Atomistic calculations predict that boron incorporation increases the efficiency of LEDs

Using predictive atomistic calculations and high-performance supercomputers, researchers found that incorporating the element boron into the widely used InGaN (indium-gallium nitride) material can keep electrons from becoming too crowded in LEDs, making the material more efficient at producing light.

Researchers inadvertently boost surface area of nickel nanoparticles for catalysis

Scientists have discovered that a technique designed to coat nickel nanoparticles with silica shells actually fragments the material - creating a small core of oxidized nickel surrounded by smaller satellites embedded in a silica shell. The surprising result may prove useful by increasing the surface area of nickel available for catalyzing chemical reactions.

Nanosensor measures tension of tissue fibers

Computer simulations have helped a team of researchers to develop a peptide that is able to detect the tensional state of tissue fibers. This paves the way for completely novel research approaches in medicine and pharmacology.

Researchers achieve significant breakthrough in topological insulator based devices

Researchers have, for the first time, successfully demonstrated room temperature magnetisation switching driven by giant spin-orbit torques in topological insulator/conventional ferromagnet heterostructures with an extremely low current density, that can address the issue of scalability and high power consumption needed in modern spintronic devices.

Freezing electrons makes them get in line

New research suggests that electrons in a two-dimensional gas can undergo a semi-ordered (nematic) to mostly-ordered (smectic) phase transition, which has been discussed in physics theory but never seen in practice before.

Study shows potential for efficiently controlling 2-D materials with light

In experiments with an ultrafast ?electron camera,? laser light hitting a material is almost completely converted into nuclear vibrations, which are key to switching a material?s properties on and off for future electronics and other applications.

New method benchmarks organic mixed conductors

New framework compares the performances of organic materials for bioelectronics and energy storage.