Materials Science

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July 19, 2021
News Feature
Scientists discover how high-energy electrons strengthen magnetic fields
The research could lead to a better understanding of extreme astrophysical environments and the development of compact high-energy radiation sources for science.
high-energy electrons strengthen magnetic fields
July 15, 2021
Press Release
Scientists take first snapshots of ultrafast switching in a quantum electronic device
They discover a short-lived state that could lead to faster and more energy-efficient computing devices.
ultrafast switching
July 8, 2021
News Feature
A detailed study of nickelate’s magnetism finds a strong kinship with cuprate superconductors
Nickelate materials give scientists an exciting new window into how unconventional superconductors carry electric current with no loss at relatively high temperatures.
Illustration showing nickelate and cuprate superconductors as cartoon characters that are either close friends holding hands or neighbors talking over a fence.
June 14, 2021
News Feature
Scientists discover how oxygen loss saps a lithium-ion battery’s voltage
Measuring the process in unprecedented detail gives them clues to how to minimize the problem and protect battery performance.
Illustration of oxygen atoms leaving a lithium-ion battery as lithium flows in alongside a battery whose energy is being sapped by this process
June 9, 2021
News Feature
Molecular movie pioneers awarded the Royal Society of Chemistry's new Horizon Prize
The Horizon Prizes celebrate the most exciting, contemporary chemical science at the cutting edge of research and innovation.
ultrafast X-ray scattering
April 21, 2021
News Feature
Scientists glimpse signs of a puzzling state of matter in a superconductor
Known as “pair-density waves,” it may be key to understanding how superconductivity can exist at relatively high temperatures.
Illustration depicting how two types of waves within superconducting materials intertwine to form a third type known as charge-density waves
April 12, 2021
News Feature
In a first, scientists watch 2D puddles of electrons spontaneously emerge in a 3D superconducting material
It’s an example of how surprising properties can spontaneously emerge in complex materials – a phenomenon scientists hope to harness for novel technologies.
Illustration of a 2D superconducting state emerging in a 3D superconductor
March 25, 2021
News Feature
Scientists uncover a process that stands in the way of making quantum dots brighter
The results have important implications for today’s TV and display screens and for future technologies where light takes the place of electrons and fluids.
Illustration of three quantum dot nanocrystals showing atomic-level changes when they are hit with laser light
February 23, 2021
News Feature
Researchers capture how materials break apart following an extreme shock
A better understanding of the failure process will help researchers design new materials that can better withstand intense events such as high-velocity impacts.
material failure
February 2, 2021
News Feature
A new hands-off probe uses light to explore the subtleties of electron behavior in a topological insulator
Just as pressing a guitar string produces a higher pitch, sending laser light through a material can shift it to higher energies and higher frequencies. Now scientists have discovered how to use this phenomenon to explore quantum materials in a new and much more detailed way.
Illustration of high harmonic generation in a topological insulator using circularly polarized laser light

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