Research on testing materials and how they perform. Covers spacecraft shielding, manufacturing challenges, metallic glass in space, and recyclable materials.
The Northwestern University Materials Research Science and Engineering Center has received a six-year, $15.6 million grant from the National Science Foundation to advance world-class materials research, education, and outreach. The center will support interdisciplinary research groups focusing on reconfigurable nanoelectronic materials...
Researchers at MIT's CSAIL developed a printer-ink material that expands after solidification, allowing the creation of self-folding devices. The technique enables the custom manufacture of sensors, displays, or antennas with three-dimensional shapes.
Researchers enhanced spider silk with graphene-based materials, boosting its mechanical properties by up to three times the strength and ten times the toughness. The modified silks show promising applications in high-performance or biodegradable textiles such as parachutes or medical dressings.
Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery about the optical properties of glass, finding that stable glasses can exhibit birefringence despite having no molecular orientation. This unique property allows for the creation of scratch-free coatings and materials with different mechanical properties.
Researchers discovered how oxygen alters MoS2's electronic and optical properties, enabling tunable optical band gaps. This knowledge sheds light on modifying the material's properties for various applications.
A UK study found that individuals who started viewing sexually explicit material at a younger age were more likely to engage in sexual activity at an earlier age. The research also revealed a correlation between ongoing exposure and having multiple sexual partners, particularly among women.
A team of materials designers led by Dynamic Research Inc. won the grand prize of $500,000 for developing a novel material with an unusual geometric structure that can absorb or mitigate force within helmets and other protective gear, reducing impact by over 70%. The winning entry has potential to support innovation and stimulate the m...
Scientists at Case Western Reserve University have discovered that tiny holes and cracks in materials can control electric charge through friction. The findings could lead to better adhesion for agricultural pesticides, paints, and other applications, while also preventing damage from static electricity.
Researchers developed a new theory to understand how cracks propagate, revealing a nonlinear relationship between forces and material response near the crack's edge. This discovery may lead to better understanding of material failures and development of new strategies for protecting the environment.
UCSB researchers developed a new type of dental composite inspired by mussel mechanisms to adhere to surfaces. The material provides an extra layer of durability, potentially leading to longer-lasting fillings and crowns.
Researchers have created a new type of rubber that can self-heal, offering potential applications in durable tires, wearable electronics, and medical devices. The hybrid rubber combines covalent and reversible bonds to achieve its unique properties.
A team at MIT has carried out detailed tests that resolve the questions surrounding a compound called lithium iodide, a possible solution to some of the lithium-air battery's problems. The study finds that LiI can enhance water's reactivity and interfere with charging, but suggests ways to suppress these reactions to make it work better.
Researchers at VTT have discovered the frictional mechanism behind water repellency on inclined surfaces. By understanding this phenomenon, they can predict sliding of drops off surfaces and develop hydrophobic materials with improved wettability.
Hybrid materials combining organic and inorganic components show promise for various applications, including optics and biomedicine. The materials display enhanced photophysical properties, such as anisotropic response to polarized light and artificial antenna effects.
Researchers develop a new material with nanohydroxyapatite and green tea polyphenol EGCG to combat tooth sensitivity. The material plugged dentin tubules, released EGCG for 96 hours, and prevented biofilm formation, showing low toxicity.
A team of researchers has observed nonreciprocal magnons in a noncentrosymmetric antiferromagnet for the first time, showcasing a new regime of magnetic materials. This phenomenon has significant implications for magnon-based electronics, such as spin-wave field-effect transistors.
Researchers developed a light-responsive crystalline material that overcomes previous challenges in creating 'photoresponsive' materials. The material changes its porous nature when exposed to light, allowing for repeatable and reversible changes.
Researchers at Pitt Engineering have created synthetic materials that mimic the behavior of living organisms, enabling self-recognition and self-regulation in devices. The findings were published in PNAS and demonstrate potential applications for mechano-responsive materials with tunable self-awareness.
Researchers at MIT and Brigham and Women's Hospital have developed triggerable tough hydrogels that can expand in the GI tract for days, slowly releasing medication. The materials, made from two intertwined polymer networks, can be triggered to self-destruct in case of an allergic reaction.
Scientists have discovered a novel way to create superconductors at higher temperatures using boron-doped Q-carbon, with a transition temperature of 57K. This breakthrough could lead to practical applications in fields like energy and transportation.
University scientists at Swansea University and Islamic Azad University have developed a new class of materials suitable agents for oil displacing in enhanced oil recovery. The nanoparticle-surfactant complexes improved oil recovery by 58% compared to 45% recovery in the presence of surfactant alone.
A team of researchers has found a way to determine whether a crystal is a topological insulator and predict its structure and composition. This discovery reveals that topological materials are much more common than previously believed, with thousands of new candidates identified.
Scientists discovered that smooth surfaces are key to preventing dendrites from forming in solid electrolyte lithium batteries, a breakthrough that could enable safer and more efficient battery technology. By eliminating the need for liquid electrolytes, researchers aim to double a battery's energy capacity.
Researchers at UNC Chapel Hill developed a new methodology called PLMF to predict properties of new metals and materials using machine learning. The tool was able to fill in missing values for existing materials, allowing scientists to test new ideas before synthesis.
Researchers discovered a new class of topological materials, consisting of wolfram and tellurium atoms, which exhibit two-dimensional insulation and edge spin currents. This breakthrough enables the creation of spintronic devices with increased data transmission capacity and reduced power consumption.
A team from Kyoto University developed a synthetic compound that can bind to mitochondrial DNA, suppressing a gene associated with nerve and muscle disease. The compound, MITO-PIP, caused a 60% to 90% reduction in the expression of a key gene involved in mitochondrial metabolism.
A new dissolvable device made from polyethylene glycol and dihydroxyacetone has shown promise in preventing intestinal damage during surgical incisions. The flexible material can be left behind in the abdominal cavity, protecting vital structures until the final sutures are made.
Scientists have developed a method to defrost surfaces 10 times faster than normal using a superhydrophobic coating. The 'dynamic defrosting' technique involves creating air pockets under frost, allowing it to slide off easily and leaving the surface dry.
A team of Penn State researchers has created 2D layered devices that can self-assemble at atomistic precision, enabling the production of high-efficiency devices such as flexible electronics and energy storage systems. The devices feature minute spacing between layers, which is crucial for achieving optimal performance.
Researchers have developed a new technique that can characterize nuclear material in a location even after the material has been removed. By analyzing changes in valence electrons, they can determine the presence, strength, and type of radioactive material present.
A novel composite material developed by Swansea scientists effectively removes dye pollutants from water, adsorbing over 90% of the dye. The material breaks down the dye using visible light and can be reused after filtering, providing a promising solution to environmental harm.
Researchers have discovered a new topological material that could overcome difficulties in creating fault-tolerant quantum computers. By patterning the superconductor directly into the crystal, they can eliminate electrical contact problems and pattern devices for quantum computing in one single crystal.
Researchers at IST Austria have developed a new method to create self-actuating, smooth, and free-form objects called CurveUps. These objects are made up of tiny tiles sandwiched between pre-stretched latex layers that transform into a continuous shell during the process.
Researchers found that the internal structure of sea sponge anchors, known as basalia spicules, allows them to bend up to 2.4 times before breaking, enabling them to securely attach to the seafloor. The study's findings may lead to the development of new materials with similar properties.
Scientists developed a graphene-based aerogel that meets the needs for flexible electronics by mimicking the structure of the powdery alligator-flag plant. The material is strong, resilient, and supports 6,000 times its own weight.
A team of researchers at the University of Pennsylvania has created the most thorough model to date of how smart materials work in ultrasound technology. They found striking similarities with the behavior of water, which could lead to new materials design and higher quality piezoelectrics.
Researchers investigated electronic materials for micro-electronics, opto-electronics and quantum technologies, developing flexible thermoelectric zinc oxide thin films on cotton textiles. Aalto University's expertise in cutting-edge materials science is highlighted, with publications cited more often than the world average.
Researchers have created a water-soluble molecule, dubbed molecular ruby, to measure temperature in various environments. The molecule emits different wavelengths of infrared radiation depending on the temperature, allowing for accurate contactless temperature measurements.
A team at Osaka University found that agitating amorphous materials at a certain frequency accelerates crystallization, indicating a new method for controlling the formation of crystalline materials. The study used colloidal systems to model atomic materials and identified a specific vibrational mode facilitating crystallization.
Researchers at Swansea University have created a new class of nanomaterials with tunable wettability, which can be used for antifouling and water-proofing surfaces. The materials are inexpensive, non-toxic, and can be applied via spray or spin-coating to various surfaces.
Researchers have developed a synthetic hackmanite material that produces broad spectrum white light similar to sunlight, with low production costs and non-toxic elements. The material has persistent luminescence, suitable for use in lamps, exit signs, and diagnostic applications.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new technique that allows for continuous, high-precision monitoring of materials exposed to high-radiation environments. This method could significantly speed up the development of new materials for nuclear reactors, enabling real-time diagnostic systems to monitor damage over time.
Researchers at MIT developed a composite material inspired by conch shells, showing 85% better crack propagation prevention than traditional materials. The 3-tiered structure combines strength and toughness, allowing for individualized, personalized helmets and body armor.
Researchers develop practical wool dye from sorghum husks, offering UV protection and fluorescence, while reducing waste disposal. The dyes showed good colorfastness even after multiple washes and ironing cycles.
Researchers developed a new perovskite material that overcomes water sensitivity, creating stable and efficient solar cells with a ten percent efficiency rate. The material's ability to self-organize in an edge-standing structure increases electron circulation, improving energy conversion.
Researchers at the University of Basel and Paul Scherrer Institute have produced a wafer-thin ferrimagnet by arranging phthalocyanine molecules on a gold surface in a checkerboard pattern. The material exhibits two-dimensional magnetic properties, making it suitable for applications such as sensors and quantum computing.
Researchers identified phosphorene-like SiS and SiSe as promising anode materials for sodium-ion batteries. These materials exhibit high theoretical specific capacities and low volume changes, ensuring good structural stability.
Next-generation rechargeable batteries require high energy density and cost efficiency. Functional membrane separators improve cycling stability in various battery systems. Smart and sustainable separators enhance safety performance by creating homogeneous environments for lithium deposition.
The Graz University of Technology team uses computer simulations to propose a fundamentally new concept for controlling electronic properties of materials. Collective electrostatic effects are used to intentionally manipulate material properties, demonstrating its potential in solar cells and three-dimensional materials.
Researchers developed a bimodal AFM approach to probe materials in three dimensions simultaneously, providing new insights into surface morphology and chemical reactions. The technique enables the measurement of forces in X, Y, and Z directions on the subatomic scale.
Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) convert movement into electricity, and daily body motion can power wearable devices. Researchers found that arm motion can cover the energy consumption of a smartwatch and even smartphones.
Scientists at Linköping University have directly observed dislocation-pipe diffusion, a phenomenon that has eluded materials scientists for decades. The movement of atoms between layers of a thin film was captured using high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy.
Researchers discovered a class of materials that can exhibit superconductivity at room temperature due to innovative laser techniques. This breakthrough opens up new perspectives for the development of high-temperature superconductors with applications in electronics, diagnostics, and transport.
Scientists have developed a water-repellent material that molts like a snake's skin when damaged, revealing another hydrophobic layer beneath. This material has the potential to be used in various applications such as rain gear, medical instruments and self-cleaning car windows.
Researchers at Penn State have developed a fast, non-destructive optical method for analyzing defects in 2D materials. This new technique uses fluorescent microscopy to identify defects and correlates the results with visual confirmation under transmission electron microscopy.
A global study will investigate thermal, air quality and social conditions in refugee camps to inform the design of shelters that moderate extremes of temperature and ensure privacy, comfort and dignity. The project aims to create a manual for aid agencies providing guidelines on shelter design, construction and context.
Scientists at Penn State report breakthroughs in stenciling 2D materials with atomic precision, enabling new chip functionality and overcoming substrate effects. The simple technique involves exposing photoresist to UV light and washing away exposed areas, allowing precise placement of high-quality materials.
The study found that the material with atomically thin layers of water stored energy more efficiently than the regular material, wasting less energy as heat. This breakthrough holds promise for future energy-storage technologies, such as thinner batteries and faster renewable-based power grids.
Scientists have created a model to analyze irregular atomic structures at grain boundaries, where two materials meet. The Polyhedral Unit Model identifies patterns of atomic shapes and can help determine how these structures affect material properties.
A University of Houston graduate student has been awarded a NASA fellowship to identify new materials for next-generation batteries. He plans to use a combined computational and experimental approach to investigate solid-state electrolyte materials for lithium batteries.