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The secret to a perfect crystal may be an extra turn

Researchers have developed a strategy to eliminate directional bias in magnetic particle assembly, using a slight rotation of the magnetic field beyond 360 degrees. This allows for isotropic interactions, identical in every direction, enabling the formation of uniform crystalline materials.

SourceRice University·JournalPhysical Review Research·DateSep 22, 2026

A flash of light creates high-performance materials without heating the surface beneath

Researchers developed a technique to control internal structure of semiconductor materials using ultra-fast flashes of light, producing materials with up to 50 times more electrical current from light. The method works on transparent conducting glass, preserving useful properties that conventional heating methods cannot easily achieve.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalSmall Structures·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 17, 2026

Flexible DNA transforms protein crystallization

Northwestern University chemists have developed a new approach that replaces traditional trial-and-error methods with intentional design using flexible DNA strands. The strategy enables precise control over protein connections, creating soft, flexible crystals with high structural order. This breakthrough simplifies one of structural b...

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalScience Advances·DateJul 29, 2026

Mirror fragments intercept Alzheimer’s-causing protein

Researchers from Kobe University have designed a small mirror protein that disables amyloid-beta, a causal factor of Alzheimer's disease. The approach uses the principle of 'chirality' to bind to the protein, inhibiting its aggregation and potential for brain cell damage.

SourceKobe University·JournalChemistry - A European Journal·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 31, 2026

Scientists form complex DNA structures without hydrogen bonds

Researchers at NYU's Department of Chemistry have discovered a way to assemble complex DNA structures without sticky ends, using shape alone to guide assembly. This breakthrough enables the creation of varied 3D structures made entirely out of DNA, with potential applications in optical, electronic, and biomedical technologies.

SourceNew York University·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 2, 2026

Shine a light, build a crystal

Researchers developed a simple and reversible method for forming crystals using light-sensitive molecules, allowing for precise control over particle attraction and repulsion. This enables the creation of adaptable materials with tunable properties, such as reconfigurable optical coatings and adaptive sensors.

SourceNew York University·JournalChem·DateFeb 24, 2026

Breakthrough in 2.5D MOF materials based on triptycene derivatives

Researchers developed a new class of 2.5D MOFs using triptycene-based molecules, enabling high-quality single crystals for detailed structural and functional studies. The materials exhibit strong electronic and magnetic correlations in the interlayer direction, paving the way for next-generation MOF-based technologies.

SourceKumamoto University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 1, 2025

Solving an 80-year-old mystery: the crystal structure of a tetra-n-butylammonium bromide hydrate found with synchrotron radiation

Researchers have solved the crystal structure of tetra-n-butylammonium bromide hydrate (TBAB) hydrate, a semiclathrate hydrate used in air conditioning. The unique tetragonal superstructure explains its heat storage characteristics and provides new design principles for hydrate-based functional materials.

SourceYokohama National University·JournalCrystal Growth & Design·DateJul 18, 2025

Creating ice layer by layer: the secret mechanisms of ice formation revealed

Researchers from the Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, used molecular-scale simulations to understand ice formation. They found that the arrangement of water molecules in the two layers closest to the surface is crucial for nucleation, promoting a low-dimensional hexagonal crystal lattice at the surface.

SourceInstitute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo·JournalJournal of Colloid and Interface Science·DateJun 4, 2025

A colloidal crystal model for controlled polymorph selection

Researchers at Tohoku University developed a colloidal crystal model to control specific polymorph formation, advancing understanding of polymorph control for material fabrication and drug development. The study found that particle additives can effectively control polymorph formation and probability by size and cluster stability.

SourceTohoku University·JournalCommunications Physics·DateApr 22, 2025

Crystallography-informed AI achieves world-leading performance in predicting novel crystal structures

A new machine learning algorithm, ShotgunCSP, has been developed to predict crystal structures from material compositions with high accuracy and efficiency. This breakthrough eliminates the need for iterative first-principles calculations, making it possible to predict stable structures even for large and complex systems.

SourceResearch Organization of Information and Systems·Journalnpj Computational Materials·DateApr 16, 2025

Rare earth element-enhanced TiO2 achieves high-efficiency photocatalytic overall water splitting

Researchers have developed a novel semiconductor material that significantly improves the efficiency of photocatalytic water splitting by eliminating charge recombination and facilitating efficient charge separation. The Sc-doped TiO2 semiconductor achieves a record-breaking quantum yield of 30.3% and a solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of ...

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 8, 2025

Ultrathin interlayer empowers green ZnSeTe QD-LEDs: brighter, more efficient, driving eco-friendly displays forward

Researchers developed bright and efficient green-emitting ZnSeTe-based QD-LEDs by introducing an ultrathin ZnSeS alloy interlayer, enhancing radiative recombination efficiency and optical stability. The devices showed a peak external quantum efficiency of 20.6% and luminance exceeding 100,000 cd m−2.

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience Bulletin·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 3, 2025

Love your neighbor as yourself: Zinc-centered materials serving as calcium-ion host could be well refined by its closest copper neighbor

Researchers developed Cu/Zn solid-solution phase hosts to overcome electrochemical limitations in multivalent metal ion batteries. The material's layered crystal structure and abundant interlayer confined species provide favorable diffusion pathways for charge carriers.

SourceScience China Press·JournalNational Science Review·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 29, 2025

Overcoming stacking constraints in hexagonal boron nitride via metal-organic chemical vapor deposition

Scientists at POSTECH and University of Montpellier successfully synthesized wafer-scale hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) with an AA-stacking configuration using metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). This achievement introduces a novel route for precise stacking control in van der Waals materials.

Breakthrough in materials science: AI reveals secrets of dendritic growth in thin films

A new AI model developed by Tokyo University of Science's researchers predicts dendritic growth in thin films, offering a powerful pathway for optimizing thin-film fabrication. The model analyzes morphology using persistent homology and machine learning with energy analysis, revealing conditions that drive branching behavior.

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalScience and Technology of Advanced Materials Methods·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 19, 2025

Sliding into novel materials: A new frontier in material science

Researchers at Tel Aviv University have developed a method to transform graphite into novel materials with controlled atomic layers, enabling the creation of tiny electronic memory units. This process, known as 'Slidetronics,' allows for precise manipulation of material properties, opening doors to innovative applications in electronic...

SourceTel-Aviv University·JournalNature Reviews Physics·DateFeb 5, 2025

Innovative apatite nanoparticles for advancing the biocompatibility of implanted biodevices

Researchers developed surface-modified apatite coatings using pH control to enhance cell adhesion and improve the biocompatibility of implants. The study found that controlling the nanoscale surface layer of apatite nanoparticles leads to better binding affinity with biological tissues.

SourceNagaoka University of Technology·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 4, 2025

NTU Singapore-led discovery poised to help detect dark matter and pave the way to unravel the universe’s secrets

Researchers from NTU Singapore have developed a new crystal structure that shows naturally existing particles can behave like axions, promising to detect dark matter. The findings could lay the groundwork for understanding cosmic phenomena and uncovering the universe's greatest mysteries.

SourceNanyang Technological University·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 9, 2025

X-ray data-enhanced computational method can determine crystal structures of multiphase materials

Researchers develop a computational method to determine the crystal structures of multiphase materials directly from powder X-ray diffraction patterns. This approach can analyze existing experimental data that was previously difficult to decipher, leading to potential discoveries of new material phases.

SourceSchool of Science, The University of Tokyo·JournalThe Journal of Chemical Physics·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateDec 5, 2024

Dynamics of structural transformation for liquid crystalline blue phases

Researchers have uncovered key insights about how liquid crystals transform between different phases using direct simulation and machine learning. This study provides a clearer understanding of the microscopic-level changes in these materials, which could lead to new possibilities for advanced materials development.

SourceKyushu University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 2, 2024

Breakthrough in energy-efficient avalanche-based amorphization could revolutionize data storage

Researchers developed a new method for amorphizing indium selenide wires, requiring as little as one billion times less power density. The process resembles an avalanche and an earthquake, triggering rapid deformation and linking small areas into larger ones, potentially unlocking wider applications for phase-change memory technology.