Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Customising an electronic material

PSI scientists investigate strontium-iridium oxide, an antiferromagnetic material, to systematically control its magnetic and electronic properties. By manipulating thin films, they can fine-tune the material's properties, leading to potential applications in data storage.

SourcePaul Scherrer Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 21, 2020

Samara Polytech scientists studied a new compound for lithium and sodium-ion batteries

Researchers at Samara Polytech have synthesized a monoclinic NaVPO4F compound using quenching, which exhibits low sodium ion mobility making it impractical as a cathode active material. A comparative analysis with LiVPO4F revealed the triclinic modification is energetically more favorable, limiting its synthesis.

SourceSamara Polytech (Samara State Technical University)·JournalPhysical Chemistry Chemical Physics·DateAug 26, 2020

Excitation of robust materials

Researchers at Kiel University have observed rapid electronic changes in tungsten ditelluride using laser pulses, which could enable ultra-fast optoelectronic switches. The team used time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy to visualize the changes in the material's electronic structure, revealing new insights into its unusual properties.

SourceKiel University·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 7, 2020

Ordering of atoms in liquid gallium under pressure

Researchers at the University of Bristol discovered that liquid gallium maintains local order and forms regions of low entropy with five-fold symmetry even at extremely high pressures. This finding opens up new avenues for studying rapid temperature quenched melts leading to the production of metallic glass materials.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateApr 9, 2020

Manipulating ligands

Researchers created surface-clean noble metal aerogels with controlled ligand chemistry, revealing a new dimension for enhancing electrocatalysis performance. The intrinsic electrocatalytic properties of these clean gels were unveiled and found to be positively correlated with the oxidation state of metals.

SourceTechnische Universität Dresden·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateMar 24, 2020

Stretchable, degradable semiconductors

Researchers have developed a new material that combines semiconducting properties with intrinsic stretchability and full degradability. The material can be stretched to twice its normal length without compromising electrical performance and degrades completely within 10 days in a weak acid.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalACS Central Science·DateNov 13, 2019

Bionics: Electric view in murky waters

A team of scientists from the University of Bonn has created a camera that uses electrical pulses to capture images in murky or dark water, mimicking the sensing abilities of the African elephantnose fish. The 'electric camera' can identify objects, determine distances and shapes, and even distinguish between living and dead prey.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalBioinspiration & Biomimetics·DateApr 9, 2019

Scaling forward

A researcher at Argonne National Laboratory has developed a faster way to create molecular models, accelerating the screening of potential new organic materials for electronics. The approach uses machine learning to predict electronic properties and enables scientists to screen more packing arrangements than before.

SourceDOE/Argonne National Laboratory·JournalScience Advances·DateMar 22, 2019

Commercially relevant bismuth-based thin film processing

Researchers at Osaka University developed a two-step process to produce materials with good morphological properties and excellent photoresistor performance. The technique improves photo response performance by up to 100 times compared to other methods, making bismuth sulfide a promising material for optoelectronic devices.

SourceOsaka University·JournalThe Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters·DateSep 19, 2018

Switching DNA and RNA on and off

Scientists find that DNA and RNA have memory properties, with two stable states, making them suitable for storing data. The minimum electric field required for switching is inversely proportional to the ratio of topological polar surface area to total surface area.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal E·DateAug 21, 2018

Scientists unlock the properties of new 2D material

Researchers successfully created the first experimental realization and structural investigation of single-layer VS2, revealing its unique electronic properties. The team discovered a new vanadium sulphide compound with similar stoichiometry to single-layer VS2, raising hopes for two-dimensional magnetism.

SourceIOP Publishing·Journal2D Materials·DateJul 24, 2018

Shedding light on a cyclic molecule with a twist

Researchers at Kobe University have discovered a Möbius aromatic molecule that exhibits strong antiaromatic properties when exposed to light. The twist in the molecule's structure allows for high energy levels and magnetism, which could be utilized in eco-friendly organic devices such as solar cells and electroluminescent elements.

SourceKobe University·JournalThe Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters·DateMay 14, 2018

Stacking on the graphene

Researchers at Tohoku University have fabricated two types of trilayer graphene with different electrical properties. The ABA-stacked graphene exhibits excellent electrical conductivity, while the ABC-stacked graphene displays semi-conducting properties. These findings hold implications for the development of novel electronic devices.

SourceTohoku University·JournalNPG Asia Materials·DateFeb 9, 2018

Columbia engineers create artificial graphene in a nanofabricated semiconductor structure

Researchers have successfully engineered artificial graphene in a nanofabricated semiconductor structure, offering more versatile properties than natural graphene. This breakthrough could lead to the development of new electronic switches, transistors, and storage methods based on exotic quantum mechanical states.