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August 21, 2020
Comparison of atomic force microscopy (AFM) characterization of the surfaces of the bullseye lenses made using the conventional focused ion beam sculpting method (left) and the new electron beam lithography method (right).
Next-Generation Electron Source Hits the Bullseye for Materials Studies
New lens could generate an ion beam that is both small and fast.
August 14, 2020
Optical laser pulses excite electrons in gold nanoparticles (AuNP) attached to a titanium dioxide (TiO2) substrate. Short X-ray pulses count the electrons injected from the nanoparticles into the substrate and monitor their return to the nanoparticles.
Watching Electrons Harvest Light at the Nanoscale
Insight into charge generation induced by light could enable the design of better photocatalysts made from nanomaterials.
August 11, 2020
At center, simulation of ring polymers being stretched in one direction (left). A fraction of ring polymers always forms highly elongated, knotted daisy chains (right), increasing the fluid’s resistance to flow. See how it works in this animation.
Elongated Ring Polymers Get Tied Up in Knots
Controlling the knotting of molecular chains offers new ties from polymer fluids to industrial applications.
July 31, 2020
Machine-learning enabled characterization of a 3D microstructure. This snapshot is from a 2-million molecule simulation of polycrystalline ice. The image shows ice grains and their boundaries.
Machine Learning Probes 3D Microstructures
Machine learning-based algorithm characterizes materials’ microstructure in 3D and real time.
July 17, 2020
Researchers demonstrated the first example of a lipid-based “memcapacitor,” an energy storage device with memory that advances brain-like, synaptic information processing in neuromorphic computing.
Oil and Water Almost Mix in Novel Neuromorphic Computing Components
Lipid-based devices mimic brain-like processing.
July 17, 2020
New deep learning models predict the interactions between atoms in organic molecules. These models could help computational biologists and drug development researchers understand and treat disease.
Machine Learning Speeds Molecular Motion Modeling
New approach yields fast, accurate model of how small organic molecules move in chemical processes.
July 15, 2020
Schematic showing filtration of aerosol particles using a combination of mechanical and electrostatic filtration from a combination of fabrics.
Facemask Fabric Filtration Efficiency
Scientists assessed common household fabrics to determine the best for protection against the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
July 15, 2020
Modelled illustration of copper (I) oxide (Cu<sub>2</sub>O) photocatalyst particles interacting with carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) and water (H<sub>2</sub>O) to convert CO<sub>2</sub> and water into liquid methanol (CH3OH).
Catalysis Sees the Light
Studies pinpoint the active site of a catalyst that converts sunlight to liquid fuels.
July 13, 2020
By “freezing out” the rotation, vibration, and motion of potassium-rubidium molecules to a temperature of 500 nanokelvin, scientists “trapped” the reaction in the intermediate stage for a longer time.
Freezing Out Chemical Reactions to Have a Closer Look in the Quantum Realm
Catching a glimpse of the breaking and formation of chemical bonds in ultracold chemical reactions.
July 13, 2020
Schematic of the binding energy of electrons in a copper-oxide superconductor as measured by advanced microscopy. The size of the blue and yellow blobs surrounding each atom indicates the size of the energy gap. The red rods indicate the atoms’ spin.
Electrons Line Dance in a Superconductor
High resolution imaging and spectroscopy definitively confirms a state of matter called a “pair density wave.”
July 1, 2020
Fast acid stimulus (red) rapidly releases copper ions (Cu2 , blue) triggering swelling waves through a hydrogel (COO− groups). In contrast, a slow acid stimulus triggers traveling color waves due to rebinding of copper ions.
Integrating Variable Signals in Hydrogels
Simple soft materials couple tunable chemical signals to produce distinct energy flows.
July 1, 2020
A novel approach to designing artificial materials achieves greater control over light than conventional materials. The materials were demonstrated using holograms projected at independent wavelengths to showcase multiwavelength performance potential.
Designing Better Holograms
Nanofabrication adds complexity to optical electronic devices.
June 30, 2020
Researchers fabricated synthetic, moisture-controlling leaves that resist drying in low humidity.
Stabilizing Water Loss in Synthetic Trees
Microfabricated leaf design holds more water.
June 30, 2020
The middle layer in this image is a 3D “exceptional surface” calculated from quasiparticles called magnon polaritons. The surfaces above and below the intersection with the exceptional surface display unique behaviors.
Being Exceptional in Higher Dimensions
Study shows that the strong coupling of photons and spin waves in magnetic materials creates an “exceptional surface” for new phenomena.
June 25, 2020
An ultrafast X-ray probe scatters from a molecular sheet (grey and yellow) energized by laser light. A multi-element detector captures the scattered X-rays (purple), making a distinctive pattern that correlates with atoms’ positions and vibrations.
Intense Light Pulses Bounce on a Crystalline Bed without Rumpling the Atomic Blanket
X-ray scattering measures the positions of atoms as they vibrate in a two-dimensional cover sheet.
June 5, 2020
Researchers guided photons through a zigzag design of silicon nanodisks, demonstrating the first fully three-dimensional (3D) nonlinear topological nanostructure for light generation.
Harnessing Light for Nanotechnologies
Novel nanofabrication makes nonlinear photon play possible in 3D.
June 5, 2020
Scientists combined imaging and microscopy to study the vibrational properties of water at nanoscale. Electron microscopy of a sample between boron nitride sheets (right) distinguished between hydrogen (O-H) and deuterium (O-D) vibrational modes (left).
Good Vibrations Show How Water Works
New method enables fundamental liquid studies at nanoscale.
June 5, 2020
Transmission electron microscopy depicts wear debris from tests with the solid lubricant consisting of (a) nanodiamonds, (b) amorphous carbon, and (c) molybdenum disulfide iwith nanodiamonds.
Nanodiamonds Slip N’ Slide
Oil-free, nanoscale solid lubricant creates ultra-slippery layer between sliding surfaces in machinery.
June 5, 2020
Illustration (left) and electron tomographic reconstruction (right) of programmed assembly of a nanoarchitecture built by attaching spherical particles to the six flat faces of a gold nanocube. The scale bar represents 50 nanometers.
LEGO™ Construction of Nanoparticle Assemblies
Designing new levels of complex architectures using DNA strands and nanoparticles.
June 5, 2020
DNA and a new type of molecular aggregates act as a molecular bridge in artificial light-harvesting systems, connecting light-absorbing and light-emitting molecules. Experiments suggest almost no energy loss during the transfer.
Building Better Bridges for Moving Energy
Precisely positioning molecules on wire-like DNA assemblies allows high efficiency energy transfer.
May 11, 2020
A schematic showing 4D atomic motion captured in an iron-platinum nanoparticle (iron in white, platinum in blue) after three different heat treatment times at 520 degrees C.
Researchers Capture Crystal Nucleation with Atomic Resolution in 4D (3D Plus Time)
New results contradict a long-held classical theory of crystal nucleation.
May 11, 2020
Scanning tunneling microscopy topography of an oxygen substituting sulfur (left) and sulfur vacancy (right) in tungsten disulfide. Bottom: Corresponding atomically resolved non-contrast atomic force microscopy image.
Linking Properties to Defects in 2D Materials
Scientists reveal oxygen’s hidden talent for filling atomic gap in 2D semiconductors & the surprising role of electron spin in electronic conductivity
May 7, 2020
Scientists created ultrathin porous materials by growing a “corona”-like polymer layer on porous metal-organic framework nanoparticles. Films one particle thick (top) self-assembled into multiple layers that were formed from these nanoparticles.
New Route to Thin Porous Membranes
Scientists create flexible, ultrathin films of nanoparticles using a polymer ‘corona’ approach.
May 7, 2020
Schematic of how hydroxyl radicals (OH)—which can form due to air pollution—can form Criegee intermediates, which then create more OH in a chain reaction that leads to breakdown of molecules in cell membranes (at top of image).
New Mechanism Links Ozone and Disease Resistance
New finding may help explain why we develop chronic diseases and cancer as we age…and even why food decomposes over time.
March 27, 2020
Depiction of a 2D-array of hexagonal prism silicate nanocages trapping individual atoms of argon, krypton, and xenon.
Nanocages Trap and Separate Elusive Noble Gases
Material traps noble gases at above-freezing temperatures, a difficult and important industrial challenge.