New principle for highly efficient optical device verified

Scientists have demonstrated that when a topological insulator - a material that conducts electricity on the surface but not in the interior - with magnetic properties is exposed to light, the angles of the rotation of light polarization driven by the magneto-optical effect show the universal values determined by quantum mechanics.

Pop science: Engineers stop soap bubbles from swirling

Engineers happen upon a way to stop the movement of the colorful eddies on the surface of soap bubbles. The results are works of art that could lead to stable engineered foams for medical treatments, personal products and food.

A new method of engineering polymer brushes

Engineered surfaces add value to the things we use, providing extra layers of safety, easing their operation, preserving their quality or adding utility. Materials researchers are looking to greatly improve on the concept with a method of micron-scale surface chemical patterning that can not only decrease time and money spent in their manufacture, but also add versatility to their design.

New fabric uses sun and wind to power devices

Fabrics that can generate electricity from physical movement have been in the works for a few years. Now researchers have taken the next step, developing a fabric that can simultaneously harvest energy from both sunshine and motion.

Proton diffusion discovery a boost for fuel cell technologies

Scientists demonstrate how they synthesised nanometre-sized cage molecules that can be used to transport charge in proton exchange membrane (PEM) applications.

Water helps assembly of biofibers that could capture sunlight

A new study has shown water can serve a previously undiscovered role to help micelles coalesce to spontaneously form long fibers. The study could help scientists to understand how light-harvesting molecules are incorporated into the micelle fiber as it assembles, which would be a key step to understanding some forms of artificial photosynthesis.

Asphalt-based carbon-capture material advances

A research laboratory has improved its method to turn plain asphalt into a porous material that can capture greenhouse gases from natural gas.

Tuning materials and devices to adapt to their environment

Researchers, who began exploring thin-film tunable dielectrics using sputtered material nearly two decades ago, are now trying to leverage advanced and scalable materials deposition techniques like molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) to create tunable, high-frequency integrated circuits and devices with high-quality materials that are comparable to modern semiconductor technology.

Magnetic sensors made to measure

Researchers have discovered a method that paves the way for a new generation of magnetic sensors. Their procedure can be used to greatly extend the functionality of such sensors, which is limited when conventional production methods are used, so that sensors can now be individually tailored to a wide variety of new applications.

With great power comes great laser science

Scientists found a way to compress ultrashort laser pulses, increasing its peak power to half a terawatt - which is equivalent to the output of hundreds of nuclear reactors.

Nanoengineers build world's largest database of crystal surfaces and shapes

Dubbed Crystalium, this new open-source database can help researchers design new materials for technologies in which surfaces and interfaces play an important role, such as fuel cells, catalytic converters in cars, computer microchips, nanomaterials and solid-state batteries.

New technique integrates graphene, graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide onto silicon chips at room temperature

Materials researchers have developed a technique that allows them to integrate graphene, graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide onto silicon substrates at room temperature by using nanosecond pulsed laser annealing. The advance raises the possibility of creating new electronic devices, and the researchers are already planning to use the technique to create smart biomedical sensors.

Chemists offer enhanced 3-D look inside batteries

A team of chemists has developed a method to yield highly detailed, three-dimensional images of the insides of batteries. The technique, based on magnetic resonance imaging, offers an enhanced approach to monitor the condition of these power sources in real time.

On-surface chemistry leads to novel products

On-surface chemical Reactions can lead to novel chemical compounds not yet synthesized by solution chemistry.

Manipulation of liquid crystals could help control drug-delivery process

Liquid crystals are strange substances, both fish and fowl. They can flow like a liquid, but have the orderly molecular structure of a crystalline solid. And that internal structure can be changed by small cues from outside.

Nanotechnology engineers develop the 'potalyzer', a roadside saliva test for marijuana intoxication

As the breathalyzer does for alcohol, this experimental 'potalyzer' could provide a practical field test for determining whether a driver might be impaired from smoking marijuana.

Researchers find way of developing composites that self-heal at very low temperatures

Scientists have developed a method of allowing materials, commonly used in aircraft and satellites, to self-heal cracks at temperatures well below freezing.

ERC Starting Grant to revolutionize the efficiency, cost and stability of thin-film solar cells

Researchers receive two million euros to apply techniques from silicon solar cell processing to revolutionize the design of thin-film solar cells, improving their efficiency, cost and stability.

Metal in chains

The electronic energy states allowed by quantum mechanics determine whether a solid is an insulator or whether it conducts electric current as a metal. Researchers have now theoretically predicted a novel material whose energy states exhibit a hitherto unknown peculiarity.

First accurate simulation of a virus invading a cell

For the first time, scientists know what happens to a virus' shape when it invades a host cell. Understanding how the virus shape specifically changes could lead to more effective anti-viral therapies.