Research on testing materials and how they perform. Covers spacecraft shielding, manufacturing challenges, metallic glass in space, and recyclable materials.
Researchers successfully demonstrate room-temperature multiband microlasers spanning a large wavelength range using rare earth elements. The lasing process combines downshifting and upconversion, expanding the emission wavelength range. The resulting microlasers exhibit good intensity stability and are suitable for practical applications.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a method to create a thin film coating on lithium anodes using powder brushing, which improves battery life and capacity. The coated anodes retained 70% more capacity after 340 charge-discharge cycles than off-the-shelf batteries.
Scientists at Giessen University used high-performance computing to understand the optical response of cluster glass, a material that generates bright, clear white light. The study verified the experiment through simulation and showed the link between the observed properties and molecular structure.
A new study creates a photochromic nylon webbing that changes color in response to UV exposure, allowing for long-term UV sensing. The webbings' color decay rate depends on the initial dye concentration, with customized dye levels enabling varying lifetimes.
Researchers characterize material properties of IP-Q using Raman spectroscopy and nanoindentation, revealing elastic parameters and their effects on acoustic behavior. The study optimizes elastic parameters for TPP-fabricated structures, benefiting applications in life science, mobility, and industry.
A new device replicates short sections of human blood vessels allowing for variable flow conditions that mimic the body. Researchers can now watch what's happening inside treated grafts down to individual cells.
Researchers at Duke University have created a lab-made cartilage substitute that is stronger and more durable than natural cartilage. The hydrogel material can withstand even more stress from pulling and squishing, with improved strength and durability compared to previous methods.
Researchers from Griffith University and UNSW Sydney developed a robust and functional material system that overcomes the challenges of long-term implantation in biofluids. The system consists of silicon carbide nanomembranes as the contact surface and silicon dioxide as the protective encapsulation, showing unrivalled stability.
Scientists at the University of Delaware have developed a new type of cement that can be used to build structures on the moon or Mars. The geopolymer cement is made from clay-like topsoil materials found on these planets and has been shown to be durable enough for vertical launch pads.
Brazilian researchers used computer simulations to investigate the superconducting behavior of a dimolybdenum nitride monolayer, finding that it became superconductive at relatively high temperatures and showed strong correlation with strain applied.
MIT researchers developed a method to create 3D-printed materials with tunable mechanical properties and embedded sensors, enabling real-time feedback on movement and interaction. The sensing structures use air-filled channels that deform when moved or squeezed, providing accurate feedback for robotics and wearable devices.
New research from the University of Georgia found at least 479 people were injured and 28 died worldwide in more than 130 bounce house accidents due to weather events. Basic precautions such as securing bounce houses could have prevented many accidents.
Researchers at Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology improve triboelectric nanogenerators by using mesoporous carbon spheres to enhance charge transport and surface charge densities. The device achieves a 1300-fold higher output current, enabling potential sustainable energy harvesting.
Researchers at Nagoya University have developed a new technique for creating polymers with controlled molecular weight and high optical activity. The discovery uses a combination of living cationic polymerization and asymmetric cationic polymerization, resulting in optically active polymers with unique properties.
Stabilized coacervate droplets can be steered using an electric field, allowing for controlled manipulation and delivery of biomolecules like enzymes. The technology has potential applications in drug delivery and other encapsulation technologies, as well as explaining the stability of biological condensates.
Researchers develop a safe and effective way to whiten teeth without damaging enamel, breaking apart cavity-forming biofilms. The treatment uses a hydrogel activated by green light to kill 94% of bacteria in biofilms and prevent cavities from forming on teeth.
Scientists aim to replicate human brain's capabilities in computing, inspired by quantum materials' traits. Researchers develop materials that can process information efficiently, consuming less energy than traditional computers.
Huddersfield researchers are working on a new project to develop novel and sustainable molecular materials that harness light to drive useful chemical reactions. The project aims to address the limitation of using rare and expensive elements like ruthenium and iridium in current applications. By exploring the intrinsic properties of li...
Researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine have successfully engineered a material that can conduct electricity with zero resistance, paving the way for revolutionary technologies. The breakthrough uses DNA to guide chemical reactions, overcoming a long-standing challenge in materials science.
Researchers developed a new printing technique that applies a 19th-century color photography method to modern holographic materials, producing large-scale images on elastic materials with structural color. The team's results enable the creation of pressure-monitoring bandages, shade-shifting fabrics, or touch-sensing robots.
Researchers at TIBI developed a minimally invasive method for targeted delivery of immunotherapeutic treatments, resulting in slower tumor growth and higher activation of T-cells. The injectable gelatin biomaterial containing silicate nanoplatelets showed sustained drug release and controlled ICI delivery.
Researchers at the University of Manchester captured images of single atoms 'swimming' in liquid for the first time, revealing how liquid affects atomic behavior. The discovery could have widespread impact on green technologies like hydrogen production and clean water generation.
Inserting magnesium fluoride between perovskite and electron-transport layers reduces charge recombination and enhances performance, leading to a 50 millivolt increase in open-current voltage and a stabilized power conversion efficiency of 29.3 percent.
Researchers at IISc used widely-used computational techniques to predict and verify migration barrier values in lithium-ion batteries. They propose robust guidelines to choose accurate frameworks for testing materials. The study found SCAN functional had better accuracy overall, while GGA was faster but less accurate.
Cubic boron arsenide overcomes silicon's limitations, providing high electron and hole mobility and excellent thermal conductivity. The material has been shown to have a significant potential in various applications where its unique properties would make a difference.
Researchers at MIT develop a biodegradable system based on silk to replace microplastics added to agricultural products, paints, and cosmetics. The new material is made from widely available and less expensive silk protein, which can be dissolved using a scalable water-based process.
Researchers at the University of Bayreuth have created a test system to characterize and compare passive cooling materials, overcoming challenges in determining their performance. The system mimics key factors influencing passive cooling performance, allowing for reproducible tests under identical conditions.
Researchers have created a biodegradable seaweed-derived film that effectively absorbs sounds in the range of human voices, traffic, and music. The agar-based composite films outperform traditional acoustic foams in terms of sound-absorbing qualities.
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have successfully controlled electron spin at room temperature, a crucial step towards developing more efficient and faster devices. The discovery uses a unique ferroelectric van der Waals layered perovskite crystal to harness the Rashba or Dresselhaus spin-orbit coupling effect.
The new system, S4, offers a high-resolution view of stressed specimens comparable to or better than established technologies like DIC. It also overcomes optical challenges posed by cement in concrete, providing a reliable strain measurement technology.
A new biohybrid composite material demonstrates improved elasticity and fracture energy compared to existing zwitterionic materials, making it suitable for regenerative medicine applications. The material's biocompatibility allows it to recruit cells and support tissue regeneration.
A team of researchers from Tokyo University of Science has developed an efficient integrated materials synthesis system for automatic discovery of new functional magnetic materials. Using artificial intelligence and computational science, they identified promising materials five times more efficiently than traditional trial-and-error a...
Researchers observe a significant increase in electrical conductivity when mica is thinned down to few molecular layers, exhibiting semiconductor-like behavior. The findings suggest that thin mica flakes have the potential to be used in two-dimensional electronic devices with exceptional stability and durability.
A team of WVU researchers has developed a biodegradable composite material using cotton fibers from recycled mattresses, with the goal of replacing single-use plastics. The new material will be created through 3D printing and can be used to produce various consumer products, such as beverage straws and disposable packaging.
Scientists have found a new phenomenon where an atomic switch has to be switched back and forth four times to return to its original state. The spin of gadolinium atoms performs one full rotation during this process. This discovery opens up possibilities for material physics and could potentially be used to store information.
Researchers at the University of California San Diego have developed temperature-resilient lithium-ion batteries with high energy density, compatible with high-temperature operation. These batteries could enable electric vehicles to travel farther on a single charge in cold climates and reduce overheating in hot climates.
A heat-loving bacterium's Cas13 protein enables specific detection of SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses in a one-pot assay. The technology has been patented and clinically validated, with the aim of mass production and commercialization.
A team of scientists from A*STAR and NTU Singapore have developed technology to transform expired solar cells into enhanced thermoelectric material, which harvests heat and converts it into electricity. The technology achieved a record-high thermoelectric figure of merit of 0.45 at 873 K.
Researchers at Penn State have created a highly customizable microscale gas sensing device using laser writing and responsive sensor technologies. The device enables the simultaneous detection of multiple gases, including disease indicators and pollutants, in various environments and substrates.
Researchers at Rice University have successfully created the first heat-tolerant, stable fibers from boron nitride nanotubes using a wet-spinning process. The fibers assemble themselves into liquid crystals, making them easier to process and suitable for large-scale applications in aerospace, electronics, and energy-efficient materials.
The study used synchrotron radiation X-ray computed tomography (CT) to observe internal nonuniform deformation of a material in several dozens mm. They found that performing deformation evaluations at both macroscale and microscale can provide insights into the vibration damping mechanism of rubber materials.
Lithium niobate photonics has developed rapidly, enabling compact devices with high performance. Thin film lithium niobate (TFLN) structures have shown significant improvements in refractive index contrast, paving the way for more integrated photonic devices.
Researchers created a new gel that can protect fragile objects like eggs by adding starch to gelatin, reducing impact force up to 15%. The gel's flexibility and impact absorption make it suitable for sports equipment, defense materials, and packaging.
Scientists investigated the local structure of a high-entropy Cantor alloy using X-ray absorption spectroscopy, revealing structural relaxations in chromium atoms and no evidence of secondary phases. The study correlated these findings with macroscopic magnetic properties.
Researchers investigate the search for Majorana fermions in iron-based superconductors, which could enable topological quantum computing and ultra-low energy electronics. The existence of Majorana zero-energy modes in topological superconductors makes them a promising candidate material for realizing these technologies.
Researchers found that hackmanite's structural breathing allows it to change color indefinitely due to sodium atoms moving inside a zeolitic cage. This property enables various applications such as UV monitoring and X-ray imaging.
Researchers have derived governing equations that describe the macroscopic mechanical behavior of elastomers filled with liquid inclusions directly from their microscopic behavior. This work enables a wide range of novel materials with unique mechanical and physical properties.
Researchers developed a scalable process for a biodegradable coating that protects against pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms, transportation damage, and reduces weight loss in avocados by 50%. The coating can be rinsed off with water and degrades in soil within three days.
Researchers at City University of Hong Kong developed a simple exfoliation method to prepare ultrathin films of small intestine tissues, which exhibit piezoelectricity. The team's findings reveal the hierarchical structure of collagen fibers as the key to generating the piezoelectric effect.
An interdisciplinary team of Northwestern University researchers has developed a new method to determine the fingerprint of neighboring disorder in 2D materials. This method enables a universal curve that characterizes disorder potentials, leading to improved performance in transistors and gas sensors.
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology have invented a material that uses electrical signals to separate biomolecules, paving the way for efficient production of biomedicines. The material's ability to function in biological fluids with buffering capacity enables remote-controlled drug release and reduces energy consumption.
Researchers developed a method to improve the dynamic behavior of bolted connections by pasting a thin GFRP plate, increasing bearing strength and reducing fracture behavior. The study aims to create safer, more secure and lighter building structures with longer lifespans.
Researchers at KTH Royal Institute of Technology have developed a thermoelectric coating that converts low-grade heat into electrical power, with potential to replace batteries in wearables and IoT devices. The coating can be applied to any surface that generates heat, enabling efficient energy harvesting.
FeRh, a metal with antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic phases, has its phase transition kinetics measured using ultrafast techniques. The study reveals new insights into the ultrafast dynamics of magnetic materials.
Researchers developed a nanocomposite coating method using Langmuir-Blodgett technology to improve wig durability, reducing UV damage, breakage, and static electricity. The new coating provides better coverage than previous methods and can be scaled up for mass production.
Researchers have developed luminescent gels inspired by nature, offering potential applications in bank note counterfeiting and next-gen bio-sensing. The gels utilize lanthanide ions for unique properties, including self-healing and variable emission intensities.
University of Queensland scientists have discovered a way to make molecular switches work at room temperature, paving the way for more efficient and environmentally friendly technologies. This breakthrough could lead to advancements in MRI scans, sensors, carbon capture, and hydrogen fuel cells.
Ritsumeikan University researchers create a novel thin-film flexible piezoelectric-photovoltaic device that can generate electricity from indoor lighting. The device's performance is improved through strain-induced polarization in the ZnMgO layer, increasing open-circuit voltage and overcoming charge recombination issues.
Researchers developed a bumpy carbon-based material that maintains rechargeable storage capacity down to -31 F, improving lithium-ion batteries' performance in freezing temperatures. The new material enables electric cars to drive longer and reduces the risk of battery failure in extreme cold.
Researchers create a new electronic phase with stacked layers of tungsten ditelluride, challenging current theory on electron interaction in metals. The experiment reveals electrons behaving as if they were in a single dimension, creating a new type of metallic state.