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Graphene grains make atom-thick patchwork 'quilts'

Researchers imaged graphene grain boundaries using diffraction imaging electron microscopy, revealing that impurities are responsible for fluctuating electrical conductivity. Larger grains do not improve conductivity as previously thought, highlighting the importance of controlling impurities in graphene growth.

SourceCornell University·JournalNature·DateJan 5, 2011

Graphene's strength lies in its defects

Researchers at Brown University discovered that grain boundaries in graphene do not compromise the material's strength. The critical bonds along these boundaries can be as strong as those found in pure graphene when tilted at specific angles, enabling the creation of larger sheets with improved properties.

SourceBrown University·JournalScience·DateNov 11, 2010

Stressed nanomaterials display unexpected movement

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University discovered that certain nanomaterials can move in regions called grain boundaries, leading to changes in their strength and plasticity. This finding has implications for the fabrication of microdevices and integrated circuits, as it may alter the materials' lifespan and performance.

SourceJohns Hopkins University·JournalScience·DateFeb 23, 2010

NIST discovers how strain at grain boundaries suppresses high-temperature superconductivity

Researchers at NIST have discovered that reducing mechanical strain at grain boundaries significantly improves high-temperature superconductor performance. By mitigating the effect of granularity, they could enable more efficient electrical transmission lines, increased power grid reliability, and advanced cancer treatment facilities.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJun 17, 2009

When is a supersolid not quite so super?

Researchers at Brown University use a kitchen table physics experiment to study supersolid helium, finding evidence of its behavior in 3 out of 13 trials. The team suggests that a layer of superfluid helium only a single molecule thick forms at grain boundaries, creating a path for movement through the solid.

SourceBrown University·JournalScience·DateOct 24, 2006