Researchers have developed a technique to produce high-quality magnesium alloys using eggshells as a low-cost, environmentally sustainable alternative to conventional calcium materials. The process, called friction stir extrusion, converts eggshell calcium carbonate into calcium oxide and produces a high-strength alloy.
Physicist Yongtao Cui will develop advanced experimental techniques to probe collective modes in 2D materials, aiming to understand fundamental principles governing novel electronic phases. The grant will also support graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, training the next generation of quantum scientists.
Researchers have identified a mechanism called Precipitation Induced Recrystallisation (PIX) that enables metals to self-refine their internal structure through heat treatment alone. This process reduces average grain size by up to 90% in alloys relevant to aerospace applications and fusion energy systems.
Researchers discovered a unified structural descriptor for magnetic ground state selection in Tsai-type compounds using the lattice parameter, revealing a nearly monotonic inverse correlation between electron concentration and lattice parameter. This study provides a practical framework for exploring and designing materials with novel ...
Researchers at Kyushu University have developed a novel molecule that can produce fluorescence and serve as an MRI contrast agent, addressing limitations of current imaging techniques. The molecule, a water-soluble and metal-free compound, demonstrates improved imaging depth and reduced toxicity compared to existing agents.
Engineers can now design aircraft with more accurate pressure control, reducing fuel efficiency and safety risks. The new paint, which glows in proportion to air pressure, has a temperature sensitivity drop of 0.3% per degree Celsius, making it ideal for high-speed wind tunnel testing.
Carbon-based materials exhibit ultra-high thermal conductivity, low density, and low coefficient of thermal expansion, making them suitable for space optical remote sensors. Graphite materials show significant promise in heat dissipation and lightweighting, while carbon/carbon composites improve temperature homogenization.
Researchers discovered that tiny wrinkles in graphene can change its electrical properties, revealing flexoelectricity. The team found that the sharpness of the wrinkles was more important than their size, allowing for stronger electrical charge separation and potential applications in sensing and electronic devices.
Researchers at Drexel University have developed a new process for making MXenes via vapor-phase synthesis, which could enable their use in energy, electronic, and quantum technologies. The new method bypasses traditional chemical etching steps and uses abundant precursors, resulting in lower-cost and higher-quality MXene materials.
Researchers used photons and electrons to create hollow gold nanoboxes, differing in material properties, and demonstrated that beam observation affects chemical reactions.
Researchers develop an adaptive crystal that selectively captures CO₂ and recognizes similar molecules, offering a new approach to molecular separation. The crystal distinguishes CO₂ from nitrogen and methane, even under humid conditions, and preferentially captures benzene over similar molecules.
By localizing peptides at the membrane interface or within the liposome interior, researchers can promote branched structures or spherical nanoparticles, respectively. This approach offers a new strategy for controlling nanoscale reaction environments in nanoparticle synthesis.
Researchers propose a framework for packaging that senses, learns, and acts to reduce food waste and spoilage. The system uses AI to interpret signals from sensors embedded in the packaging, enabling real-time monitoring and adaptive responses to minimize waste and optimize food distribution.
Researchers investigate interfacial water structure and reactivity in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution at TiO2 interfaces. Weaker water-TiO2 interactions and more flexible hydrogen-bond networks favor higher interfacial water reactivity, enabling photocatalyst design with improved performance.
Researchers at NIST have developed quantum sensors that can accurately measure X-ray emissions from plutonium, uranium, and neptunium, allowing for more precise evaluation of nuclear materials. This achievement enables international nuclear safeguards by enabling more accurate accounting of material in nuclear facilities.
The institute will develop two Prometeo projects to create new chiral materials and enzyme-inspired catalysts for energy and catalysis. The projects aim to harness chirality to tune chemical reactivity and selectivity, with potential applications in energy, catalysis, and pharmaceutical industries.
A new theoretical framework treats thermoelectric material, electrodes, and heat leakage within a single unified description, distinguishing individual contributions and establishing a scaling law for coupled electrical and thermal phenomena. This framework has the potential to optimize thermoelectric devices and measurement systems, l...
Researchers have developed an eggshell-inspired aluminum material that offers significant protection from space debris. The material, which consists of water-filled aluminum eggshells arranged in an array, can withstand high loads and reduce the velocity of an impact projectile by nearly 65%. The design, which is inspired by the natura...
Scientists create new two-step annulative p-extension method for synthesizing structurally diverse nanographenes, including curved and non-planar structures. The research expands the toolbox for chemists to access rare molecular fragments with unique properties.
Research at Kyushu University found that using Igusa mats increases brain activity related to concentration and engagement. Participants reported reduced tension and anxiety after using Igusa mats, indicating potential benefits for stress resilience.
The spin states of myoglobin heme iron in aqueous solutions at room temperature were investigated using nitrogen K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy. The study found spin equilibriums between different states in deoxymyoglobin and metmyoglobin.
Recent developments in converting chitin and its derivatives into fibers have improved molecular orientation and strength. Functional chitin-derived fibers, including conductive and responsive fibers, are emerging as an emerging direction for sustainable textiles.
Increasing temperature weakens spin-orbit coupling in topological insulators like Bi2Se3, Bi2Te3, and Sb2Te3, driving a transition to normal insulating state. This phenomenon suggests that temperature could serve as a new knob for controlling materials' electronic properties.
Researchers develop field-calibrated design correlations for large-diameter bored piles in layered ground, improving reliability in shaft resistance prediction. The study evaluates shaft resistance layer by layer, delivering crucial insights for detailed foundation design in soil-rock transition environments.
Researchers aim to develop new magnets that reduce American reliance on supply-vulnerable foreign sources by finding alternatives to critical minerals. The UH-led team will use AI to design and manufacture next-generation permanent magnets, with the goal of surpassing industry-standard materials like neodymium iron boron.
Harvard researchers have developed a mechanics-based framework to control crumpling on inflatable membranes, enabling the creation of reconfigurable, bistable structures. By locally controlling crumples on the surface, the researchers can tune the stability of the whole structure, giving rise to complex shapes and forms.
Researchers discovered a temperature-locking phenomenon in a bulk organic conductor, where Joule heating raises the sample temperature, giving rise to a resistive-switched state. The material exhibits an inverse Ohm's law, showing an unusual behavior where voltage and current are inversely proportional.
A KAIST team uses AI to identify optimal material recipe for 3D-printable, highly stretchable material. The material printed reliably on a DLP 3D printer and showed high stretchability, extending to over six times its original length.
Researchers at Pohang University of Science and Technology have developed a speaker system that can deliver sound to a single listener, using dual-domain metamaterials and a compact ultrasonic transducer. The system achieves highly directional audio generation, focusing sound at the front and blocking parasitic noise at the back.
MIT researchers developed a framework, CrysVCD, to generate stable materials with desired properties, reducing the need for extensive screening. The approach improves material stability by 70% and supports the creation of high-performance materials, such as computer chips and data centers.
Researchers developed an ultralight, anisotropic SiC aerogel with a density of less than 41.8 mg/cm³, demonstrating high-temperature insulation performance. The aerogel's orientation-dependent electromagnetic absorption properties were also shown, with the perpendicular-growth sample delivering outstanding comprehensive properties.
Researchers in Germany have developed a thermographic screening approach to identify short peptide sequences that respond to carbon dioxide. The study combines combinatorial solid-phase peptide synthesis with infrared thermography, identifying two tripeptides that show reproducible thermographic responses when exposed to CO2.
A new membrane combines food waste-derived biochar, graphene, and a phase change material to store thermal energy, improve heat transfer, and manage moisture. The membrane exhibits high thermal conductivity and water vapor permeability, making it suitable for energy recovery ventilation and smart building systems.
A new method allows for the simulation of giant dense polymer systems on an unprecedented scale, revealing concentrated entanglements in localized knots and links. This breakthrough enables the study of dense chain systems beyond idealized polymer physics.
SUNY Poly is part of a $19.9M NSF initiative to develop an AI-powered research platform for accelerating materials discovery. The platform will integrate automated synthesis equipment, robotics, and digital twin technology to simulate and remotely conduct experiments.
A recent study uses thermo-viscoelastic modeling to predict damage initiation strength in solid propellants, reducing experimental cost and complexity. The model accurately captures temperature and strain rate effects, enabling reliable prediction and supporting structural integrity assessment of solid rocket motors.
Petroleum science is at a historic turning point, facing 100 grand challenges that span six domains. The challenges include low-carbon transition, AI-driven solutions, and interdisciplinary collaboration to address issues like CCUS, geothermal energy, and hydrogen energy.
North Carolina State University has been chosen to lead a 10-year Department of War initiative to modernize US textile manufacturing for the defense industry. The initiative aims to increase U.S. competitiveness by adopting advanced technologies and techniques.
A new framework converges soft electronics and artificial intelligence to overcome traditional sensor limitations, enabling adaptive denoising and drift-aware calibration. This synergy transforms mechanically compliant sensors into intelligent systems, achieving continuous, reliable operation in everyday settings.
The CEMDI-PAIMS Symposium brought together experts from materials science, AI, data science and engineering to accelerate the discovery of next-generation materials. Key findings include advances in computational modeling, artificial intelligence, and data-driven approaches for energy and environmental applications.
Researchers have developed a new hydrogel made from peptides that can transport ions, generate electrical signals when squeezed, or interact with cells and biological molecules. The gel has tiny water channels and is electrically polarized due to its highly organized structure made from nanofibers.
Scientists at North Carolina State University have created a highly-porous, superadhesive mesh that can capture both large and small microplastic particles, including those as small as tens of nanometers. The mesh is made from sustainable biopolymers and can clean microplastics from both saltwater and freshwater.
Researchers propose a new analytical approach to determine the limiting velocity of an avalanche crack, revealing that it may propagate at supersonic speeds in certain situations. The findings reconcile conflicting interpretations and provide insights into designing structures impacted by snow masses.
Researchers at NUS CDE developed a self-repairing, recyclable substrate that repairs itself, grips metal conductors firmly and can be remoulded or broken down after use. The new material, called an intrinsically dynamic biosubstrate (IDBS), reduces electronic waste and enables recovery of valuable components.
Researchers designed a compact, optically addressed programmable metasurface using VO2-based phase change materials. The device enables pixel-level independent encoding and dynamic generation of THz wavefronts for various applications including zoom meta-lensing, vortex beams, and holography.
The Advanced Light Materials journal presents research on lightweight and multifunctional materials. Featured papers are now available online at ScienceDirect.
Researchers have developed a new method to handle and transfer ultra-thin materials, using ordinary kitchen cling film to solve the problem of cracking. This breakthrough enables the creation of large-scale fabrication of 2D material-based devices and opens up new opportunities for studying novel physics in condensed matter systems.
Researchers review cellulose-enabled hydrovoltaic energy generators that combine intrinsic properties of natural polymer cellulose with emerging mechanisms to generate electricity. Cellulose-based systems achieve remarkable metrics in power density and efficiency across various categories.
Fluctuations in nanopore structure are key to efficient molecule separation, according to a new study. The research found that dynamic 'breathing' motions can selectively accelerate the transport of one molecule over another, leading to improved separation performance.
Researchers have created a new, recyclable yarn that mimics the properties of spandex-based yarns, offering an alternative to non-recyclable stretchy garments. The yarn is made from a form of plastic and can be melted down and reused multiple times without losing its strength and flexibility.
A Chinese research team has proposed a novel approach to separate dimethyl carbonate from methanol using a tailor-made ionic liquid and heat pump-assisted distillation. The method significantly reduces energy consumption and costs compared to traditional methods, making it an attractive solution for the chemical industry.
Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University developed a practical imaging technique to visualize surface plasmon polaritons, electromagnetic waves traveling along metal surfaces. The method uses quantum dots to create sensitizers that can capture images of the waves under normal laboratory conditions.
Researchers at Harvard's SEAS have created unique machine-knitted fabrics that 'snap' between multiple stable shapes, exhibiting multistability. The team embedded fine conductive yarns to create soft, stretchable electric switches that change state as the textile snaps back and forth.
The City University of New York has received an $18.1 million NSF award to create a cloud-programmable national laboratory that uses artificial intelligence and robotics to speed the discovery, design, and production of advanced bio-inspired materials. Researchers nationwide will have remote access to automated tools for developing sus...
Rice University has received a nearly $20 million NSF award to lead an AI-powered materials laboratory that aims to accelerate the manufacturing of electronic and quantum materials. The project, READINESS, will integrate automated synthesis equipment, robotic systems, and digital twins to minimize trial-and-error experimentation and en...
Researchers at Kyoto University developed a hybrid graphite-based substance with aligned particles that demonstrates stable diamagnetic levitation. The team successfully created the substance by aligning micro-crystals in a uniform direction and applying a magnetic field, resulting in a miniature flying carpet-like effect.
A greenhouse study suggests that converting rice straw into biochar could provide greater environmental and food safety benefits than directly incorporating untreated straw. Biochar treatment reduced copper and lead accumulation, improved soil properties, and produced high grain biomass, while avoiding air pollution from open burning.
Researchers at Tohoku University have developed high-performance silk with 50% greater tensile strength and reduced shrinkage after wetting. By altering silkworm diets, they added plant-derived cellulose nanofibers to improve silk fibers' properties.
Researchers found that combining biochar with selected components from organic fertilizer can convert cadmium into less mobile forms. Larger organic molecules provide stronger protection against cadmium uptake by crops.
Kyushu University researchers have developed prototype thin-film electronic modules that can automatically connect and disconnect with each other. The modules use a kinetic electronics approach, integrating actuators and circuits on the same thin-film to create an electromechanical docking mechanism.