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Harvesting UV Light from sunlight just got ‘solid’

Researchers at Kyushu University have created a solid-state material that converts visible light into ultraviolet (UV) light under ordinary outdoor sunlight, achieving a conversion efficiency of 1.9%. The material offers advantages for real-world use, including straightforward synthesis and low-cost starting materials.

SourceKyushu University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 23, 2026

Capturing an elusive step in molecular sandwich making

Researchers from OIST have reported the first full structural characterization of a doubly ring-slipped reaction intermediate in metallocene formation. This discovery provides new evidence on how metallocenes form and react, presenting opportunities for designing tunable structures for applications such as drug delivery systems, cataly...

SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 21, 2026

From light to logic

McMaster and Pittsburgh researchers have developed a soft material that can perform a NAND logic operation using only three beams of visible light. The breakthrough paves the way for autonomous systems with computation capabilities without traditional electronics.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalNature Communications·TypeObservational study·DateNov 20, 2025

The crystal that makes clouds rain

Researchers at TU Wien uncover how silver iodide crystals interact with water at the atomic scale to form ice crystals. The study reveals that only one surface structure of the crystal promotes ice nucleation, shedding light on the complex mechanisms behind cloud seeding.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 3, 2025

Unmasking the culprits of battery failure with a graphene mesosponge

A Tohoku University research team synthesized a high-purity graphene mesosponge that serves as a stable scaffold for loading polymorphic ruthenium catalysts. The study clearly distinguished between carbon cathode degradation and electrolyte decomposition, revealing the 'weakest link' in Li-O2 batteries.

SourceAdvanced Institute for Materials Research (AIMR), Tohoku University·JournalApplied Catalysis B Environment and Energy·DateOct 20, 2025

Structure of the natural red pigment carmine revealed

Advanced electron crystallography techniques have revealed the unexpected structure of carmine, a natural red colouring agent. The substance has a well-defined, three-dimensional porous structure composed of two calcium ions, two aluminium ions, and four organic ligand molecules.

SourceStockholm University·JournalCrystal Growth & Design·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 3, 2025

Ultrafast multivalley optical switching in germanium for high-speed computing and communications

Researchers demonstrate ultrafast transparency switching across multiple wavelengths using single laser excitation in germanium, opening possibilities for advanced optical technologies. The study highlights the potential of Ge as a key material for ultrafast optical switching with promising applications in high-speed data transmission ...

SourceWaseda University·JournalPhysical Review Applied·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 16, 2025

From defect to high-tech material

Researchers at HZDR and TU Dresden developed a method to produce well-defined nanoparticles with controlled composition and structure, enabling the creation of complex materials with integrated functions. The team's innovative approach combined cation exchange with advanced synthetic, experimental, and theoretical methods.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalSmall·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 25, 2025

Texas A&M chemist wins NSF CAREER Award

Dr. Alison Altman, a Texas A&M chemist, has received the NSF CAREER Award to support her research on underexplored elements of the periodic table and their applications in technology. She aims to expand chemistry education at all levels, emphasizing its impact on everyday life.

Designing molecules that produce color-changing circular light for 3D displays and security printing

Scientists develop mechanochromic luminescence using chiral pyrenylprolinamides, a significant step towards widespread implementation of materials with switchable solid-state CPL. The findings provide new design guidelines for creating molecules that enable solid-state CPL switching through mechanical stimuli.

SourceYokohama National University·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateFeb 10, 2025

The metal that does not expand

Researchers at Vienna University of Technology have developed a new alloy, pyrochlore magnet, that exhibits nearly zero thermal expansion over an extremely large temperature range. This breakthrough is due to the material's heterogeneous composition, which balances out the usual thermal expansion effect.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalNational Science Review·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 3, 2025

The science behind the foldable molecular paths

Researchers at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology developed foldable molecular paths using zeolitic imidazolate frameworks, which can adjust size, shape, and alignment in response to temperature, pressure, and gas interactions. This technology has potential applications in creating filters that adapt to capture harmful ...

SourceUlsan National Institute of Science and Technology(UNIST)·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateJan 6, 2025

Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prizes 2025

The 2025 Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prizes were awarded to four female and six male researchers, with two working in the humanities and social sciences, four in life sciences, three in natural sciences, and one in engineering sciences. The winners received €2.5 million each to fund their research for up to seven years.

Two hundred times better catalysts thanks to carbon

Scientists have discovered that adding carbon to metal nanoparticles makes them 200 times more active, which could lead to significant cost savings and improved efficiency in industrial processes. The discovery was made possible by precise measurements and simulations of the interaction between metal nanoparticles and a carbon substrate.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalACS Catalysis·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 11, 2024

Emerging electronic materials for next generation soft bioelectronic applications: From material designs to devices performances

Liquid-based electronic materials offer inherent flexibility and conformability, mitigating mechanical mismatches between human tissues and electronic devices. These materials have been demonstrated in various applications such as strain sensors, touch sensors, implantable stimulators, encapsulation solutions, and adhesives.

SourceIndustrial Chemistry & Materials·JournalIndustrial Chemistry and Materials·TypeLiterature review·DateOct 10, 2024

Breakthrough research uncovers hidden phenomena in ultra-clean quantum materials

Researchers have discovered unusual transport phenomena in ultra-clean SrVO3 samples, contradicting long-standing scientific consensus. The study's findings challenge theoretical models of electron correlation effects and offer insights into the behavior of transparent metals.

Clemson researchers tackle challenge in new quantum materials design

Researchers at Clemson University have developed a new noncentrosymmetric triangular-lattice magnet, CaMnTeO6, which displays strong quantum fluctuations and nonlinear optical responses. This breakthrough material has the potential to lead to advancements in solid-state quantum computing, spin-based electronics, resilient climate chang...

SourceClemson University·JournalAdvanced Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 11, 2024

New data-driven model rapidly predicts dehydrogenation barriers in solid-state materials

Researchers developed a groundbreaking data-driven model to predict dehydrogenation barriers of magnesium hydride, a promising material for solid-state hydrogen storage. The model offers a faster, more efficient way to assess the performance of hydrogen storage materials, bridging the knowledge gap left by experimental techniques.

SourceAdvanced Institute for Materials Research (AIMR), Tohoku University·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateMay 17, 2024

Ground-breaking accelerated discovery research unveils 21 novel materials for advanced organic solid-state laser technology: a global collaboration success story

Researchers from six teams in five labs worldwide used self-driving labs to discover 21 top-performing OSL gain candidates, accelerating the discovery process by months. The decentralized workflow enabled rapid replication of experimental findings and democratized the discovery process.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalScience·DateMay 16, 2024

Topological Phonos: Where vibrations find their twist

An international team of researchers has discovered that the quantum particles responsible for material vibrations can be classified through topology. The study found that at least half of materials exhibit non-atomic cumulative phononic band sets, leading to potential applications in frequency filtering and mechanical energy attenuation.

SourceElhuyar Fundazioa·JournalScience·DateMay 9, 2024

Magnetic with a pinch of hydrogen

A German-American research team has developed an innovative idea to improve the properties of ultra-thin magnetic materials by reacting them with hydrogen. The researchers have identified three promising candidates that can be magnetically activated by hydrogen passivation, paving the way for new types of electronic components.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalNano Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 22, 2024

From defects to order: Spontaneously emerging crystal arrangements in perovskite halides

A new defect-ordered layered halide perovskite was discovered, shedding light on how order can emerge through defects in hybrid organic–inorganic compounds. The compound's optical bandgap increased with the concentration of ordered defects in the lattice, presenting a new strategy for tuning perovskite properties.

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalACS Materials Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 17, 2024