Articles tagged with Materials
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.
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.
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 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.
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 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.
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.
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...
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...
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.
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.
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 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.
Researchers discovered bio-metals in the jaws of ancient sea worms, exhibiting properties like hardness and strain mechanics. The unique materials show similarities to metals but also have distinct mechanical properties.
Flexible electromagnetic induction-type tactile sensors offer a promising route for low-power, robust and self-powered interfaces. The researchers provided a systematic roadmap for development, including application-oriented design and multimodal integration with other sensing mechanisms.
Researchers have discovered a soft material that overcomes the trade-off between toughness and fatigue-resistance, making it stronger and more durable. The material's unique architecture enables repetitive energy dissipation mechanisms, allowing it to absorb energy without breaking.
Researchers have synthesized and determined the structure of a borate-linked 3D crystalline covalent organic framework, expanding the synthesis and implementation of highly ordered frameworks. The discovery paves the way for their use in advanced applications such as carbon sequestration, environmental remediation, and drug delivery.
Researchers develop a new strategy for producing negative thermal expansion (NTE) materials, enabling safer and more efficient synthesis. The approach combines reverse coprecipitation with oxidation in a single step, eliminating the need for harsh chemicals and reducing environmental impact.
Researchers at Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg have discovered a way to generate and control toroidal moments in carbon nanotori using computer simulations. This enables precise control of superconductors with minimal loss, opening up new possibilities for quantum computing.
A new method called DD-r²SCANH addresses the problem of underestimating band gaps in narrow-gap semiconductors. It combines two mathematical tools, r²SCAN and a smart algorithm, to predict dielectric constants more accurately.
A novel approach using silica microspheres encapsulates colorants in plastics, allowing for easy recycling and selective separation of colors. This technology enables the reuse of high-value resources from previously downcycled plastics, significantly reducing energy consumption and environmental impact.
A Korean research team created an underwater acoustic lens capable of focusing sound precisely at a desired point while reducing weight by about 40% compared to conventional designs. The findings have significant implications for underwater communication, marine environmental monitoring, and acoustic energy transfer.
Researchers reviewed current-carrying friction and wear models, noting mechanistic models rely on specific conditions, numerical simulations require computation, and AI approaches depend on high-quality data. The review aims to predict wear behavior accurately before damage occurs.
Researchers compiled a comprehensive survey to improve rubber friction under lubrication, highlighting the importance of considering multiple factors. The study aims to promote integration of methods for improved friction and safety.
Researchers propose a framework to create adaptable, multifunctional bioinspired materials for harsh environments. By mimicking nature's designs, they aim to develop intelligent structural adhesion and friction materials that can operate across different environments.
Researchers discovered graphene can host multiple superconducting states, some persisting even in the presence of strong magnetic fields. The team found that certain experimental conditions could control the material's properties, leading to a new family of unconventional superconducting states.
A team of researchers at Penn State developed a new design approach to reduce the cost of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) by optimizing metallic fibers, which currently make up 70% of the material's price. The new design can help produce stronger and more environmentally friendly concrete while reducing costs.
The EU project BRISA aims to test safe and clean industrial technologies that reduce risks to human health and biodiversity. The project will protect over 45,000 workers by 2035 and prevent hundreds of premature deaths each year.
Researchers have designed a material with an exceptionally broad zero-thermal-expansion temperature window, enabling stable performance in extreme temperatures. The novel crystal structure enhances flexibility and preserves negative thermal expansion at high temperatures.
Jorge Íñiguez-González leads a €2.5M ERC Advanced Grant project to explore reconfigurable materials with tunable properties. The research aims to create adaptive technologies for information storage and next-generation computing.
Researchers investigated phosphate double-bond character in solid and liquid phases using oxygen K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy. The study found that the double-bond character increased with increasing negative charge in the solid phase, but decreased in aqueous solutions due to interactions between phosphates and Na+ ions.
A team of scientists observed Jahn–Teller polarons in cobalt oxide crystals activated by tailored laser pulses. The study reveals the material's structural, electrical, and magnetic properties can be engineered using ultrafast laser pulses.
Researchers introduce scaffold-microenvironment decoupling approach to construct hierarchically tough yet open polymer scaffolds with highly conductive microenvironments. The resulting hydrogel exhibits integrated properties, including high mechanical strength, ultra-high ionic conductivity, and practical efficacy in three demanding el...
Researchers observed quantum oscillations in YbB12 using ultrasonic measurements, revealing new insight into unusual quantum behavior. The findings suggest that sound waves interact more strongly with quasiparticles in the metallic phase.
Researchers have designed a clay material that can absorb and retain ethylene gas, slowing down the ripening process of fruits and vegetables. This innovation has the potential to reduce food waste and improve fruit flavor by allowing for later harvesting in the ripening process.
Researchers have identified a mechanism to improve energy efficiency by converting wasted heat into electricity using hollow silicon nanotubes. This technology has the potential to replace rare metals with abundant silicon, leading to more efficient thermoelectric devices.
A team of MIT researchers has developed a machine-learning approach that captures the diversity of atomic environments in chemically disordered materials. This allows for more accurate predictions of material properties and opens up possibilities for creating new sustainable steels and materials for aerospace, energy, and computing.
Scientists at the National Graphene Institute have captured the growth of semiconducting tellurium nanostructures in real time, revealing how tiny seed particles form and grow into nanowires. Adding bismuth seed particles can speed up the process and improve the structure's shape.
A study by Southeast University and Korea University provides a roadmap for converting biomass into renewable energy and chemicals. The researchers highlight the potential of biomass chemical looping (BCL) for producing hydrogen, methanol, and other low-carbon products.
Researchers discovered a synergistic effect of rare-earth elements on CMAS corrosion behavior, enabling enhanced resistance in (RE1/4Tm1/4Yb1/4Lu1/4)2Si2O7 materials at 1300 °C. The study provides valuable insights into the correlation mechanism between rare-earth components and final corrosion resistance.
Researchers developed a cobalt manganese spinel catalyst regulated by biochar to activate peroxymonosulfate, achieving higher degradation rates and improved selectivity than traditional systems. The new CoMn0.75/BC system showed strong practical potential, maintaining high imidacloprid removal efficiency across various pH ranges.
Dissolved black carbon's colloidal behavior can decide whether carbon and associated contaminants travel long distances or become trapped in sediments. Understanding this behavior is essential for predicting environmental risks and carbon cycling.
Researchers at MPI-SusMat discovered that adding specific metal oxides as catalytic precursors can double the reduction kinetics of hydrogen-based metal production, allowing for reduced energy use. This breakthrough enables lower reduction temperatures, shorter processing times, and reduced energy consumption.
James Dante, a leading expert in corrosion science, has been named Fellow of the Association for Materials Protection and Performance. He is renowned for developing laboratory test methods to predict corrosion and coating system degradation, and his work has been instrumental in standards development.
Researchers at Penn State developed photomemristors that adjust sensitivity based on light levels, like the human eye. These devices can process light data faster and more accurately than traditional systems in mixed lighting environments.
Ferroelectric thin films' thickness, strain state and domain architecture are influenced by van der Waals forces, which can be controlled through epitaxial growth on MoS2 substrates. This discovery enables the creation of higher-quality, larger thin films with improved performance.
Researchers at NINN and SOKENDAI develop a new strategy for synthesizing three-dimensional macrocycles in a square shape, featuring acid responsiveness and recyclability. The method uses an imine bond to create the shape, respond to stimuli, and revert back.
Scientists have developed a method to measure the electronic structures of liquid water and organic molecules using soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy. By controlling the thickness of the liquid layer, they obtained XAS spectra of both the bulk liquid and the solid-liquid interface.
Researchers have developed a new metal-organic framework (MOF) that captures 170 mg of water per gram at just 0.2% relative humidity, one of the highest water uptake capacities reported in such conditions. The material shows excellent stability and selectivity for water molecules over nitrogen.