Scientists pinpoint cause of harmful dendrites and whiskers in lithium batteries

Scientists have uncovered a root cause of the growth of needle-like structures -- known as dendrites and whiskers -- that plague lithium batteries, sometimes causing a short circuit, failure, or even a fire. Such defects are a major factor holding back the batteries from even more widespread use and further improvement.

Unique sticky particles formed by harnessing chaos

New research shows that unique materials with distinct properties akin to those of gecko feet can be created by harnessing liquid-driven chaos to produce soft polymer microparticles with hierarchical branching on the micro- and nanoscale.

Overlap allows nanoparticles to enhance light-based detection

Scientists have found revealing information where light from a molecule meets light from a nanoparticle.

How to control friction in topological insulators

Physicists have begun investigating how topological insulators react to friction. Their experiment shows that the heat generated through friction is significantly lower than in conventional materials.

The nano-guitar string that plays itself

Researchers have created a nano-electronic circuit which vibrates without any external force.

Scientists reveal mechanism of electron charge exchange in molecules

Breakthrough has applications in data storage, energy conversion, quantum computing.

Protein-folded DNA nanostructures offer a new building material for biotechnology

By using proteins that naturally bind and arrange DNA inside cells, scientists has devised a plug-and-play strategy for building stable, custom-designed nanostructures.

Surface smarts

Nanostructures, microreactors, and printable electronics inspire many new applications in functional surfaces.

Super light dampers for low tones

A team of Empa acoustic researchers has built macroscopic crystal structures that use internal rotation to attenuate the propagation of waves. The method makes it possible to build very light and stiff materials that can also 'swallow' low frequencies very well.

Controlling the charge state of organic molecule quantum dots in a 2-D nanoarray

Molecular self-assembly on a metal results in high-density 2D organic (carbon-based) quantum dot array with electric-field-controllable charge state.