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How ultrathin polymer films can be used for storage technology

Scientists from Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg discovered that precisely applied mechanical pressure can improve the electronic properties of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) films. The team used atomic force microscopy to control and reorient electrical charges in the material, enabling stable nano-scale structures with high ...

SourceMartin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg·JournalAdvanced Electronic Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 18, 2022

Electrons in alcohol – concerted molecule and charge motions at terahertz frequencies

Researchers observed a novel type of excitation, called a polaron, where collective oscillations of the electron and its screening cloud arise at terahertz frequencies. These oscillations persist for tens of picoseconds and are impulsively triggered by ultrafast electron localization.

Towards autonomous prediction and synthesis of novel magnetic materials

A team of researchers from Tokyo University of Science has developed an efficient integrated materials synthesis system for automatic discovery of new functional magnetic materials. Using artificial intelligence and computational science, they identified promising materials five times more efficiently than traditional trial-and-error a...

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalScience and Technology of Advanced Materials Methods·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 7, 2022

A four-stroke engine for atoms

Scientists have found a new phenomenon where an atomic switch has to be switched back and forth four times to return to its original state. The spin of gadolinium atoms performs one full rotation during this process. This discovery opens up possibilities for material physics and could potentially be used to store information.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 6, 2022

Researchers develop the world's first ultra-fast photonic computing processor using polarization

Scientists at the University of Oxford have created a new type of computing processor that uses light to process information, achieving speeds faster than traditional electronics. By leveraging multiple polarisation channels, the researchers increased computing density by several orders of magnitude, paving the way for more efficient p...

SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 15, 2022

Towards indoor lighting-powered thin-film, flexible solar cells with piezophototronics

Ritsumeikan University researchers create a novel thin-film flexible piezoelectric-photovoltaic device that can generate electricity from indoor lighting. The device's performance is improved through strain-induced polarization in the ZnMgO layer, increasing open-circuit voltage and overcoming charge recombination issues.

SourceRitsumeikan University·JournalNano Energy·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 8, 2022

Synthesis of two-dimensional holey graphyne

Researchers have successfully synthesized a new type of carbon allotrope called holey graphyne, which has semiconductor properties and can be used in various applications. The material was created using a bottom-up approach and consists of alternately linked benzene rings and C≡C bonds.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalMatter·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 18, 2022

Teaching physics to AI makes the student a master

Researchers at Duke University have developed a machine learning algorithm that incorporates known physics into neural networks, allowing for new insights into material properties and more efficient predictions. The approach helps the algorithm attain transparency and accuracy, even with limited training data.

SourceDuke University·JournalAdvanced Optical Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 17, 2022

Energy researchers invent chameleon metal that acts like many others

Energy researchers have invented a device that electronically converts one metal into behaving like another to use as a catalyst for speeding chemical reactions. The invention opens the door for new catalytic technologies using non-precious metal catalysts, potentially improving efficiency and sustainability in various applications.

SourceUniversity of Minnesota·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateMay 9, 2022

Research examines keys to developing better batteries

A new study examines how individual electrode particles contribute to battery decay and identifies key factors, including particle properties and interactions. The research aims to develop techniques to control these properties and design more efficient, long-lasting batteries.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalScience·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 28, 2022

‘Self-driving’ lab speeds up research, synthesis of energy materials

Researchers at NC State University have developed a 'self-driving lab' that uses artificial intelligence and fluidic systems to advance our understanding of metal halide perovskite nanocrystals. The technology can autonomously dope MHP nanocrystals, adding manganese atoms on demand, allowing for faster control over properties.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalAdvanced Intelligent Systems·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 16, 2022

Evidence for exotic magnetic phase of matter

Researchers discovered a novel type of magnet, the antiferromagnetic excitonic insulator, which involves strong magnetic attraction between electrons in a layered material. The new state emerges when electrons form bound pairs with holes and trigger an antiferromagnetic alignment of adjacent electron spins.

SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 22, 2022

New insight into unconventional superconductivity

Researchers at PSI's Laboratory for Muon Spin Spectroscopy have discovered strong evidence of exotic charge order and orbital currents in a correlated kagome superconductor. The findings provide a new insight into unconventional superconductivity and its relationship with the quantum anomalous Hall effect.

SourcePaul Scherrer Institute·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 9, 2022

Mechanical control of a reconfigurable intelligent surface

A mechanical RIS has been developed with high reconfiguration degree of freedom, low power consumption, and real-time dynamic control capabilities. It uses a robust control method to determine the rotation angle of each meta-atom and offers a new energy-saving and environmentally friendly alternative for wireless communications systems.

3D semiconductor particles offer 2D properties

Researchers at Cornell University have discovered that the junctures of 3D semiconductor particles' facet edges display 2D properties, which can boost solar energy conversion technologies. The unique electronic properties of these particles can be leveraged for photocatalytic processes.

SourceCornell University·JournalNature Materials·DateJan 3, 2022

Revising a generalized spin current theory for the magnetoelectric effect in multiferroics

The team of researchers from Tokyo Institute of Technology developed a generalized spin current theory that accounts for various multiferroic scenarios and provides a transparent toy model for electric polarization. The study demonstrates how the new theory can effectively rationalize the properties of multiferroic materials.

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateNov 2, 2021

Nanotwinned titanium forges path to sustainable manufacturing

Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have discovered a new path forward for processing titanium. Cryo-forging at ultra-low temperatures produces extra-strong nanotwinned titanium with improved strength and ductility. The material maintains its structure and properties at extreme temperatures, demonstrating its versatility.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 20, 2021

Quantum materials cut closer than ever

Researchers at DTU have developed a new method for designing nanomaterials with unprecedented precision, allowing for the creation of compact and electrically tunable metalenses. This breakthrough enables the development of high-speed communication and biotechnology applications.

SourceTechnical University of Denmark·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·DateSep 13, 2021

Switched on IR-active organic pigments

Researchers developed a modular organic molecular system with customizable properties, creating a potent dye that absorbs light in the near-infrared range. The pigments' electronic switchability makes them suitable for studying electron transfer in photosynthesis and as efficient electron-transporting materials.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 9, 2021

New study presents tip-induced nano-engineering of strain, bandgap, and exciton funneling in 2D semiconductors

Researchers at UNIST have successfully controlled the physical properties of naturally-formed nanoscale wrinkles in 2D semiconductors. The team developed a hyperspectral adaptive tip-enhanced photoluminescence spectroscopy approach to investigate and control the nano-optical and excitonic properties of wrinkles.

New form of silicon could enable next-gen electronic and energy devices

Researchers developed a novel crystalline form of silicon with a hexagonal structure that can potentially be used to create high-performance electronic and energy devices. This discovery opens the door to exciting future research prospects for tuning optical and electronic properties through strain engineering and elemental substitution.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJun 4, 2021

A new form of carbon

A team of researchers has discovered a new form of carbon that exhibits metallic properties, unlike graphene. The material, named Biphenylene network, is made by assembling carbon-containing molecules on an extremely smooth gold surface and has the potential to be used as conducting wires in future carbon-based electronic devices.

SourceAalto University·JournalScience·DateMay 20, 2021

Two-phase material with surprising properties

Researchers at TU Wien have discovered a two-phase material with surprising electro-mechanical properties that change dramatically above a certain temperature. The team found that the crystals responsible for these properties remain electroactive, but the macroscopic behavior disappears due to a loss of contact between crystal grains.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 8, 2021

Fine tuned: adjusting the composition and properties of semiconducting 2D alloys

Researchers from Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology have successfully created 2D Si-Ge alloys with adjustable electronic properties. By adjusting the composition of these materials, they can fine-tune their band structure to suit various applications, opening doors for new electronics innovations.

SourceJapan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology·JournalPhysical Review Materials·DateFeb 2, 2021