Researchers used 3D electron microscopy to capture direct evidence of electric fields at air-water interfaces, opening a path to rationally designed clean-energy materials. The study found a repulsive force holding thinnest films together, reaching 10 megapascals, and provided chemical evidence for the electric field's existence.
Physicists at UC Berkeley introduce phase contrast to electron microscopy, enabling clearer images of small molecules and structures inside cells. The laser phase plate enhances cryoelectron microscopy, overcoming signal-to-noise limitations and paving the way for new drug discovery.
The Blavatnik Awards recognize exceptional early-career achievements in Life Sciences, Chemical Sciences, and Physical Sciences & Engineering. The 2026 Laureates are Maxie M. Roessler, Thi Hoang Duong Nguyen, and Paola Pinilla.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota have developed a new method for producing iron that eliminates CO2 emissions and can be performed at room temperature. The process uses hydrogen gas plasma to strip oxygen from iron ore, producing pure iron and water vapor.
Researchers have developed a liquid helium-cooled sample holder that allows scientists to maintain specimen temperatures as low as -423 degrees Fahrenheit for over 10 hours. This enables the study of how materials acquire properties useful in quantum computers, such as superconductivity and quantum computing capabilities.
The study identifies hierarchical structures and complex interlayer interactions in trilayer graphene systems, offering a promising new solid-state platform for programmable quantum devices. Researchers develop a 'structural phase diagram' to guide future design of quantum materials using multi-moiré lattices.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a new method to fabricate ultrapure diamond films for quantum and electronic applications. By growing an extra layer of diamond on top of the substrate after ion implantation, they can bypass high-temperature annealing and generate higher-purity films.
Researchers at The University of Tokyo have discovered a previously unseen moiré pattern in tungsten ditelluride bilayers, featuring one-dimensional bands. The pattern occurs at specific twist angles and has important implications for the optoelectronic properties of materials.
The study resolves a long-standing challenge in observing nanostructures and enables real-time tracking of three-dimensional atomic structural changes in individual nanoparticles. Researchers successfully captured the precise moments when surface atoms detached, rearranged, or reattached in three dimensions.
University of Missouri researchers developed a solution to improve solid-state battery performance by understanding the root cause of issues. They used 4D STEM to examine atomic structures without disassembling batteries, ultimately determining the interphase layer was the culprit.
The study analyzed material from asteroid Bennu, finding evidence of building blocks of life, water, and energy. The team also discovered evaporites, which have been found on Earth in dried-out salt lakes, providing insights into the asteroid's formation.
Researchers developed a new image-processing method to visually clarify the internal network structure of rubber at the nanoscale. The method, which integrates knowledge of rubber material with advanced mathematical techniques, enables automatic analysis of multiple samples and confirms its reliability.
Researchers observed the breaking of carbon nanotube fibers due to molecular slippage, which reduces their strength. Electron irradiation enhances CNT bundles' strength by forming stronger bonds between molecules.
Researchers at the University of Arizona developed a transmission electron microscope with attosecond temporal resolution, allowing scientists to observe electron motion in real-time. This breakthrough enables studies of ultrafast processes at the atomic level, paving the way for advancements in physics and chemistry.
A new microscopy method, Tempo STEM, significantly reduces radiation required by 'shutting off' the beam at peak efficiency. This approach eliminates excess damaging irradiation and avoids sample transformation or destruction.
Scientists create sheets of transition metal chalcogenide 'cubes' connected by chlorine atoms, exhibiting high catalytic efficiency for hydrogen generation. The discovery opens up a new route to assembling nanosheets with unique electronic and physical properties.
A team from City University of Hong Kong has designed a compact hybrid transmission and scanning electron microscope that can operate at room temperature, offering high-resolution imaging capabilities without cryogenic temperatures. The new system reduces radiation damage to samples and provides improved image contrast using pulse elec...
Researchers at the University of Konstanz have developed a method for all-optical control, compression, and characterization of electron pulses in space and time using terahertz light. This enables unprecedented time resolution in ultrafast electron microscopy, capturing dynamic processes in materials with unparalleled clarity.
A team from Osaka University used electron microscopy and computer simulations to study the kinetics of microstructure formation in Fe3Al, leading to a deeper understanding of its superelastic properties. The findings could provide insights for heat treatments and applications in construction and healthcare industries.
RMIT researchers have found that the liquid-solid boundary can fluctuate back and forth, with metallic atoms near the surface breaking free from their crystal lattice. The phenomenon occurs at unexpectedly low temperatures and is observed up to 100 atoms in depth.
Researchers demonstrated straight-sliding dynamics of electric current-driven antiskyrmions in a MnPtSn chiral magnet at room temperature and zero external magnetic field. The method allows for the manipulation of antiskyrmions in helical stripe domains, overcoming deflection by the Magnus force.
Scientists develop method to image thermally-induced rearrangement of 2D materials at the atomic scale, observing a new grain-seeding mechanism and aligned domain growth. This discovery enables control over macroscopic twist between layers, affecting material properties.
Researchers analyzed three distinct formins from fungi, mice, and humans, revealing a new paradigm in actin filament assembly. The structures show that formins encircle actin like an asymmetric ring, with one half stably bound and the other half loosely associated.
Researchers at Duke University used nanoscale visualization techniques to study corrosion in electrolyzers used to produce green hydrogen. The study reveals that rare metal catalysts break down quickly due to acidic environments, but also identifies potential strategies to minimize these defects and extend the devices' lifetimes.
Researchers at National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) in Japan developed a new technique to observe heat propagation paths and behavior within material specimens. This technique uses scanning transmission electron microscopy with pulsed electron beams and high-precision temperature measurement devices.
Researchers at TU Graz developed a new method to analyze nanoporous materials using single electron microscope images. The technique determines the three-dimensional distribution of ions in crystal channels or nanopores, leading to a better understanding of aquamarine's blue color and potential applications in material science.
Researchers at Linköping University have developed a method to synthesize hundreds of new 2D materials, expanding the possibilities for energy storage, catalysis, and water purification. The study uses a three-step process, including large-scale computations and chemical exfoliation, to identify and create suitable materials.
Researchers at UNIST have developed a method to measure nanometer-sized samples within a transmission electron microscope, utilizing nano-thermometers based on cathodoluminescence spectroscopy. The technique offers improved accuracy and spatial resolution compared to conventional methods.
Scientists have developed a new technique called electron ptychography that boosts the resolution of electron microscopes using computation, allowing for record-breaking resolution without expensive aberration correctors. This breakthrough enables state-of-the-art resolution at a fraction of the cost, making microscopy more accessible.
Researchers use advanced electron microscopy and computational modeling to understand tantalum oxide formation, which can impede qubit performance. The study reveals a 'suboxide' layer at the interface between tantalum and oxide, with ordered crystalline lattice features.
Researchers establish a 400-million-year evolutionary history of euglenoids by comparing microfossil cysts from various time periods to living protists. The study resolves long-standing taxonomic confusion among fossilized remains, revealing a previously unknown ultrastructure.
Researchers at EPFL and Max Planck Institute have successfully bridged the gap between light and electrons using a transmission electron microscope. They achieved this by generating dissipative Kerr solitons that interact with free electrons, allowing for ultrafast modulation of electron beams.
Researchers at Binghamton University have used environmental transmission electron microscopy to study the atomic-level mechanisms of water vapor-induced surface passivation. They discovered a second amorphous layer that diffuses oxygen into the substrate, indicating a transport mechanism that slows down corrosion.
Researchers have developed a new technique to understand the relationship between atomic structure and electric polarization in 2D van der Waals ferroelectric materials. This discovery is expected to revolutionize domain engineering in these materials, positioning them as fundamental building blocks for advanced devices.
Researchers at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University have developed a sensitive and robust pH sensor that can detect pH variation in just a few microliters of samples. The new sensor uses novel materials and methods to overcome the current method's limitations, which are not sensitive enough or fragile for commercial-scale use.
Researchers at City University of Hong Kong successfully morphed all-inorganic perovskites into various shapes at room temperature without compromising their functional properties. The findings demonstrate the potential of these semiconductors for next-generation deformable electronics and energy systems.
Scientists discovered that solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer behaves like a semiconductor, causing electron leakage and leading to inferior battery performance. Minimizing organic components in SEI enables longer-lasting batteries.
A collaborative team led by City University of Hong Kong researchers invented a low-temperature vapour-phase growth method to produce large-scale synthesis of semiconducting tellurium nanomesh. The new method enables the scalability and cost-effectiveness of nanomesh for next-generation electronics.
A team at the University of Vienna has developed a method to controllably create single atomic vacancies in hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) using ultra-high vacuum and aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy. This breakthrough enables the creation of defects that can emit single photons, opening up new opportunitie...
The team uses a continuous-wave laser to create ultrashort electron pulses, allowing for attosecond time resolution. They investigate nanophotonic phenomena and film electromagnetic processes inside waveguide materials, opening up new developments in photonic integrated circuits and metamaterials.
The City University of Hong Kong has developed a novel electron microscope that combines scanning and transmission electron microscope modes in a compact format. The device can produce high-resolution images in five minutes, enabling the study of atom dynamics and beam-sensitive materials.
For the first time, scientists have observed nanoparticles forming crystals with unprecedented clarity. The study used optimized liquid-phase transmission electron microscopy to capture the self-assembly process of thousands of nanoparticles. This breakthrough could lead to designing new materials for electronic applications.
A team of researchers has observed nanoparticles self-assembling and crystalizing into solid materials in real time, revealing the growth process at nanometer resolution. The findings have implications for designing new materials, including thin films for electronic applications.
Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory have discovered ultrasmall swirling magnetic vortices, known as merons and skyrmions, in an iron-containing material. These tiny magnetic structures show promise for future computer memory storage and high-efficiency microelectronics due to their stability and adaptability to binary code.
Researchers used in-situ cryogenic TEM imaging to directly observe formation of pure-phase ice I c on low-temperature substrates. The study resolves the long-standing debate about cubic ice's existence, with implications for materials science, geology, and climate science.
Researchers at the University of Missouri are acquiring a new transmission electron microscope (TEM) with a $800,000 grant from the National Science Foundation. The TEM will allow them to conduct experiments in real-time and gain a greater understanding of material structure at an atomic level.
Researchers have pushed single-atom vibrational spectroscopy to the level of chemical bonds, enabling precise measurements of point defects in graphene. The study found unique vibrational modes for two types of silicon point defects, with stronger signals for one defect configuration.
Researchers used high-resolution microscopy to study the formation of ouzo droplets, finding a unique internal structure with concentrated anise extract at the edge and water/ethanol in the center. This discovery could help create highly stable emulsions in cosmetics and paints.
Researchers have developed a new lithium-air battery that uses a solid electrolyte, boosting energy density four times above lithium-ion batteries. The battery can potentially power cars for over a thousand miles on a single charge and is also suitable for domestic airplanes and long-haul trucks.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab have developed a new technique that captures real-time movies of copper nanoparticles as they convert carbon dioxide into renewable fuels and chemicals. The study reveals that metallic copper nanograins serve as active sites for CO2 reduction, paving the way for advanced solar fuel technology.
Researchers from City University of Hong Kong have developed a novel, tiny device to observe liquid-phase electrochemical reactions in energy devices at nanoscale. The device enables real-time and high-resolution visualization of complex electrochemical processes.
Researchers create a new method, CCI, to capture high-resolution images of material fluctuations using powerful X-ray sources. The technique allows for non-destructive imaging and reveals patterns that were previously inaccessible.
The study found that titanium and sapphire lasers produce highly crystalline LIPSS with minimal strain, while free-electron lasers lead to defects but no observable strain. The findings suggest tuning LIPSS properties by manipulating laser parameters, paving the way for cost-effective nanostructured surface fabrication.
A team of University of Missouri researchers is working to understand why solid-state lithium-ion batteries struggle with performance issues. They will use a specialized electron microscope and thin film polymer coatings to study the interface between the battery cathode and electrolyte, with the goal of developing an engineered interf...
Researchers developed a new method combining cryo-EM with iDPC-STEM, achieving sub-nanometer resolution for protein structures. This technique expands possibilities for structural analysis of heterogeneous and single-particle samples.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh unveiled the first visualization of friction at the atomic level, showing that it occurs regardless of surface smoothness. This discovery could lead to better lubricants and materials to minimize friction and wear in machinery.
A team from Tokyo Tech has developed a new methodology to observe dynamic bonding between atoms, revealing transient structures resulting from atomic assembly. They used video tracking and ADF-STEM to directly visualize metallic dimers and trimers, achieving high atom discrimination accuracy.
Researchers at Samsung have developed a novel approach to inspect critical dimensions of semiconductor devices, improving speed and resolution. The new 'line-scan hyperspectral imaging' (LHSI) technique offers faster measurements with high spatial resolution, outperforming existing methods.
A new report from Oak Ridge National Laboratory identifies supply chain must-haves for maintaining the pivotal role of hydropower in decarbonizing the nation's grid. The report also highlights advances in safer battery technologies and innovative electron microscopy techniques for imaging lithium in energy storage materials.
A new study suggests that future catalytic converters could have longer lifetimes and need fewer rare materials to operate. Researchers investigated how the performance of rhodium-based catalysts changes over time in the presence of high heat.