Researchers develop methodology to precisely design and control degree of disorder in nanopattern structures, enabling new possibilities for wave-controlling devices. The technology also reveals tailored physical properties for functional materials with wide-range control over disorder.
SourceSeoul National University College of Engineering·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 25, 2026
A team of researchers from Chiba University discovered the structural evolution of poloxamer mixtures at different temperatures, enabling customized gelation behavior. Their findings support precise design of sustained-release formulations for localized therapies, enhancing drug retention and minimizing side effects.
SourceChiba University·JournalJournal of Colloid and Interface Science·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 28, 2026
Researchers synthesized optically active conducting polymers through physical methods using liquid crystals as solvents, achieving asymmetric (chiral) living polymerization. The resulting polyisocyanides exhibited optical activity and properties of twisted-bend nematic liquid crystal.
SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalMacromolecules·DateJan 30, 2025
Princeton engineers create soft plastics with programmed stretchiness and flexibility that are also recyclable and inexpensive. The material's internal structure is controlled to achieve stiffness and stretchiness in different regions of an object.
SourcePrinceton University, Engineering School·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 13, 2024
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Researchers developed a novel block copolymer that can create finely detailed structures on semiconductor chips with half-pitch sizes of less than 10 nanometers. The new compound achieves 7.6 nm line width, outperforming conventional block copolymers.
SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 28, 2024
Researchers have successfully synthesized high-purity polystyrene and polymethyl methacrylate using a novel method involving remote spark discharge treatment. This approach uses Tesla coil-generated monomer radicals as polymerization initiators, enabling external spark discharge treatment without a counter electrode.
SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalNext Materials·DateAug 5, 2024
Researchers at UNIST have developed a groundbreaking technology that enables the real-time display of colors and shapes through changes in nanostructures. Utilizing block copolymers, they achieved the self-assembly of photonic crystal structures on a large scale, mimicking natural phenomena observed in butterfly wings and bird feathers.
SourceUlsan National Institute of Science and Technology(UNIST)·JournalACS Nano·DateMar 11, 2024
Researchers at Colorado State University have created a new chemical strategy to deliver universal dynamic crosslinkers into mixed plastic streams, transforming them into viable new polymers that can be turned into higher-value materials. The method makes post-consumer plastics usable as a new kind of material with useful properties.
SourceColorado State University·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 26, 2023
Researchers developed a method to characterize nanomaterials using sequential infiltration synthesis in nanostructured polymers. This technique allows for the creation of extremely small structures on semiconductor surfaces, enabling further miniaturization of next-generation microelectronic components.
SourceUniversität Paderborn·JournalACS Applied Polymer Materials·DateApr 5, 2023
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Researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory create a new way to guide the self-assembly of novel nanoscale structures using simple polymers as starting materials. The team describes their approach in a paper published in Nature Communications, which shows that different shapes have dramatically different electrical conductivity.
SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 18, 2022
Researchers from Osaka University successfully modulated the thermal switching temperature of block copolymers to create a tunable thermal switch. This innovation enables practical functionality for flexible organic electronics at low cost.
SourceOsaka University·JournalNano Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 27, 2022
Scientists at UMass Amherst developed a new theory to predict how double-gyroid networks form in polymer superstructures. The theory reveals the hidden geometry allowing polymers to assume this complex shape.
SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 16, 2022
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Researchers developed an auto-switchable phosphazene-based catalyst to create well-defined diblock terpolymers in a single step, overcoming the limitations of traditional two-step polymerizations. This innovative approach offers vast potential for producing diverse polymers for various industrial applications.
SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 23, 2022
A team of UC Santa Barbara researchers have discovered a new phase in block copolymers, expanding the range of possible options for material design. The newly found phase, known as A15, belongs to a class of tetrahedrally close-packed structures and has been observed in both metal and polymer materials.
SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 30, 2019
Researchers at MIT have developed a new way to create complex structures in thin films using self-assembling block copolymers. The method produces novel patterns that deviate from regular symmetries, exhibiting interlocking areas with regular patterns similar to quasicrystals.
SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 5, 2019
Scientists from the University of Groningen created block copolymers from PVDF that preserve its ferroelectricity while allowing tunable characteristics. These copolymers enable various applications, including flexible organic electronics and energy storage.
SourceUniversity of Groningen·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 5, 2019
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Researchers develop new method to make nanowires with widths below 10 nanometers, using templated assembly and block copolymers. The technique enables mass manufacturing with existing lithographic methods and can be used to create complex patterns for microchip interconnections.
SourceDOE/Argonne National Laboratory·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateApr 11, 2017
Scientists have created a new strategy for crafting one-dimensional nanorods from a wide range of precursor materials, offering precise control over diameter, length, and surface properties. The produced structures have potential applications in electronics, energy conversion, drug delivery, and cancer treatment.
SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalScience·DateSep 15, 2016
The University of Delaware-DuPont team has received an NSF grant to investigate a new approach to manufacturing small-scale structures that are cheaper, lighter and defect-free. The research aims to create ultra-small features using self-assembling macromolecules and block copolymers.
MIT researchers have developed a technique for stacking layers of block-copolymer wires, creating mesh structures with potential applications in memory and optical chips. The ability to easily produce these self-assembled structures could revolutionize the manufacturing process.
SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 22, 2016
Block copolymer molecules can self-assemble into specific shapes using patterns on semiconductor surfaces, allowing for the creation of nano-trenches where conducting wire materials can be deposited. The researchers' technique eliminates metastable states, reducing defects in high-precision nanocircuitry.
SourceDOE/Argonne National Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 13, 2016
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Researchers at KAUST developed a block copolymer membrane with nanoscale holes, demonstrating molecular selectivity and increased water flux. The new method overcomes practical challenges in fabricating porous membranes, enabling efficient filtration of pollutants from liquids.
SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateDec 14, 2015
The KAIST research team has developed the first flexible phase-change random access memory (PRAM) on plastic substrates, achieving significant power reduction. This innovation is made possible by self-assembled block copolymer silica nanostructures, which lower the contact area and reduce power consumption.
SourceThe Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)·JournalACS Nano·DateJun 15, 2015
Researchers at NIST and MIT have developed two methods to measure the structure of block copolymers, essential for verifying computational models used in chip fabrication. These techniques can image defects in polymer structures and provide detailed data on patterning system performance.
SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalACS Nano·DateOct 22, 2014
A multi-institutional team of engineers has developed a new approach to fabricate nanostructures for the semiconductor and magnetic storage industries. They combine top-down advanced ink-jet printing technology with bottom-up self-assembling block copolymers, increasing resolution from approximately 200 nanometers to 15 nanometers.
SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateSep 16, 2013
Researchers have discovered that using heterogeneous nanoblocks can alter the morphological structure of polymers at the nanoscale. This effect can lead to improved properties in materials like refractive surfaces and computer chips.
SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal E·DateAug 5, 2013
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Researchers at Rice and Penn State universities have created solar cells using block copolymers, which outperform other polymer compounds as active elements. The new cells reach about 3% efficiency, surprisingly better than previous labs have achieved.
Researchers at KAIST have developed a low-power phase-change memory using self-assembled nanostructures, which can store data even when not powered. The new technology reduces power consumption by up to 1/20th of its present level, making it suitable for mobile electronics applications.
SourceThe Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)·JournalACS Nano·DateMar 18, 2013
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have developed a technique to increase storage density in hard disk drives by using self-organizing substances known as block copolymers. The team has made significant progress, shrinking dots small enough to double storage density and achieving processing times under 30 seconds.
SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalScience·DateNov 13, 2012
Researchers at Berkeley Lab developed a technique for inducing nanorods to self-assemble into complex one-, two- and three-dimensional macroscopic structures. The technique uses block copolymers as a platform for guiding the self-assembly of nanorods, enabling more effective use in solar cells, magnetic storage devices and sensors.
SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalNano Letters·DateFeb 1, 2012
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Scientists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have developed a simplified method to create ordered magnetic materials using nanostructures, achieving room-temperature ferromagnetism with fewer steps than before. The process uses block copolymers to confine magnetic particles, inducing stronger interactions and yielding stable m...
SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 27, 2011
Researchers at the University at Buffalo have developed nanomembranes with pores of up to 55 nanometers in diameter, large enough for water to pass through but too small for bacteria. This breakthrough could lead to cost and time savings in water filtration.
SourceUniversity at Buffalo·JournalNano Letters·DateFeb 22, 2011
Researchers have successfully demonstrated a solution-based method for inducing the self-assembly of flexible polymer membranes with highly aligned subnanometer channels. The new technique uses organic nanotubes and block copolymers to fabricate porous thin films with tailored channel sizes and shapes.
SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalNano Letters·DateJan 11, 2011
Researchers at Berkeley Lab have developed a method to control the assembly of nanoparticles into complex arrays using small molecules, enabling precise spatial distribution over multiple length scales. The technique uses block copolymers as a platform and can be directed by external stimuli such as light or heat.
SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalNature Materials·DateOct 22, 2009
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Researchers at University of California, Berkeley and University of Massachusetts Amherst developed a new technique to self-assemble nanoscale elements, enabling densities 15 times higher than previous methods. This approach could lead to improved data storage capacity and energy-efficient applications.
SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalScience·DateFeb 19, 2009
Researchers develop self-assembling polymer arrays that improve data storage capacity and reduce manufacturing time. The technology uses block copolymers to create precise patterns, enabling higher-density arrays and faster production.
SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalScience·DateAug 14, 2008
NIST researchers have improved manipulation of block copolymers, a crucial step in creating tiny dots that can be used as electronic components. They developed accurate measurements of thin film polymeric nanostructure and new insights on how to control self-assembly.
SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·DateMar 12, 2008
Researchers have figured out how to train synthetic polymer molecules to self-assemble into long, multicompartment cylinders with potential applications in radiology and signal communication. The discovery, reported in Science, has the potential to provide sustained delivery of chemotherapy from a single injection.
SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalScience·DateAug 3, 2007
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Researchers found that adding grease to certain plastics improves their electrical conductivity, enabling flexible switches for transistors and displays. The discovery outlines a chemical process to produce next-generation tiny switches, promising breakthroughs in plastic electronics.
SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateJun 26, 2007
Thomas H. Epps III, a recipient of the prestigious Faculty Early Career Development Award from the National Science Foundation, is advancing the development of high-performance materials through his research on block copolymers. His five-year grant will support the creation of nanoscale materials with unique properties, potentially lea...
Scientists at Virginia Tech have developed a new family of charged, rod-like block copolymers that can self-assemble and form stable structures similar to DNA. These unique polymers could have potential applications in drug delivery and gene delivery systems.
SourceVirginia Tech·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateMar 19, 2007
Researchers developed a method to produce silicon dioxide nanocapsules using supercritical carbon dioxide, allowing for controlled delivery of liquids and materials. The resulting nanocapsules have diameters of less than 40 nanometers and walls that are about 2 nanometers wide.
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Researchers have discovered a way to create complex 3D nanostructures using standard semiconductor tools, opening up new possibilities for device manufacturing and applications. The new structures are stable, well-defined, and nearly defect-free over large areas.
SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJan 27, 2006
Researchers used block copolymers with oil-and-water repelling blocks to create self-assembling nanostructures, which were then controlled using zone casting. This technique produces highly organized polymer films that could serve as templates for creating ordered nanopatterns in various nanoelectronic devices.
SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateMay 9, 2005
The researchers in Gibson's lab studied the attractive forces between the rings and rods using x-ray crystallography to understand how they self-assemble into pseudorotaxanes. By connecting molecular entities to polymer chains, the team creates materials with improved properties and low-temperature processing capabilities.
McGrath has made significant contributions to the development of thermoplastic elastomers, which are widely used in fuel cells and other applications. His work on block copolymers and phosphorous-containing polymers has enabled the creation of materials with improved durability, reliability, and safety.
Scientists have developed a new block copolymer structure that increases the conductive monomer without weakening the polymer strength. This breakthrough enables better proton conductivity and lower water uptake compared to random copolymers of similar composition.
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