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Researchers engineer a tougher fiber

North Carolina State University researchers created fibers that combine rubber's elasticity with metal's strength, resulting in a tougher material. The fibers can stretch up to seven times their original length before failure while absorbing energy, making them suitable for applications like soft robotics and textiles.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalScience Advances·DateFeb 22, 2019

Super-light, super-insulating ceramic aerogel keeps the hottest temperatures at bay

Researchers developed a near-weightless material with exceptional structural stability and superinsulation, capable of withstanding extreme temperatures. The unique ceramic aerogel features unusual double-negative-index properties, demonstrating robustness against high-temperature exposure and rapid temperature swings.

Scientists discover new type of self-healing material

Researchers create a new type of self-healing material that exhibits properties such as toughness and shape memory. The material autonomously heals under mechanical damage, including in water and aqueous acid and alkaline solutions, without the need for external energy or stimulus.

SourceRIKEN·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateFeb 7, 2019

Maximizing the potential of MXenes

MXenes' conductivity increases as intercalants and termination species are eliminated, making them suitable for applications like energy storage and wearable tech. Researchers developed a new electron microscopy technique to measure surface chemistry in real-time, paving the way for termination engineering.

SourceDrexel University·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 31, 2019

New method yields higher transition temperature in superconducting materials

Researchers at the University of Houston have developed a new method to raise the transition temperature of superconducting materials, potentially leading to more efficient and reliable power grids. The breakthrough, reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, uses high pressure to increase the superconductors' abi...

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 25, 2019

Materials that open in the heat of the moment

Researchers at Kyoto University have designed a temperature-controllable copper-based material that can dynamically change pore sizes, allowing for improved gas separation and storage. The material can selectively adsorb gases based on temperature, opening channels to separate gases with different molecular sizes.

SourceKyoto University·JournalScience·DateJan 24, 2019

Self-assembling nanomaterial offers pathway to more efficient, affordable harnessing of solar power

Researchers at ASRC developed self-assembling nanomaterials that produce singlet fission reactions to create more usable charges, increasing theoretical solar cell efficiency up to 44%. The new materials could shorten the time for creating commercially viable solar cells and prove more affordable than current fabrication methods.

SourceAdvanced Science Research Center, GC/CUNY·JournalThe Journal of Physical Chemistry C·DateJan 24, 2019

Scientists discover new quantum spin liquid

Researchers at the University of Liverpool and McMaster University have discovered a quantum spin liquid state in TbInO3, a complex material that defies its crystal structure. The exotic state emerges from the local environment around magnetic ions, giving rise to extraordinary properties.

SourceUniversity of Liverpool·JournalNature Physics·DateJan 21, 2019

What happens when bombs explode?

Engineers at the University of Sheffield are developing more effective bomb protection systems by studying explosions in detail. The project aims to provide a better understanding of blast loading and its effects on structures, enabling the design of safer buildings and materials.

'Rippling' under pressure

Researchers at Drexel University have discovered a buckling phenomenon in layered materials when subjected to pressure, which could revolutionize the way we study deformation. The 'ripplocations' observed in experiments with cards and metals demonstrate non-linear elastic behavior that precedes material failure.

SourceDrexel University·JournalPhysical Review Materials·DateJan 2, 2019

System monitors radiation damage to materials in real-time

Researchers at MIT and Sandia National Laboratories have developed a new laser-based system that can monitor radiation-induced changes continuously, providing more useful data much faster than traditional methods. This allows for detailed studies of the performance of materials in just hours, instead of months.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms·DateDec 18, 2018

Two dimensions are better than three

Susan Fullerton is developing all 2D materials for next-generation electronics, with potential applications in information storage, brain-inspired computing, and security. Her research uses a novel approach to ion utilization, which could represent a paradigm shift in high-performance computing.

Building better batteries by borrowing from biology

A new advance in battery design has been made by Osaka University researchers who developed a material with highly mobile potassium ions that can easily migrate in response to electric fields. This work may lead to cheaper and safer replacements for lithium-ion batteries, benefiting electric cars and consumer electronics.

SourceOsaka University·JournalChemical Science·DateNov 21, 2018

Shake, rattle, and roll to high efficiency photovoltaics

Researchers at Penn State discover unique properties of halide perovskites that enable efficient conversion of sunlight into electricity, guiding the development of next-generation solar cells. The study's findings provide insights into how to improve the performance and stability of these materials.

SourcePenn State·JournalChem·DateSep 27, 2018

New ultrasonic wave phenomenon leads to improved safety for society

Researchers at Toyohashi University of Technology have discovered a new ultrasonic wave phenomenon that enables precise and nondestructive detection of fatigue and early damage in thin plate materials. This technology surpasses conventional methods, allowing for accurate evaluation of material damage even before it occurs.

SourceToyohashi University of Technology (TUT)·JournalThe Journal of the Acoustical Society of America·DateSep 12, 2018

Pushing 'print' on large-scale piezoelectric materials

Researchers developed a simple, inexpensive technique to create large-scale sheets of two-dimensional piezoelectric material, allowing integration onto silicon chips and expansion into surface manufacturing. The method enables the production of free-standing GaPO4 nanosheets for piezo-sensors and energy harvesting applications.

Chilean scientists discover crucial event right before the death of a star

Researchers from Chile and international institutions have discovered a critical event right before the death of a star, revealing a previously unknown flash in Type II Supernovae. This breakthrough was made possible by using unique data analysis techniques developed in Chile, including machine learning and high-performance computing.