticles onto a surface.