Researchers discovered a 'third phase' that does not occur in bulk material and corresponds to a monomolecular layer of the semiconductor. This structure is favorable for charge transport across the films, which could lead to improved performance in microelectronics applications.
Researchers at WVU have mapped the crystal structure of a protein called mitoNEET, which inhabits the outer membrane of mitochondria. This discovery could lead to disease-modifying treatments for Alzheimer's disease, stroke, and diabetes. The study uses advanced X-ray techniques to understand how molecules interact with the protein.
Scientists from Tokyo Metropolitan University developed a continuous process to grow 2D TMDC heterostructures with varying composition and perfectly flat interfaces. This breakthrough enables the creation of atomically thin electronics with distinct properties, paving the way for devices with unparalleled energy efficiency and novel op...
The study reveals that the green photoluminescence in CsPB2Br5 is caused by a small overgrowth of nanocrystals composed of CsPbBr3 along its edges. This understanding paves the way for designing and fabricating novel optoelectronic devices.
Researchers created helical crystals made of stacked layers of germanium sulfide, which may yield unexpected properties. The twisted structure arises from a competition between stored energy and the energy cost of slipping two material layers relative to one another.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab's Advanced Light Source employ X-ray Laue microdiffraction to study tiny samples of promising candidate minerals. The technique successfully identifies ognitite, a newly discovered mineral with unique chemical properties.
Researchers at Tokyo University of Science develop novel technique to grow single crystals of IGZO-11 semiconductor. The material exhibits high conductivity, transparency, and optical band gap, making it suitable for optoelectronic devices.
Researchers propose a new graph theory-based paradigm to improve material identification, focusing on topological relationships rather than bond length and angle. This method achieves automatic deduplication for the first time, identifying 626,772 unique structures from 865,458 original structures.
Researchers at Penn engineered a nanostructured diamond metalens to collect light from defects in diamonds, which harbor electron spins suitable for quantum computing. The metalens guides light into an optical fiber, streamlining data collection and enabling compact quantum devices.
Researchers developed a new technique to study the structure of silicon nanocrystals, revealing disordered layers on the surface and crystalline cores. This discovery can lead to optimized functions and tailored applications for various fields, including battery development and medical imaging.
Researchers at UCI unveil a new process for producing oxide perovskite crystals in exquisitely flexible, free-standing layers. The discovery creates a new class of two-dimensional materials with remarkable electronic properties, including high-temperature superconductivity.
A team of researchers at the University of Tokyo developed a new method for understanding amorphous solids using computer simulations. They focused on local mechanical properties and introduced a new order parameter called vibrability, which controls atomic vibrations in soft discs or spheres. This discovery may help design more effici...
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory explored how 2D crystals can grow over 3D objects and found that curvature can stretch and strain the crystals. Conformal growth of perfect 2D crystals over curved objects has the promise to localize strain and create high-fidelity arrays of single photon emitters.
Defects in MOFs have been found to tailor these versatile materials for specific applications, such as catalysis and gas separation. KAUST researchers have developed a method to image defects using transmission electron microscopy, revealing that specific defects can improve MOF performance.
Researchers at Institute for Basic Science synthesize hBN single crystals of 10*10 cm2 using a new substrate with lower symmetry. The study reveals that the substrate's symmetry affects crystal alignment and provides a general guideline for synthesizing various 2D materials.
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory discovered crystalline phases of ice thought to exist beyond Earth's limits, challenging accepted theories about super-cooled water and amorphous, non-crystalline ice. The findings led to better understanding of ice and its various phases found on other planets and moons.
Researchers at MIT and the University of Vienna have developed a new method to manipulate atoms using a highly focused electron beam, enabling precise control over atomic positioning and bonding orientation. This breakthrough could lead to new ways of making quantum computing devices and sensors.
A research group has shown that machine learning models are valuable when they succeed in predicting properties accurately, as well as when they fail. Analyzing exceptions to these models reveals new insights into the underlying physics of compounds, leading to discoveries of unusual structures and novel structural units.
Researchers used machine learning to predict mechanical properties of metal organic frameworks (MOFs), which could be used for water extraction, gas storage, and hydrogen fuel cells. The results enable faster material characterization and design at the molecular scale.
Penn State researchers have discovered a way to control substrate defects to improve the quality of 2D materials, enabling wafer-scale growth. The new method uses hexagonal boron nitride as a surface to orient transition metal dichalcogenides in a preferred direction.
Scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory developed a new approach to solve protein structures from tiny crystals, utilizing unique sample-handling and data-assembly techniques. The method enables the study of difficult-to-crystallize cell-surface receptors and other membrane proteins, improving our understanding of health and disease.
Researchers at HZDR modify magnetic behavior of exotic materials Cs2CuCl4 using high pressures, revealing unusual magnetic properties and potential applications in quantum computing. The study contributes to the understanding of geometrically frustrated crystals.
Researchers have identified a new thermoelectric material in tin selenide, which can convert 20% of heat into electrical energy, exceeding the efficiency of bismuth telluride. The material's crystal structure changes at high temperatures or pressures, producing a semi-metallic state that enhances its thermoelectric properties.
The team found that the crystals of the layered bismuth chalcogenide superconductor exhibit two-fold symmetry in its superconductivity, contradicting the expected four-fold symmetry. This finding suggests a connection to nematicity, an enigmatic class of materials known for breaking rotational symmetry.
Scientists at Rice and Northwestern universities have developed a method to image and characterize 2D borophene crystals, which can exhibit unique lattice configurations that determine their characteristics. The research could help manufacturers incorporate borophene into products with desirable electronic, thermal, optical properties.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have identified a novel way to prevent water from forming ice crystals by creating a new class of lipids that form a 'soft' biological matter. This material confines water in narrow channels, preventing it from freezing even at extreme sub-zero temperatures.
Researchers synthesized new In0.28Ga0.72Sb nanowires with high carrier mobility and fast IR response, outperforming existing materials in terms of responsivity and decay times. The minimized crystal defects are attributed to a catalyst epitaxy technology that enables precise atom alignment.
Researchers at Kazan University have discovered that amorphous materials exhibit outstanding physical and mechanical properties, including strength, electric conductivity, and corrosion resistance. The study found that these materials can crystallize into a monocrystal or polycrystalline structure under different temperature conditions.
Scientists at ORNL used computational methods to evaluate 4,600 potential crystal structures of uranium oxide compositions, identifying a potentially stable crystalline phase for U2O7. Their findings could lead to a better understanding of how crystalline and amorphous uranium materials form in the nuclear fuel cycle.
Using neutrons, scientists have determined the crystal structure of solid fluorine, resolving a scientific dispute that lasted for 50 years. The research confirms Nobel laureate Linus Pauling's earlier suspicions about fluorine's structure.
A team of scientists at Waseda University has discovered a new type of structural phase transition in an organic crystal that can be triggered by light. This finding may broaden the applicability of photo-responsive solids and enable the development of next-generation actuators that can be controlled remotely using light.
Scientists at Berkeley Lab have discovered a new state of quantum matter exhibiting nearly ideal topological surface properties due to its chirality. The spiral-crystal topological chiral conductor shows exceptional electrical conductivity with minimal resistance.
Researchers studied mineral reactions using a technique called coherent diffraction imaging, revealing the formation of hematite and strain within iron oxide particles. The findings provide new insights into how minerals react in different conditions, with implications for understanding natural systems.
The study identifies tetrahedral nature as the local ordering of atoms in liquids, explaining the first sharp diffraction peak (FSDP) feature. The findings provide direct evidence of coexisting order and disorder in tetrahedral liquids, leading to improved understanding of their properties.
Researchers have successfully determined the crystal structure of the human type 2 cannabinoid receptor, enabling the design of more efficient drugs targeting this receptor or both CB1 and CB2 receptors.
Researchers have obtained the highest-resolution structure of the fungal protein Hsp104, a hexameric AAA+ protein that helps repair misfolded proteins. The study's findings reveal a helical structure for Hsp104 hexamers, contrary to previous beliefs, and provide new insights into its function.
A new chiral triphenylene derivative forms a higher-order structure that preserves its ordered crystal properties even after being subjected to gravitational flow. This unique property has implications for the development of materials with long-range structural preservation, which could lead to breakthroughs in nanoscale technologies.
A recent study reveals the crystal structure of diatom fucoxanthin chlorophyll a/c-binding proteins, which have exceptional light harvesting and photoprotection capabilities. The findings indicate that these proteins utilize a unique arrangement of pigments to efficiently harness blue-green light.
Scientists at Nagoya Institute of Technology discovered Na2V3O7, a material with fast charging performance and long battery life, offering an alternative to lithium-ion batteries. However, further research is needed to improve the material's stability throughout the entire charging duration.
A new method developed by researchers at the University of Luxembourg and others can predict how drug molecules arrange themselves in different energetic conditions, reducing the risk of formulation failures. This approach could help pharmaceutical companies avoid costly development errors and ensure their drugs function properly.
A team of researchers has demonstrated that laser-generated crystals in glass can be manipulated to control their ferroelectric domain structure. This allows for the creation of new optical devices with high efficiency and low loss links, crucial for future quantum information transfer systems.
Researchers have developed a new approach to creating engineering components using additive manufacturing by mimicking polycrystalline microstructures in lattice structures. These meta-crystals exhibit high energy absorption and can withstand up to seven times the energy before failure compared to single-crystal materials.
A new technique allows continuous study of cobalt nanoparticles as they grow, producing 'nanometric phase diagrams' showing the conditions that control their structure. This method has potential applications for other materials, including alloys and oxides.
Scientists at Tokyo Institute of Technology have developed a novel catalyst using manganese dioxide (MnO2) that accelerates the oxidation of 5-hydroxymethyl furfural, generating new raw materials for bio-based plastics. The team found that the crystal structure of MnO2 is crucial for catalytic activity.
Researchers at Brown University have created a new type of quasicrystalline superlattice that self-assembles from a single component, exhibiting five-fold symmetry. The discovery provides insight into how these materials can emerge and offers a new rule for forming quasicrystals.
Researchers have reviewed recent developments in monoamine transporter inhibitor design, including structure-activity relationships and binding modes. The study highlights potential applications for these inhibitors in treating depression and behavioral disorders.
Researchers have synthesized and described metastable phases of high-pressure silica, coesite-IV and coesite-V, with crystal structures drastically different from earlier models. These new materials exist at extreme pressures and challenge Pauling's rules on bonding in inorganic materials.
Scientists at HZDR created an iron-rich compound in a semiconductor that became magnetic due to the formation of two-dimensional lamellae. This unusual structure could help understand superconductors and optimize their properties.
Researchers have developed a novel 3D imaging technique called COBRA that visualizes the atomic and electron density structure of complex perovskite crystal structures. This breakthrough enables the study of materials with unique properties, such as ferroelectricity and superconductivity.
Physicists from Brookhaven National Laboratory and Yale University have synthesized large-area single-crystal domains of borophene on copper substrates, expanding its potential for fabricating high-performance devices. The discovery represents a significant step towards practical borophene-based electronics.
Researchers from MIPT and Lomonosov Moscow State University developed an experimental setup combining thermal and X-ray analysis to study semicrystalline polymers. They found that a critical heating rate can prevent structural changes, revealing complex thermodynamic behavior behind the material's melting points.
Researchers at Duke University and UC San Diego have discovered a new class of carbides that are harder and lighter than current materials, with high melting points. The five-metal carbides, which rely on disorder for stability, may find use in industries such as machinery, hardware, and aerospace.
Researchers discovered the hierarchical structure of whale baleen contributes to its unique fracture behavior. The nanoscale structure increases stiffness and strength, while microscale tubular lamellae control crack propagation, making it an ideal material for marine applications.
Researchers at Ruhr-University Bochum used microscopic methods to observe the solvation process of a crystal in water. The team imaged individual molecules at extremely low temperatures, revealing the attachment of solvent molecules and the loss of molecular order.
Scientists at TU Graz analyzed nano-precipitates to understand aluminium alloy properties, discovering anomalies and self-organisation phenomena. Quantum mechanics and Monte Carlo methods revealed the formation of atomically narrow channels for scandium and zircon diffusion.
The new material allows for more data to be stored on CDs and microchips, with potential applications in high-density memories and devices that mimic human brains. It also addresses a problem called drift, which affects current materials' stability.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab and UC Berkeley create high-resolution images of individual atoms in synthetic polymers, revealing 35 arrangements of crystal structures. The discovery could inform polymer fabrication methods and lead to new designs for materials and devices.
A joint UCLA/Caltech team has developed a new technique to determine the 3D structures of small molecules, such as hormones and medications, in under 30 minutes. The method uses micro-electron diffraction and relies on the presence of tiny crystals within the samples.
Researchers from Skoltech, MIPT and Samara State Technical University improved the evolutionary crystal structure prediction algorithm USPEX, generating initial structures 3 times faster, thanks to a novel random structure generator based on topological types of crystal structures.
Researchers create crystallized version of nitrogen by subjecting it to extreme pressures and temperatures, revealing a complex structure made up of dozens of molecules. The study resolves speculation on the structure of ι-N2, known as nitrogen's elusive form discovered 15 years ago.