materials science

Machine learning-based simulation method supersedes traditional electronic structure simulation techniques

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Researchers from the Center for Advanced Systems Understanding (CASUS) at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) in Görlitz, Germany, and Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S., have made significant progress in overcoming the limitations of traditional electronic structure simulation techniques. Their innovative approach, called Materials Learning Algorithms (MALA), utilizes machine learning to achieve high fidelity … Read more

Ferroelectric polymer nanocomposites could revolutionize soft robotics

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Researchers from Penn State and an international team have developed a highly efficient ferroelectric polymer capable of converting electrical energy into mechanical strain. This breakthrough could revolutionize the field of actuators, which are materials that change or deform when an external force, such as electrical energy, is applied. Unlike traditional rigid actuators, this new type … Read more

New form of silicon discovered with room-temperature ferromagnetism

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Researchers at North Carolina State University have made an exciting discovery – a new form of silicon called Q-silicon that exhibits ferromagnetic properties at room temperature. This finding holds great potential for advancements in quantum computing, particularly in the development of spin qubit quantum computers that rely on controlling electron spins. According to Jay Narayan, … Read more

Tiny crustacean could hold key to understanding embryogenesis

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Parhyale hawaiensis, a tiny crustacean, has gained attention due to its remarkable attributes. Referred to as a “living Swiss army knife,” this species possesses numerous distinct appendages, each characterized by its size and shape, and each serving a specific function. These fascinating creatures, coupled with their easily observable growth conditions, make them an ideal model … Read more

New study shows how electric fields can be used to improve the properties of crystalline materials

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An international team of scientists, led by Professor Yu Zou from the University of Toronto Engineering, has made significant progress in controlling material defects using electric fields. This breakthrough has far-reaching implications for enhancing the properties and manufacturing processes of brittle ionic and covalent crystals, including semiconductors, which are vital components of electronic chips used … Read more

Machine learning for cross-coupling reaction optimization

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Researchers at the University of Regensburg (UR) in collaboration with the Zelinisky Institute in Moscow have made a breakthrough in the field of cross-coupling reactions. These reactions involve joining two fragments together and are widely used in organic molecule synthesis for various applications, including drug development and materials science. However, finding the optimal reaction conditions … Read more

New biodegradation data set could speed development of sustainable polymers

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A team of researchers from MIT, led by Professor Bradley D. Olsen, has made significant progress in addressing the environmental challenges posed by polymers through the development of a comprehensive biodegradation data set. The team’s findings were recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). The research aims to expand the … Read more

The threat of microplastics to swiss wildlife and ecosystems

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Each year, approximately 14,000 tons of plastic find their way into Swiss soils and waters, including microplastics, which are minuscule particles ranging from micro to millimeter size. These microplastics originate from various sources, such as cosmetics and synthetic fiber clothing. Additionally, they are generated through the wear and tear or breakdown of larger plastic items, … Read more

Plasma electrochemistry offers sustainable way to form carbon-carbon bonds

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Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a sustainable method for forming carbon-carbon bonds without the need for expensive and rare metal catalysts. The interdisciplinary team of plasma engineers, chemists, and bioengineers used electricity and a plasma-liquid process to generate solvated electrons, which were then used to facilitate carbon-carbon bond formation in a pinacol … Read more

Plant-based foods PhD candidate makes the fluffiest bread possible

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Gluten, a large natural protein, possesses remarkable properties in maintaining the airiness of dough until baking, resulting in a stabilized open-pore structure. Prof. Dr. Mario Jekle, based at the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart, is dedicated to developing processes where specific proteins sourced from peas, rapeseed, rice, maize, and other ingredients can directly substitute gluten … Read more

Scientists discover mysterious anomaly in superconducting material

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Scientists are currently working to understand the unique properties of materials that exhibit superconductivity, which is the ability to carry electric current with no resistance. Harnessing this phenomenon could revolutionize power transmission, computing, and energy efficiency. In order to unravel the complexities of these materials, researchers are studying their different phases. Kazuhiro Fujita, a physicist … Read more

Penn State scientists develop new device that mimics human eye

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Scientists at Penn State have developed a groundbreaking device that mimics the human eye’s photoreceptors and neural network to produce images. Inspired by nature, the researchers designed a sensor array using narrowband perovskite photodetectors to replicate the cone cells in our retinas, which are sensitive to red, green, and blue light. They then connected this … Read more

Researchers use AI to discover novel 2D magnets for data storage and quantum computing

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Cutting-edge tools in artificial intelligence (AI) have enabled a team of researchers led by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Trevor David Rhone, assistant professor in the Department of Physics, Applied Physics, and Astronomy, to identify novel van der Waals (vdW) magnets. The team used semi-supervised learning to identify transition metal halide vdW materials with large magnetic moments … Read more

Discovering clues to high-temperature superconductors: Unveiling the secrets of nickel-based materials

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Scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory, a part of the U.S. Department of Energy, have made significant discoveries about the behavior of electrons in a group of superconducting materials based on nickel. Published in two papers in Physical Review X, the research highlights both similarities and differences between these nickel-based superconductors and their well-known counterparts made … Read more

Researchers identify mechanism causing cathode degradation in sodium-ion batteries

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Sodium-ion batteries have been considered a sustainable substitute for lithium-ion batteries due to their reliance on a more abundant natural resource. However, sodium-ion batteries have encountered a significant obstacle: their cathodes degrade rapidly during recharging. A collaboration led by Cornell University has successfully identified a previously elusive mechanism that can trigger this degradation – transient … Read more