Blog
- Oxygen migration enables ferroelectricity on nanoscale 22/04/2021 Hafnium-based thin films, with a thickness of only a few nanometres, exhibit an unconventional form of ferroelectricity. This allows the construction of nanometre-sized memories or logic devices. However, it was not clear how ferroelectricity could occur at this scale. A study that was led by scientists from the University of Groningen showed how atoms move in a hafnium-based capacitor: migrating oxygen atoms (or vacancies) are responsible for the observed switching and storage of charge. The results, which were published online by the journal Science on 15 April, point the way to new ferroelectric materials.
- Can room-temperature superconductors work without extreme pressure? 20/04/2021 Physicists aim to make practical materials that conduct electricity with zero resistance.
- A new technique to synthesize superconducting materials 15/04/2021 Researchers who demonstrated superconducting materials at room temperatures last fall, now report a new technique in the quest to also create the materials at lower pressures. They describe separating hydrogen atoms from yttrium with a thin film of palladium inside a diamond anvil.
- Plasma gun sprays out high-quality graphene 13/04/2021 The fast, low-cost method splits graphite particles into graphene flakes, showing promise for mass production
- Twisted trilayer graphene supports existence of exotic superconductivity 08/04/2021 ‘Magic angle’ twist in three layers of graphene offers new insight into superconductivity current models can’t explain
- 2D materials combine, becoming polarized and giving rise to photovoltaic effect 06/04/2021 For the first time, researchers have discovered a way to obtain polarity and photovoltaic behavior from certain nonphotovoltaic, atomically flat (2D) materials. The key lies in the special way in which the materials are arranged. The resulting effect is different from, and potentially superior to, the photovoltaic effect commonly found in solar cells.
- Cadmium cyanide surprises chemists by shrinking when irradiated with x-rays 01/04/2021 Contraction expands potential applications for inorganic materials
- Subtle quantum phenomenon found to alter chemical reactivity for the first time 30/03/2021
- Ionization source for mass spectrometry needs no external power supply 25/03/2021 Device could have applications for portable instruments
- Warped nanographene at odds with aromaticity 23/03/2021 Scientists discover a π-electron circuit with an odd number of electrons in a polycyclic system
- Nano-gate: Researchers create voltage-controlled nanopores that can trap particles as they try to pass through 18/03/2021 Scientists from the Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research at Osaka University fabricated nanopores in silicon dioxide, that were only 300 nm, in diameter surrounded by electrodes. These nanopores could prevent particles from entering just by applying a voltage, which may permit the development of sensors that can detect very small concentrations of target molecules, as well as next-generation DNA sequencing technology.