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Deep learning helps scientists design materials that can both detect and capture toxic sulfur gases

Researchers developed a multitask deep learning framework to predict how strongly a material adsorbs sulfur gases and how effectively it senses them. The approach accelerated the discovery of materials for gas detection and purification, highlighting specific material candidates with strong sensing responses to toxic gases.

Universal method unlocks entropy calculation for liquids

Researchers developed a universal approach to calculate liquid entropy using fundamental physical principles, achieving remarkable consistency with existing data. The new method predicts entropy accurately for various liquids, including sodium, and has significant implications for optimizing chemical reactions and material properties.

SourceThe University of Osaka·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 15, 2025

Modeling electric response of materials, a million atoms at a time

Researchers developed a machine learning framework that can predict how materials respond to electric fields up to a million atoms, accelerating simulations beyond quantum mechanical methods. This allows for accurate, large-scale simulations of material responses to various external stimuli.

SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalNature Communications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 9, 2025

The era of human-guided epoxide selection in CO₂ cycloadditions is over—AI tools now take the lead

A study combines DFT and machine learning to analyze a wide range of epoxides in CO₂ cycloaddition, identifying key molecular descriptors and predicting reactivity trends. The research aims to develop predictive catalyst and substrate design for optimized CO₂ fixation, contributing to greener chemical processes.

SourceIndustrial Chemistry & Materials·JournalIndustrial Chemistry and Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 30, 2025

UV light activation of peracetic acid: new insights into radical generation based on excited states

Researchers developed an in-situ EPR setup to accurately identify radicals generated by PAA activation under different UV wavelengths, revealing distinct radical generation pathways. The study provides new insights into the mechanisms of radical formation and transformation using density functional theory calculations.

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience Bulletin·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 9, 2025

KAIST proposes AI training method that will drastically shorten time for complex quantum mechanical calculations​

Researchers developed a novel AI approach to predict atomic-level chemical bonding information in 3D space, bypassing traditional supercomputer simulations. This methodology accelerates calculations by learning chemical bonding information using neural network algorithms from computer vision.

SourceThe Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)·Journalnpj Computational Materials·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 4, 2024

New method for producing innovative 3D molecules

Researchers at the University of Münster have developed a new method for synthesizing heteroatom-substituted 3D molecules, which are more stable than related flat rings. The innovative structures show promise as substitutes in drug molecules, offering new possibilities for drug development.

SourceUniversity of Münster·JournalNature Catalysis·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 23, 2024

BESSY II: Molecular orbitals determine stability

Researchers at BESSY II used RIXS and DFT simulations to analyze the electronic structures of fumarate, maleate, and succinate dianions. The study found that maleate is potentially less stable than fumarate and succinate due to its delocalized HOMO orbital, which can lead to weaker binding with molecules or ions.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie·JournalPhysical Chemistry Chemical Physics·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 7, 2024

One-step synthesis of the most common, yet highly intricate, antibiotic molecular scaffold

Researchers from Osaka University have developed an operationally simple way to synthesize the intricate beta-lactam scaffold characteristic of beta-lactam antibiotics. The new catalytic system generates Fischer-carbene complexes in small quantities, eliminating toxic chromium waste and requiring only a small amount of catalyst.

SourceOsaka University·JournalNature Catalysis·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 15, 2024

Machine learning takes materials modeling into new era

A new machine learning-based simulation method called Materials Learning Algorithms (MALA) has been developed, enabling accurate electronic structure calculations at large scales. MALA achieves this by utilizing a hybrid approach that combines physics-based approaches with machine learning to predict the electronic structure of materials.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·Journalnpj Computational Materials·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 7, 2023

Unlocking the potential of enantioselective catalysis: advancements in pyrrolidinyl gold(I) complexes explored through DFT and NEST analysis of the chiral binding pocket

Researchers employ DFT and NEST analysis to investigate pyrrolidinyl gold(I) complexes, revealing enhanced understanding of electronic and steric effects. The findings facilitate the design of novel chiral ligands for enantioselective reactions.

Seeing electron orbital signatures

Researchers have directly observed the signatures of electron orbitals in two different transition-metal atoms, iron and cobalt, using atomic force microscopy. The study validated that the observed experimental differences primarily stem from the different electronic configurations in 3d electrons near the Fermi level.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 15, 2023

Rensselaer researcher uses artificial intelligence to discover new materials for advanced computing

A Rensselaer researcher has used artificial intelligence to discover novel van der Waals (vdW) magnets with large magnetic moments. These two-dimensional vdW magnets have the potential to advance science and technology in data storage, spintronics, and quantum computing.

SourceRensselaer Polytechnic Institute·JournalAdvanced Theory and Simulations·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 11, 2023

GAME-Net: a graph neural network for fast evaluation of the adsorption energy in heterogeneous catalysis

Researchers developed GAME-Net, a graph neural network that rapidly evaluates adsorption energy for large molecules like plastics and biomass. The model achieves accuracy comparable to density functional theory (DFT) while utilizing simple molecular representations.

SourceInstitute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ)·JournalNature Computational Science·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 2, 2023

Putting hydrogen on solid ground: Simulations with a machine learning model predict a new phase of solid hydrogen

Researchers used a machine learning model to simulate the behavior of hydrogen atoms at high pressures, discovering a new phase that was missed by previous theories and experiments. The discovery has sparked further investigation into the properties of solid hydrogen under extreme conditions.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateApr 21, 2023

Exotic water ice contributes to understanding of magnetic anomalies on Neptune and Uranus

Researchers used density functional theory to investigate the mechanical properties of superionic ice XVIII, which is thought to make up a large part of Neptune and Uranus. The study found that dislocations in the crystal lattice produce shear, leading to macroscopic deformations and potentially influencing the planets' magnetic fields.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 20, 2023

Nanodiamonds can be activated as photocatalysts with sunlight

Researchers have discovered that nanodiamonds can emit solvated electrons in water when exposed to visible light, a crucial step towards using them as photocatalysts. This discovery could lead to the development of inexpensive and metal-free processes for converting CO2 into valuable hydrocarbons or converting N2 into ammonia.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie·JournalNanoscale·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 30, 2022

How does radiation travel through dense plasma?

Researchers at the University of Rochester used x-ray spectroscopy to study radiation transport in dense plasmas. They found that atomic energy level changes do not follow conventional quantum mechanics theories, instead conforming to a self-consistent approach based on density-functional theory.

SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 17, 2022

Magnetism or no magnetism? The influence of substrates on electronic interactions

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.

SourceARC Centre of Excellence in Future Low-Energy Electronics Technologies·Journalnpj Computational Materials·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 9, 2022

Structural determination of complex anion materials by an interdisciplinary approach

A team of researchers from Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology developed an analytical tool to investigate the ordering of fluorine in lead titanium oxyfluoride. They used first-principles calculation to analyze experimental results and determined the element substitution positions, finding that fluorine atoms predominan...

Deep learning for new alloys

Using the Stampede2 supercomputer, researchers have developed a deep learning model that predicts the properties of over 370,000 high-entropy alloy compositions. The study also applied association rule mining to discover design rules for high-entropy alloy development and proposed several compositions for experimentalists to synthesize.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin, Texas Advanced Computing Center·Journalnpj Computational Materials·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 20, 2022

Calculating the "fingerprints" of molecules with artificial intelligence

Researchers have developed an AI-powered approach to calculate molecular spectra using Graph Neural Networks (GNNs), significantly reducing computation time and improving accuracy. The SchNet model achieved a 20% increase in accuracy while reducing computational time, enabling the analysis of complex molecules like quantum dots.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie·JournalJournal of Chemical Theory and Computation·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 14, 2022

National Cheng Kung University researchers present new solution for wastewater remediation

Researchers have developed an eco-friendly and reusable solution for removing toxic synthetic dyes from wastewater using nanocomposite-based hydrogels. The new material, made from carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and graphene oxide, demonstrates high adsorption capacities and retains its effectiveness even after multiple cycles of use.

SourceCactus Communications·JournalJournal of Hazardous Materials·DateApr 14, 2022

Artificial intelligence paves the way to discovering new rare-earth compounds

Researchers developed an AI-powered model to assess rare-earth compound stability, leveraging machine learning and high-throughput density-functional theory. This framework has far-reaching applications in materials science, including designing new compounds for clean energy technologies and optimizing magnetic properties.

SourceDOE/Ames National Laboratory·JournalActa Materialia·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 18, 2022

Supercomputer and quantum simulations solve a difficult problem of materials science

A Japanese research team successfully estimated the bending energy of disiloxane molecules with state-of-the-art quantum Monte Carlo method, overcoming previous simulation challenges. The method's self-healing property reduced basis-set dependence and bias, enabling accurate results without dependence on parameter choices.

SourceJapan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology·JournalPhysical Chemistry Chemical Physics·DateFeb 4, 2022

Atropisomeric N-aryl quinazoline-4-thiones with isotopic differences at the ortho position

Researchers from Shibaura Institute of Technology synthesized atropisomeric N-aryl quinazoline-4-thiones, showing unprecedented isotopic atropisomerism due to rotational restriction around an N-Ar bond. The findings support the formation of diastereomers and have potential applications in pharmaceuticals.

SourceShibaura Institute of Technology·JournalOrganic Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 7, 2021

Common workflows for computing material properties with various quantum engines

Researchers have developed a common workflow interface for various quantum codes, enabling accurate predictions of system properties and promoting the wider use of density-functional theory. The interface allows users to optimize structures using any code without defining parameters, providing reusable results.

SourceNational Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) MARVEL·Journalnpj Computational Materials·DateAug 23, 2021