Seeing how next-generation batteries power-up

Scientists directly see how the atoms in a magnesium-based battery fit into the structure of electrodes.

Artificial intelligence accelerates discovery of metallic glass

Machine learning algorithms pinpoint new materials 200 times faster than previously possible.

Individual impurity atoms detectable in graphene

Physicists have succeeded in using atomic force microscopy to clearly obtain images of individual impurity atoms in graphene ribbons. Thanks to the forces measured in the graphene?s two-dimensional carbon lattice, they were able to identify boron and nitrogen for the first time.

Psst! A whispering gallery for light boosts solar cells

Trapping light with an optical version of a whispering gallery, researchers have developed a nanoscale coating for solar cells that enables them to absorb about 20 percent more sunlight than uncoated devices.

Similar charges are attracted to each other

Scientists have finally found out why a material that could potentially become the basis for ultra-fast memory in new computers is formed.

Oxide separation anxiety

Interface interactions delay phase separation in oxide thin films, suggesting new ways to control crystal growth.

A core-shell nanotube array for artificial photosynthesis

Researchers have developed a fabrication method to make a square-inch sized artificial photosystem, in the form of an inorganic core-shell nanotube array.

Tiny structures - huge impact

The surface of materials can have an enormous influence on their function. If the external properties are changed, this also expands the range of possible applications. This is why materials scientists are researching how they can tailor the surfaces of different materials using laser technology.

Observing biological nanotransporters

Scientists describe with atomic detail how molecules are transported through biological membranes. Computer simulations and spectroscopic experiments provided insights into the work of so-called ABC transporters.

Mimicking nanoscale natural movements with the help of DNA origami

Researchers use a technique called DNA origami to mimic a multitude of vital movements seen in nature, such as the sliding motion exerted by protein motors during cell division. Their invention features a preliminary attempt to construct nanoscale analogues of the mysterious natural machines in living cells.

Anomalous and topological Hall effects can be controlled by an electric field

Controlling the anomalous and topological Hall effects by applying an electric field could lead to new types of memory and logic devices.