Feature Channels: Materials Science

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Released: 21-Jan-2020 11:15 AM EST
University of Kentucky Project Seeks to Create More Environmentally Friendly, Stronger Cement
University of Kentucky

The UK Center for Applied Energy Research has received a two-year, $1.3 million grant to develop extremely durable belite-based cement — an alternative to ordinary Portland cement — that is low-energy consuming and low-carbon dioxide releasing.

21-Jan-2020 9:35 AM EST
Low Power Metal Detector Senses Magnetic Fingerprints
American Institute of Physics (AIP)

Recent studies have shown metallic objects have their own magnetic fingerprints based on size, shape and physical composition. In AIP Advances, from AIP Publishing, scientists look to leverage these observations to potentially create a smaller and cheaper system that is just as effective as their larger counterparts.

Released: 21-Jan-2020 10:05 AM EST
Transformative 'Green' Accelerator Achieves World's First 8-pass Full Energy Recovery
Brookhaven National Laboratory

Scientists from Cornell University and Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) have successfully demonstrated the world's first capture and reuse of energy in a multi-turn particle accelerator, where electrons are accelerated and decelerated in multiple stages and transported at different energies through a single beamline.

Released: 20-Jan-2020 11:50 AM EST
First detailed electronic study of new nickelate superconductor finds 3D metallic state
SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

It represents an entirely new type of ground state for transition metal oxides, and opens new directions for experiments and theoretical studies of how superconductivity arises and how it can be optimized in this system and possibly in other compounds.

Released: 17-Jan-2020 2:50 PM EST
New ORNL software improves neutron spectroscopy data resolution
Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Neutron spectroscopy is an important tool for studying magnetic and thermoelectric properties in materials. But often the resolution, or the ability of the instrument to see fine details, is too coarse to clearly observe features identifying novel phenomena in new advanced materials. To solve this problem, researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, developed a new super-resolution software, called SRINS, that makes it easier for scientists to better understand materials’ dynamical properties using neutron spectroscopy.

Released: 17-Jan-2020 10:50 AM EST
Spider-Man-Style Robotic Graspers Defy Gravity
American Institute of Physics (AIP)

Traditional methods of vacuum suction and previous vacuum suction devices cannot maintain suction on rough surfaces due to vacuum leakage, which leads to suction failure. Researchers Xin Li and Kaige Shi developed a zero-pressure difference method to enhance the development of vacuum suction units. Their method overcame leakage limitations by using a high-speed rotating water ring between the surface and suction cup to maintain the vacuum. They discuss their work in Physics of Fluids.

Released: 16-Jan-2020 1:40 PM EST
Nanomaterial "Twist" Could Boost Next-Gen Electronics
University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Research by Nebraska engineers Peter and Eli Sutter points to a way to overcome the challenges of building multi-layered nanostructures

Released: 16-Jan-2020 1:25 PM EST
What’s MER? It’s a Way to Measure Quantum Materials, and It’s Telling Us New and Interesting Things
Ames National Laboratory

Experimental physicists have combined several measurements of quantum materials into one in their ongoing quest to learn more about manipulating and controlling the behavior of them for possible applications. They even coined a term for it-- Magneto-elastoresistance, or MER.

Released: 16-Jan-2020 10:45 AM EST
A Wearable Gas Sensor for Health and Environmental Monitoring
Penn State Materials Research Institute

A highly sensitive wearable gas sensor for environmental and human health monitoring may soon become commercially available, according to researchers at Penn State and Northeastern University.

Released: 15-Jan-2020 3:50 PM EST
Scientists pioneer new generation of semiconductor neutron detector
Argonne National Laboratory

In a new study, scientists have developed a new type of semiconductor neutron detector that boosts detection rates by reducing the number of steps involved in neutron capture and transduction.

Released: 14-Jan-2020 3:05 PM EST
Clothes last longer and shed fewer microfibers in quicker, cooler washing cycles
University of Leeds

Those nice new clothes you got for Christmas or in the new year sales might just last longer, thanks to advice from scientists researching the impact washing machines have on clothes and the environment.

Released: 14-Jan-2020 10:20 AM EST
CAREER Award Recipient to Explore Potential of Promising New Material
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)

Two-dimensional semiconductors, particularly those made of a class of material known as transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), hold exciting potential for a range of current and future technologies, like solar cells, LED lights, and quantum computing. A recently awarded National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) grant will allow a chemical engineer from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to — along with his team — explore novel uses of TMDCs in an optoelectronic device, which uses light to create electricity.

10-Jan-2020 11:05 AM EST
Influential Electrons? Physicists Uncover a Quantum Relationship
New York University

A team of physicists has mapped how electron energies vary from region to region in a particular quantum state with unprecedented clarity. This understanding reveals an underlying mechanism by which electrons influence one another, termed quantum “hybridization,” that had been invisible in previous experiments.

10-Jan-2020 12:00 PM EST
Nano-objects of Desire: Assembling Ordered Nanostructures in 3-D
Brookhaven National Laboratory

A new DNA-programmable nanofabrication platform organizes inorganic or biological nanocomponents in the same prescribed ways.

Released: 13-Jan-2020 8:30 AM EST
McMaster chemists find new way to break down old tires into material for new ones
McMaster University

A team of chemists at McMaster University has discovered an innovative way to break down and dissolve the rubber used in automobile tires, a process which could lead to new recycling methods that have so far proven to be expensive, difficult and largely inefficient.

Released: 13-Jan-2020 8:00 AM EST
Engineers develop “chameleon metals” that change surfaces in response to heat
Iowa State University

Martin Thuo and his research group have found a way to use heat to predictably and precisely change the surface structure of a particle of liquid metal. It's like a chameleon changing skin color in response to its environment. And so Thuo and his team are calling the technology "chameleon metals."

Released: 13-Jan-2020 6:05 AM EST
New Program Supports Machine Learning in the Chemical Sciences and Engineering
Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation

The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation announces the establishment of a new program for Machine Learning in the Chemical Sciences and Engineering. The goal of this program is to further the understanding and applications of machine learning throughout the chemical sciences.

Released: 10-Jan-2020 12:50 PM EST
New quantum loop provides long national testbed for quantum communication technology
Argonne National Laboratory

Scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory and the University of Chicago launched a new testbed for quantum communication experiments from Argonne last week.

Released: 10-Jan-2020 12:35 PM EST
An 18-carat gold nugget made of plastic
ETH Zürich

Lovers of gold watches and heavy jewellery will be thrilled. The objects of their desire may someday become much lighter, but without losing any of their glitter. Especially with watches, a small amount of weight can make all the difference.

Released: 10-Jan-2020 12:10 PM EST
Unused stockpiles of nuclear waste could be more useful than we might think
University of Sussex

Chemists have found a new use for the waste product of nuclear power - transforming an unused stockpile into a versatile compound which could be used to create valuable commodity chemicals as well as new energy sources.

Released: 10-Jan-2020 6:05 AM EST
'Bilingual' molecule connects two basic codes for life
Emory Health Sciences

The nucleic acids of DNA encode genetic information, while the amino acids of proteins contain the code to turn that information into structures and functions. Together, they provide the two fundamental codes underlying all of life.

Released: 9-Jan-2020 3:20 PM EST
Growing strained crystals could improve performance of perovskite electronics
University of California San Diego

A new method could enable researchers to build more efficient, longer lasting perovskite solar cells and LEDs. By growing thin perovskite films on different substrates, UC San Diego engineers invented a way of fabricating perovskite single crystals with precisely deformed, or strained, structures.

Released: 9-Jan-2020 2:00 PM EST
The Wild World of Microbe-Made Products – Skis Now Included
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Biomanufacturing – harnessing biological processes in cells and microbes to design and manufacture products – is revolutionizing how we make everything from futuristic consumer goods to sustainable fuels to breakthrough medicines. Every biomanufactured product can be traced back to discoveries in the lab, but translating that science into a real-world product can be tricky. Berkeley Lab helps move great ideas, like outdoor gear made from algae oil, from conception to commercialization.

Released: 9-Jan-2020 6:05 AM EST
Under pressure: Researchers compress copper, creating the densest object on Earth
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

If copper was found in the core of Saturn it would have the same crystalline structure as the copper pipes found in many homes, according to new research from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and Johns Hopkins University. In a paper published today by Physical Review Letters, the research team reveals that copper maintains its crystalline structure at pressures ranging from one atmosphere (room pressure) to more than 30 million atmospheres.

8-Jan-2020 12:35 PM EST
NUS scientists create world’s first monolayer amorphous film
National University of Singapore (NUS)

Researchers from the National University of Singapore have synthesised the world’s first one-atom-thick amorphous material. This breakthrough allows for direct imaging to reveal how atoms are arranged in amorphous materials, and could be of commercial value for batteries, semiconductors, membranes and many more applications.

Released: 7-Jan-2020 4:55 PM EST
First Solar Energy System to Split Water into Hydrogen and Oxygen at Separate Sites
American Technion Society

Researchers have developed a prototype system for efficient and safe production of hydrogen using only solar energy. The innovative system contains a tandem cell solar device that enables more efficient utilization of the light spectrum.

Released: 6-Jan-2020 1:55 PM EST
Story Tips: Weather days, grid balance and scaling reactors
Oak Ridge National Laboratory

From the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory, January 2020

Released: 6-Jan-2020 10:45 AM EST
Exploring the ​“dark side” of a single-crystal complex oxide thin film
Argonne National Laboratory

A new study offers a nanoscopic view of complex oxides, which have great potential for advanced microelectronics.

Released: 6-Jan-2020 9:00 AM EST
Researchers Create Nanoscale Sensors to Better See How High Pressure Affects Materials
Iowa State University

Researchers have developed new nanoscale technology to image and measure more of the stresses and strains on materials under high pressures.

Released: 30-Dec-2019 2:05 PM EST
More Chinese scientists in America are going back home
Ohio State University

A growing number of Chinese scientists working in the United States and other parts of the world are returning to their homeland, enhancing China’s research productivity.

Released: 30-Dec-2019 8:05 AM EST
Growth and Repair from Carbon Dioxide in Air
Department of Energy, Office of Science

Scientists have created a new class of material that uses sunlight to absorb and fix carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Released: 27-Dec-2019 12:25 PM EST
Paving the way for spintronic RAMs: A deeper look into a powerful spin phenomenon
Tokyo Institute of Technology

Scientists at Tokyo Institute of Technology(Tokyo Tech) explore a new material combination that sets the stage for magnetic random access memories, which rely on spin--an intrinsic property of electrons-- and could outperform current storage devices.

Released: 27-Dec-2019 11:55 AM EST
Using deep learning to predict disease-associated mutations
University of Hong Kong

During the past years, artificial intelligence (AI) -- the capability of a machine to mimic human behavior -- has become a key player in high-techs like drug development projects.

Released: 26-Dec-2019 10:30 AM EST
Scientists create thin films with tantalizing electronic properties
University at Buffalo

The new films combine exceptionally strong light absorption with good charge transport — two qualities that make them ideal for applications such as photovoltaics and light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

Released: 23-Dec-2019 8:05 AM EST
A New Twist on Controlling Magnetic Properties
Department of Energy, Office of Science

Computer storage devices often use magnetic materials printed on very thin films. In this study, researchers rotated cobalt-iron alloy thin films relative to an applied magnetic field. Unexpectedly, depending on the rotation angle, a sizeable change - up to 400% - was seen in how well the material holds on to energy.

Released: 23-Dec-2019 4:10 AM EST
Science Snapshots From Berkeley Lab
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

This edition of Science Snapshots highlights the discovery of an investigational cancer drug that targets tumors caused by mutations in the KRAS gene, the development of a new library of artificial proteins that could accelerate the design of new materials, and new insight into the natural toughening mechanism behind adult tooth enamel.

Released: 20-Dec-2019 12:35 PM EST
The Quantum Information Edge Launches to Accelerate Quantum Computing R&D for Breakthrough Science
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

A nationwide alliance of national labs, universities, and industry launched today to advance the frontiers of quantum computing systems designed to solve urgent scientific challenges and maintain U.S. leadership in next-generation information technology. The Quantum Information Edge strategic alliance is led by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and Sandia National Laboratories.

Released: 20-Dec-2019 9:30 AM EST
Electron Pulser for Ultrafast Electron Microscopy Wins 2019 R&D 100 Award
Brookhaven National Laboratory

Brookhaven and its collaborators developed a laser-free device for probing fast atomic-scale processes in energy and bio materials.

Released: 20-Dec-2019 8:05 AM EST
Tiny Crystals Work Better When They Double Up With Designer Frameworks
Department of Energy, Office of Science

Where two unusual materials meet, scientists have seen promising behaviors for energy storage, medicine, and more. An international team of users and Foundry staff wrote a set of design rules that they then used to direct the self-assembly of the crystals and the cages into new types sheet-like structures.

Released: 19-Dec-2019 1:05 PM EST
Honey, I shrunk Michelangelo's David
ETH Zürich

There he is, standing upon his pedestal: David by Michelangelo. A world-?famous statue that nearly every child can recognise. But this David is just 1 millimeter tall, pedestal included

Released: 19-Dec-2019 11:10 AM EST
Playing the angles with dramatic effect
Argonne National Laboratory

Researchers report the most complete model to date concerning the transition from metal to insulator in correlated oxides. These oxides have fascinated scientists because of their many attractive electronic and magnetic properties.

Released: 19-Dec-2019 10:05 AM EST
Tweaks Behind the Rebirth of Nearly Discarded Organic Solar Technologies
Georgia Institute of Technology

A minuscule, counterintuitive chemical tweak is advancing an organic solar technology that was believed unviable.

Released: 19-Dec-2019 8:05 AM EST
Pushing the Precision of Nanoscale Mapping
Department of Energy, Office of Science

A popular microscopy tool can give false results about certain materials’ properties. Scientists have developed a new quantitative approach to identifying and removing these artifacts. This new technique will provide a clear way to distinguish false motions from the sample’s true electromechanical phenomena in materials.

Released: 18-Dec-2019 12:05 PM EST
Shape-Shifters: Small Proteins Unexpectedly Shift Their Shape When Coming Together
Department of Energy, Office of Science

Artificial versions of small proteins, called peptoids, can readily self-assemble into tiny sheets, which gives them a great deal of potential for use in medicine, sensing, and other fields. An international team led by Foundry scientists discovered that peptoids could change shape when they form a nanosheet.

Released: 18-Dec-2019 12:05 PM EST
Ultrafast X-ray Optics
Department of Energy, Office of Science

Scientists have demonstrated a new micro-electro-mechanical-system (MEMS) resonator. By using this device with a hard (higher energy) X-ray, scientists can now control how long the X-ray pulses are, down to 300 picoseconds long.

Released: 18-Dec-2019 11:55 AM EST
Super Nanoparticle Superlattices
Department of Energy, Office of Science

This new research shows how the ligands affect key structural and mechanical properties of the superlattices.

Released: 16-Dec-2019 10:30 AM EST
Berkeley Lab’s Top 10 Science Stories of 2019
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

From the health benefits of cool roofs to an experiment to search for dark matter, Berkeley Lab researchers did a lot of science!

12-Dec-2019 1:55 PM EST
Tiny Quantum Sensors Watch Materials Transform Under Pressure
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Scientists at Berkeley Lab have developed a diamond anvil sensor that could lead to a new generation of smart, designer materials, as well as the synthesis of new chemical compounds, atomically fine-tuned by pressure.

Released: 11-Dec-2019 7:05 PM EST
Scientists harvest energy from light using bio-inspired artificial cells
Argonne National Laboratory

By replicating biological machinery with non-biological components, scientists have created artificial cells that convert light into chemical energy.



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