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Ultralight aerogels combine broadband microwave absorption with thermal insulation

Researchers developed lightweight carbon aerogels with CoNi components that deliver wide electromagnetic-wave attenuation at low density and low filler loading. The aerogels also exhibit thermal insulation, limiting heat transfer and maintaining a stable surface temperature even at high temperatures.

SourceBiochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University·JournalCarbon Research·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 10, 2026

Machine learning reveals elemental clues behind persistent free radicals in biochar

Researchers used machine learning to analyze elemental composition of biochar and found hydrogen-to-carbon ratio and oxygen content to be key predictors of persistent free radicals concentration and radical type. The study provides a data-driven framework for linking elemental properties to biochar reactivity and environmental risks.

SourceShenyang Agricultural University Collaborative Journals·JournalBiochar X·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 17, 2026

Paper-based smart packaging offers sustainable path to cut food waste and plastic pollution

Researchers are transforming paper into sophisticated smart packaging that controls respiration, scrubbing ethylene to slow ripening for fruits and vegetables. For meat and seafood, the focus is on blocking oxygen and grease while embedding sensors that flag spoilage before it becomes obvious.

SourceJournal of Bioresources and Bioproducts·JournalJournal of Bioresources and Bioproducts·TypeLiterature review·DateJul 30, 2026

Engineered biochar could turn biomass waste into safer, more effective tools for cleaning wastewater

Researchers are engineering biochar-based composites to overcome limitations, such as insufficient adsorption capacity and limited selectivity for certain emerging pollutants. The new review highlights the importance of balancing treatment performance with environmental safety throughout the material's life cycle.

SourceShenyang Agricultural University Collaborative Journals·JournalSustainable Carbon Materials·TypeLiterature review·DateJul 15, 2026

Soil type determines whether added carbon and nitrogen curb or intensify nitrous oxide emissions

A new study found that soil acidity, nutrient conditions, and microbial function significantly impact nitrous oxide emissions. Fluvo-aquic soil consistently produced the lowest proportion of nitrous oxide, while red soil displayed limited denitrification potential due to its acidic conditions.

SourceShenyang Agricultural University Collaborative Journals·JournalNitrogen Cycling·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 10, 2026

Plasma spray turns lignin waste into functional coatings in one step

Researchers developed a novel approach to convert technical lignin into functional coatings using low-energy suspension plasma spraying (LE-SPS). The new technique eliminates the need for solvents, crosslinkers, or catalysts, and produces continuous and dense coatings with improved UV attenuation and anti-fogging behavior.

SourceJournal of Bioresources and Bioproducts·JournalJournal of Bioresources and Bioproducts·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 23, 2026

Ambient-pressure-dried cellulose/MXene aerogel integrates EMI shielding, infrared stealth and joule heating

Researchers developed a cellulose/MXene sediment aerogel that combines EMI shielding, infrared stealth, and Joule heating within a single porous structure. The aerogel retained high porosity and specific surface area, enabling strong electromagnetic wave attenuation and thermal insulation.

SourceJournal of Bioresources and Bioproducts·JournalJournal of Bioresources and Bioproducts·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 17, 2026

Ultralight mesoscale carbon fiber lattices achieve aluminum-level performance at up to 1/100 the weight

Researchers developed a new class of ultralight structural materials with 3D node winding, achieving compressive strengths comparable to concrete and up to ten times stronger than conventional lattice structures at equal weight. The approach enables continuous load paths, reducing inactive material and improving system-level performance.

Hemp waste biocomposites offer a lower-carbon alternative for packaging and agricultural films

New study finds anaerobic digestion of hemp hurd-based bioplastic systems delivers the best environmental outcome, generating up to 6.1 kg less CO2 emissions per 1 kg mulch film treated. The production process significantly affects the final carbon footprint of biocomposites.

SourceJournal of Bioresources and Bioproducts·JournalJournal of Bioresources and Bioproducts·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 28, 2026

Water-soluble cellulose adhesive enables strong, reusable bonding across extreme conditions

Researchers have developed a water-soluble cellulose ethyl phosphite (CEP) adhesive that integrates high bonding strength, environmental tolerance, and recyclability. The CEP adhesive demonstrates remarkable thermal stability and resistance to moisture-related degradation, making it suitable for various applications.

SourceJournal of Bioresources and Bioproducts·JournalJournal of Bioresources and Bioproducts·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 13, 2026

Scientists develop scalable ultrastrong bamboo strips through revolutionary "homogeneous fusion" technique

Scientists developed a scalable ultrastrong bamboo strip through homogeneous fusion, achieving 942 MPa tensile strength and 32.1 GPa Young's modulus. The material demonstrates exceptional durability, biodegradability, and practical scalability for various industries.

SourceJournal of Bioresources and Bioproducts·JournalJournal of Bioresources and Bioproducts·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 31, 2026

Cool satellites and flexible electronics

Researchers at Empa's Mechanics of Materials and Nanostructures laboratory are working to improve the insulation material used in satellites and space probes. They have developed a new intermediate layer that makes the material more elastic and resistant to cracks and flaking, enabling better superinsulation for future satellites.

SourceSwiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa)·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 16, 2025

Beyond small data limitations: Transfer learning-enabled framework for predicting mechanical properties of aluminum matrix composites

Researchers developed a transfer learning-enabled framework to predict mechanical properties of particle-reinforced aluminum matrix composites. The model achieves high predictive accuracy, addressing the challenges of limited data availability in traditional machine learning algorithms.

SourceSongshan Lake Materials Laboratory·JournalMaterials Futures·DateDec 16, 2025

Halide perovskite volatile unipolar Nanomemristor

Researchers have developed a halide perovskite volatile unipolar nanomemristor that achieves energy-efficient switching with minimal power consumption. The device uses a monocrystal nanocube with chemical composition CsPbBr3, placed between chemically inert contacts, to enable fast computation and readable memory states.

SourceOpto-Electronic Journals Group·JournalOpto-Electronic Advances·DateNov 3, 2025

New ‘liquid metal’ composite material enables recyclable, flexible and reconfigurable electronics

A new composite material made from a recyclable polymer infused with microscopic droplets of liquid metal alloy can be broken down through a simple chemical process, freeing the metal for reuse. The material also has self-healing properties, allowing it to be cut, rearranged, and bonded back together using only heat and pressure.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateOct 22, 2025

Uncovering the Fundamental Mechanisms Behind Toughening of Soft–Hard Composites

A minimal three-dimensional model successfully reproduced hallmark behaviors of tough composite materials, including mechanical hysteresis and sacrificial bond-driven toughening. The team discovered that optimal toughening occurs at a specific ratio of soft to hard components, governed by a universal scaling relationship.

SourceUniversity of Toyama·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 28, 2025

Study finds that individual layers of synthetic materials can collaborate for greater impact

Engineers mimic natural shells' behavior by programming individual layers of synthetic material to collaborate under stress, expanding design space for nonlinear stress-strain responses. The new framework enables multistage responses that adapt to collision severity, improving wearable bandages and car bumpers.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalScience Advances·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 16, 2025

“Petrificus totalus!” — 3D-printed hydrogel switches from kPa-Soft to GPa-hard on command

Researchers at Zhejiang University developed a novel 3D-printed hydrogel that can easily switch its Young's modulus from kPa to GPa through on-demand crystallization. The hydrogel exhibits a hardness of 86.5 Shore D and a Young's modulus of 1.2 GPa, surpassing current 3D-printed hydrogels.

SourceInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·JournalInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·DateApr 15, 2025

Dongguk University researchers advance lithium-ion battery technology with hybrid anode material

Dongguk University researchers have developed a hybrid anode material for lithium-ion batteries, demonstrating exceptional performance and cycling stability. The innovative composite combines reduced graphene oxide with nickel-iron layered double hydroxides, resulting in a high specific capacity of 1687.6 mA h g−1.

SourceDongguk University Evaluation and Audit Team·JournalChemical Engineering Journal·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 11, 2025

Researchers develop highly robust, reconfigurable, and mechanochromic cellulose photonic hydrogels

The study introduces a new way to apply cellulose nanocrystals, resulting in high-strength, reconfigurable, and mechanochromic hydrogels with improved mechanical properties and dynamic color-changing abilities. These materials have potential uses in sustainable bioplastics, flexible electronic substrates, and smart photonic devices.

SourceDalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy Sciences·JournalMaterials Today·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateMar 3, 2025

Toward high electro-optic performance in III-V semiconductors

New research at UC Santa Barbara illuminates a path to superior electro-optic performance in AlScN alloys by adjusting atomic structure and composition. The study found that precisely oriented layer structures and strain tuning can yield significant enhancements in electro-optic properties, potentially surpassing those of lithium niobate.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateFeb 25, 2025

Non-destructive image sensor goes beyond bulkiness

Researchers at Chuo University developed a non-destructive image sensor with a freely coatable and paintable design for functional photo-thermal modules. The new design enables the full utilization of photo-thermoelectric (PTE) sensors, overcoming trade-off trends between photo-absorptance values and Seebeck coefficients.

SourceChuo University·JournalSmall Science·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 25, 2025

Advancing surgical sutures: The promise of cellulose-based materials

Researchers have made significant advancements in cellulose-based sutures, showcasing their potential as sustainable alternatives for wound closure and healing. The new materials demonstrate non-toxicity, biocompatibility, and mechanical strength, with nanocellulose showing particular promise due to its high strength and flexibility.

SourceJournal of Bioresources and Bioproducts·JournalJournal of Bioresources and Bioproducts·TypeLiterature review·DateJan 22, 2025

Liquid-based confined interface materials

These materials integrate liquids within solid frameworks at the mesoscale, driven by competitive interfacial interactions. They demonstrate dynamic responsiveness leveraging force, heat, light, electricity, magnetism, and sound, and exhibit practical functionalities including anti-fouling and multiphase flow control.

SourceScience China Press·JournalNational Science Review·DateJan 5, 2025

Innovative 3D printed scaffolds offer new hope for bone healing

Researchers developed novel 3D printed PLA-CaP scaffolds that support angiogenesis, reducing bone scarring and improving healing outcomes. In vitro tests showed stimulated vascular endothelial growth factor secretion and maintained calcium ion release, while in vivo testing demonstrated good integration and blood vessel infiltration.

SourceInstitute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC)·JournalBiomaterials Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 19, 2024

Research progress on SiCf/SiC composites and their cladding components

Researchers have compiled a comprehensive review of SiCf/SiC composites, highlighting advancements in preparation processes, material properties, and performance under extreme conditions. The review emphasizes the need for further innovation in preparation processes to enhance the materials' long-term use in nuclear reactors.

SourceELSP·JournalAI & Materials·TypeLiterature review·DateDec 9, 2024