New polymer-piezoelectric hybrid creates potential for 'materials that compute'

Moving closer to the possibility of 'materials that compute' and wearing your computer on your sleeve, researchers have designed a responsive hybrid material that is fueled by an oscillatory chemical reaction and can perform computations based on changes in the environment or movement, and potentially even respond to human vital signs.

Silica 'spiky screws' could enhance industrial coatings, additive manufacturing

A molecular process paves the way for improved silica structure design by introducing microscopic, segmented screw-like spikes that can more effectively bond materials for commercial use.

Interaction of tailored light with a single atom and individual nanostructures

By adapting a mode of the light field to a system under study, the interaction of light with matter can be optimized. In this context, the spatial distribution of the electric field of such a tailored mode plays an important role. Researchers use this approach to couple light to a single atom or individual nanoparticles.

Towards graphene biosensors

For the first time, a team of scientists has succeeded in precisely measuring and controlling the thickness of an organic compound that has been bound to a graphene layer. This might enable graphene to be used as a sensitive detector for biological molecules in the future.

Spintronics advance brings wafer-scale quantum devices closer to reality

Researchers have made a crucial step toward nuclear spintronic technologies. They have gotten nuclear spins to line themselves up in a consistent, controllable way, and they have done it using a high-performance material that is practical, convenient, and inexpensive.

Nanowires could be the LEDs of the future

LEDs made from nanowires will use less energy and provide better light. Researchers studied nanowires using X-ray microscopy and with this method they can pinpoint exactly how the nanowire should be designed to give the best properties.

Giving atoms their marching orders with nanotubes

Highly homogeneous nanotube enforces single-file flow of atoms in gas diffusion.