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Expanding the palette

A team of UC Santa Barbara researchers have discovered a new phase in block copolymers, expanding the range of possible options for material design. The newly found phase, known as A15, belongs to a class of tetrahedrally close-packed structures and has been observed in both metal and polymer materials.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 30, 2019

Atomically precise models improve understanding of fuel cells

Researchers at Kyushu University developed computer simulations using realistic atomic-scale models to understand reaction pathways in solid-oxide fuel cells. The study found that reactions are more likely to occur in layers with smaller pore sizes, but also identified a new degradation pathway that could impact performance.

SourceKyushu University·JournalCommunications Chemistry·DateJul 19, 2019

A new 'golden' age for electronics?

Scientists at Nagoya University have created materials with negative thermal expansion, which can compensate for the expansion of components during heating and cooling cycles. This reduces stresses and increases component lifetime, making them ideal for use in electronics.

SourceNagoya University·JournalAPL Materials·DateJun 25, 2019

Tracking small things in cells

Researchers created SCOTfluors, a class of small fluorophores that can be attached to common metabolites and emit light in the visible to near-infrared range. This allows for the observation of metabolite trafficking in living cells without destroying them.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateApr 30, 2019

Making glass more clear

Researchers have developed an energy renormalization algorithm to predict glass' mechanical behavior at varying temperatures. This approach enables the design of dynamic materials with optimal properties, scaling molecular simulations up by roughly a thousand times.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalScience Advances·DateApr 30, 2019

Golden ball in a golden cage

Scientists have successfully synthesized a 32-gold atom nanocluster with a core of 12 atoms surrounded by a shell of 20 atoms, demonstrating unusual stability. The cluster's geometry and electronic structure rely heavily on interactions with ligands, particularly amido and phosphine groups.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateMar 21, 2019

Scientists identify atomic structure of catalytically active copper-ceria interface

Researchers at Chinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters identified the atomic structure of the catalytically active copper-ceria interface, proposing a copper bilayer model. The copper-ceria interface was found to be responsible for efficient hydrogen production through low-temperature water-gas shift reactions and CO/CO2 hydrogenation.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalNature Catalysis·DateFeb 19, 2019

Predicting the properties of a new class of glasses

Researchers at Penn State used modeling methods to predict properties of ZIF glasses, combining transparency and metallic glass nonbrittle quality, with potential applications in gas storage and energy, promising breakthroughs in transparent and bendable glass

SourcePenn State·JournalThe Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters·DateDec 20, 2018

Biomimetics: The chemical tricks of our blood

Researchers have created phthalocyanines with a ring structure resembling that of hemoglobin or chlorophyll, which can be switched into different states with green light, affecting their chemical behavior. This discovery opens up new avenues for biomimetics and the development of novel molecules optimized for nature-specific applications.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 8, 2018

'Fudge factors' in physics?

Researchers find that widely-used correction methods are based on a faulty assumption, potentially leading to inaccurate predictions. The team proposes new universal method for prediction that works for the right reasons.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateOct 11, 2018

Transition metal dichalcogenides could increase computer speed, memory by a million times

Researchers propose using transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) to build faster computers that can process information in femtoseconds, a million times faster than current electronics. TMDCs have the potential to increase computer memory speed by a millionfold due to their unique hexagonal lattice structure and optical properties.

SourceGeorgia State University·JournalPhysical Review B·DateOct 2, 2018

Scientists discover why silver clusters emit light

Researchers discovered that only small clusters of four silver atoms in a tetrahedral shape surrounded by water molecules emit light. This is due to the movement of two free electrons, which decay from higher to lower energy levels and produce a specific shade of green light.

SourceKU Leuven·JournalScience·DateAug 16, 2018

Manipulating single atoms with an electron beam

Scientists at the University of Vienna have successfully manipulated individual silicon impurity atoms in graphene with atomic precision, recording nearly 300 controlled jumps. This achievement enables potential high-density data storage and demonstrates the control of single atoms in two-dimensional materials.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalNano Letters·DateJul 9, 2018

Is the Bitcoin network an oligarchy?

Researchers found a circle-type structure within Bitcoin transactions, revealing hidden communities of interconnected owners. A small fraction of users holds the majority of the network's wealth.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateJul 2, 2018

Zika in high resolution

Researchers have created the highest-resolution image yet of the Zika virus, providing a detailed atomic model that enables efficient vaccine and antiviral compound design. The discovery was made possible by the stability of the Zika virus compared to its flavivirus cousins.

SourceCell Press·JournalStructure·DateJun 26, 2018