Material deformation at atomic scale resembles avalanches

The rearrangement of particles in materials during deformation, such as when a spoon is bent, doesn't occur independently, but rather resembles highly collective avalanches that span the entire material.

Novel synthesis method opens up new possibilities for utilising Li-ion batteries

Doped lithium titanate nanoparticles could be incorporated into Li-ion batteries used in, for example, electric or hybrid automotive applications.

New technique for turning sunlight into hydrogen

Researchers have pioneered a new type of multilayered photoelectrode that boosts the ability of solar water-splitting to produce hydrogen. According to the research team, this special photoelectrode, inspired by the way plants convert sunlight into energy is capable of absorbing visible light from the sun, and then using it to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen.

Quantum magnets forced to ''chillax'

In what may provide a potential path to connecting data in a quantum computer, researchers have shown that excited atoms in silicon can be forced into a relaxed state on-demand using a device that serves as a microwave 'tuning fork'.

Graphene becomes superconductive

Researchers have developed a method to grow high-quality graphene on a silicon carbide crystal by controlling the number of graphene sheets.

Testing the response time of electrons (w/video)

The first visible attosecond pulses allow researchers to determine the delay with which electrons in atoms respond to the electromagnetic forces of light.

Advance could aid development of nanoscale biosensors

Imagine a hand-held environmental sensor that can instantly test water for lead, E. coli, and pesticides all at the same time, or a biosensor that can perform a complete blood workup from just a single drop. That's the promise of nanoscale plasmonic interferometry, a technique that combines nanotechnology with plasmonics - the interaction between electrons in a metal and light.