Articles tagged with Surface Science
A Swiss-Polish team has found the answer to why previous attempts to use magnesium hydride for efficient hydrogen storage failed. The researchers developed a new model that predicts local, thermodynamically stable clusters are formed in magnesium during hydrogen injection, reducing hydrogen ion mobility.
Researchers at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf have identified a promising phenomenon where certain iron alloys can be magnetized using ultrashort laser pulses. The team has now expanded its findings to an iron-vanadium alloy, revealing a new class of materials with potential applications in spintronics and magnetic sensors.
Scientists have developed a new, efficient ethanol catalyst made from copper nanoparticles, which is cheaper than platinum and could increase the potential of ethanol fuel cells. The catalyst was created through laser melting and shows great promise for improving ethanol oxidation.
Scientists at the University of Würzburg validated an alternate theory proposing the spinaron effect, where individual cobalt atoms exhibit perpetual motion and interact with electrons in a unique manner. This discovery could lead to breakthroughs in magnetic information encoding and transportation, making IT more energy-efficient.
Scientists at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have developed a system that can adjust the size, shape, and refractive index of microscopic lenses in real-time. The design uses hydrogels and polydimethylsiloxane to create a dynamic platform for soft robotics and liquid optics applications.
Research from Colorado State University shows wildfire smoke can attach to home surfaces like carpet and drapes, extending exposure and potentially causing health problems. Simple surface cleaning, such as vacuuming or mopping, can reduce exposure and limit risk.
The UNIST team successfully fabricated high-quality Te thin films without heat treatment at low temperatures, achieving perfect atom arrangement. The developed process enables precise thickness control and uniform deposition on wafer-scale, suitable for various electronic devices.
A recent study presents an exciting new way to measure the crackling noise of atoms in crystals, enabling the investigation of novel materials for future electronics. The method allows researchers to study individual nanoscale features and identify their effects on material properties.
Researchers at the University of Missouri have developed a new type of nanoclay material that can be customized to perform specific tasks. This breakthrough could lead to advances in fields such as medical science, environmental science, and more.
Researchers at Rice University have created a new type of storage container that effectively prevents surface contamination for at least six weeks. The technology relies on an ultraclean wall with tiny bumps and divots, which attracts VOCs in air inside the containers.
Scientists have successfully imaged electronic molecular orbitals of single molecules, revealing superatom molecular orbitals suitable for electron transport in organic electronics. This breakthrough imaging technique will facilitate studying structural changes and reactions of molecules.
Researchers from the University of Warsaw explore how kitchen phenomena lead to breakthroughs in biomedicine and nanotechnology. They describe bubbles in champagne, Leidenfrost effect, and surface tension, revealing surprising connections between food science and scientific discoveries.
Researchers have developed a simple method to produce large and very clean 2D samples from a range of materials using three different substrates. The kinetic in situ single-layer synthesis (KISS) technique allows for the production of air-sensitive 2D materials, overcoming the drawbacks of previous methods.
Researchers developed 'smart' coatings that monitor strain on implants to prevent infection and provide early failure warning. The coatings, inspired by dragonfly and cicada wings, integrate flexible sensors with antibacterial surfaces.
Scientists have discovered a universal method to bond soft materials together using electricity, eliminating the need for traditional adhesives. The new technique, called electroadhesion, uses oppositely charged materials to form strong bonds that can withstand gravity and last for years.
Researchers developed an in situ technique to observe material behavior under various stresses, including shear stress. This allows for precise understanding of how materials respond and identify preferred slip planes.
Researchers at Stanford University have developed a new understanding of how nanoscale defects and mechanical stress cause solid electrolytes to fail. By studying over 60 experiments, they found that ceramics often contain tiny cracks on their surface, which can lead to short circuits during fast charging. The discovery could pave the ...
Researchers created a protective coating of glass, gallium-oxide to reduce vibrations in graphene devices. The oxide improves device performance and provides a new method of protection.
Researchers at ETH Zurich developed a gold-based transparent coating that absorbs infrared radiation selectively, heating up to 8 degrees Celsius. The coating is thinner, pliable, and more efficient than traditional antifogging methods, requiring minimal gold material costs.
Researchers at Monash University found that electric fields and applied strain can turn magnetism on and off in two-dimensional metal-organic frameworks. This discovery could lead to applications in magnetic memory, spintronics, and quantum computing.
Researchers have controlled a one-dimensional electron fluid to an unprecedented degree, discovering new properties of Tomonaga-Luttinger liquids in two-dimensional materials. The team's findings could pave the way for more robust quantum computers with enhanced fault-tolerance.
Researchers developed hydrophilic slipper surfaces that are both extremely slippery and water-attracting, countering conventional wisdom. These SLIC surfaces have potential applications in biomedical technologies and condensers, where they offer anti-fouling properties and improved efficiency.
Researchers from Osaka University have developed a new method to control topological electronic states in smarium hexaboride, detouring its topological protection. This breakthrough could lead to new technologies for higher speed and low power consumption electronics.
Scientists at Drexel University have created a new secondary-ion mass spectrometry technique to study the atomic layers of MXenes and MAX phases. The technique allows for deeper understanding of the materials' structure and composition, leading to breakthroughs in their properties and potential applications.
Researchers from Tokyo University of Science create new method for producing heterolayer coordination nanosheets with improved properties and controllability. The study expands the diversity of 2D materials, enabling potential applications in optoelectronics and renewable energy.
A new broadband near-field chiral source enables comparison of different edge states to advance applications in integrated photonics and wireless devices. The research advances the field of chiral photonics science, promoting applications of chiral-sorting technology for microwave metadevices.
The Replica Exchange Grand Canonical (REGC) method describes how surfaces change in contact with reactive gas phases under different temperature and pressure conditions. The approach identifies 25 thermodynamically stable surface phases and predicts stability phase diagrams for real systems.
Asteroid Bennu's surface is characterized as loosely bound, with a near-subsurface layer composed of weakly bound rock fragments containing twice the void space as the overall asteroid. The study provides new insights into the physical properties of rubble-pile asteroids, with implications for their long-term evolution.
The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai submarine volcano eruption created the largest recorded volcanic explosion, producing massive gravity and atmospheric waves that reverberated around the earth. The study, published in Nature, highlights the importance of this event for improving weather and climate models.
Scientists at Stockholm University have successfully studied the surface of a copper-zinc catalyst during CO2 reduction to methanol, revealing that zinc is alloyed with copper at the surface. This discovery opens up possibilities for more efficient materials and a green transition in the chemical industry.
Researchers at Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology have discovered a new chemical synthesis method that forms stable benzene rings on a gold surface. This method, called the 'dry' method, avoids toxic byproducts and allows for the observation of molecular reactions in real-time.
Researchers precisely measure gold nanocontact's Young's modulus by combining TEM and LER techniques. The study reveals that the outer surface layer governs the overall strength of gold nanocontacts, with implications for NEMS and potential applications in pressure sensors.
A team of researchers has developed a tunable graphene-based platform to study exceptional points, which exhibit unique properties when light and matter interact. The breakthrough could lead to advancements in optoelectronic technologies and potentially contribute to the development of 'beyond-5G' wireless technology.
Researchers have solved a long-standing puzzle in surface physics, explaining how individual atoms of a catalyst capture molecules to transform them. The breakthrough reveals that both the catalyst and its anchor material assume energetically unfavorable states for a short time to facilitate the reaction.
Researchers created a stable surface with exceptional points, demonstrating perfect light absorption in a coherent system. The discovery enables the investigation of new physics and potential applications for better sensors and novel ways of controlling light-matter interaction.
Researchers have designed a novel thermal armour that successfully inhibits the Leidenfrost effect up to 1,150°C and achieves efficient liquid cooling across a wide temperature range. The breakthrough has significant implications for applications in aerospace, space engineering, and next-generation nuclear reactors.
A new method of molecular-level control, called induced activation, doubles the efficiency of widely used industrial catalysts. This approach manipulates the catalyst surface by controlling reducing agents at the catalyst activation stage.
A research team has reconstructed the preglacial topography of North America's mid-continent, revealing how ice sheets reshaped the landscape and allowing researchers to understand rock erosion and deposition under ice. The findings also provide insights into water resources and availability in the region.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh aim to reduce workplace accidents by creating a predictive model of friction based on floor-surface topography. They will use advanced techniques such as scanning electron microscopy to measure small-scale features that affect shoe-floor friction.
A research team from Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics discovered the critical surface/interface behaviors governing ESDs' operation and failure. They visualized atmosphere-dependent relaxation and failure processes using in situ Raman, X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).
Osaka University researchers developed an ultra-thin film of magnetite with superior crystallinity and conductive properties, overcoming challenges in spintronics technology. The discovery enables the film to undergo a temperature-dependent resistivity change, crucial for implementation in quantum computing technologies.
Researchers created a sulfur-selenium alloy that outperforms traditional coatings in protecting steel from corrosion and oxidation. The material's self-healing properties allow it to recover from scratches and damage, making it suitable for infrastructure applications.
The discovery suggests a long-term presence of a water vapor atmosphere only in Europa's trailing hemisphere. This finding advances our understanding of the atmospheres of icy moons and paves the way for future studies of Europa by probes like NASA's Europa Clipper mission.
Scientists have fabricated chains of triangular polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with spin 1, exhibiting Kondo resonances characteristic of spin ½ quantum objects. This breakthrough enables the exploration of linear spin chains and two-dimensional networks for quantum computation.
UNSW researchers stabilize a new intermediate phase in a room-temperature multiferroic material under stress, boosting electromechanical response by double its usual value. This breakthrough has exciting implications for next-generation devices and provides a valuable technique for international material scientists.
Researchers use high-intensity X-rays to study a single catalyst nanoparticle's surface changes during chemical reactions. The study reveals how the surface composition affects activity, shedding light on industrial catalytic materials.
Scientists discovered structural and surface chemistry defects in superconducting niobium qubits that may cause loss. The study pinpointed these defects using state-of-the-art characterization capabilities at the Center for Functional Nanomaterials and National Synchrotron Light Source II.
Researchers developed a method to scale up nanocages to trap noble gases like krypton and xenon. The team used commercial materials and found the optimal temperature range for trapping gas atoms inside the cages.
Researchers at GIST develop a non-contact, nondestructive approach to characterize crystal structures in thin films, shedding light on surface symmetries in SrRuO3. The technique offers a platform for structural characterization of surfaces and interfaces using optical techniques.
The Center for Adapting Flaws into Features will explore chemical defects to optimize material properties, with a focus on creating better catalysts and electronics. The team aims to develop new approaches towards transformative technologies by leveraging advanced microscopy, spectroscopy, and data science.
Scientists successfully achieved homogeneous catalyst by dissolving electrocatalytic metals in molten gallium, improving formic acid selectivity and reducing hydrogen evolution. The new method brings a significant breakthrough for synthesizing heterogeneous catalysts with enhanced stability.
Researchers are exploring biomaterials-based nanoparticles to strengthen vaccines against viruses. Emerging bioengineering technologies can create antiviral surfaces that disinfect themselves, reducing the spread of diseases.
Researchers propose a new strategy to explore electrochemical process on electrode surfaces using operando surface science methods. They successfully visualize intercalation of super-dense multilayer anions into graphite electrode surface region, revealing a distinct electrochemical process in the surface region.
Researchers have developed a method to detect flank instability in volcanoes using satellite images, revealing surface deformation related to flank motion at Pacaya volcano. The technique provides finer detail of volcanic flank motion and can reveal upticks in the rate that creep is occurring.
Researchers have developed a new tool to simulate electron-light interactions with unprecedented accuracy, enabling the study of ultra-fast processes and complex dynamics. The breakthrough, led by Professor Nahid Talebi, combines Maxwell and Schrödinger equations to describe electron-light interactions beyond adiabatic approximations.
Researchers have developed a new electrode material that can improve the efficiency and economic feasibility of salinity gradient power generation using reverse electrodialysis. The material, molybdenum disulfide thin films, was synthesized directly on the electrode current collector surface to enhance electrochemical activity.
A research team of physicists and chemists from Kiel University mimicked self-assembly processes to fabricate various patterns of controllable sizes, including the largest structures reported so far. They developed a model of intermolecular forces driving the self-assembly, enabling control over pattern size.
The study revealed that the subsurface at the Chang'E-4 landing site is made of highly porous granular materials embedding boulders of different sizes. The findings suggest a turbulent early galaxy and frequent meteor impacts on the Moon's surface.
Researchers at ICFO have successfully cooled nanomechanical resonators using electron transport, enabling the observation of quantum effects on demand. By applying a constant current of electrons through the resonator, they reduced thermal vibration fluctuations, achieving a population number of 4.6 quanta of vibration.
The University of Maryland-led project aims to upgrade lunar retroreflectors with next-generation versions, improving accuracy and coverage. This upgrade will enhance scientific research, test fundamental physics, and improve navigation on the lunar surface.