Materials Science

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February 8, 2019
News Feature
First direct view of an electron’s short, speedy trip across a border
Watching electrons sprint between atomically thin layers of material will shed light on the fundamental workings of semiconductors, solar cells and other key technologies.
Illustration of electrons giving off electromagnetic waves as they travel between two materials
January 7, 2019
News Feature
SLAC/Stanford team discovers new way of switching exotic properties on and off in topological material
Ultrafast manipulation of material properties with light could stimulate the development of novel electronics, including quantum computers.
Topological Switch Lead Art
November 6, 2018
News Feature
Dancing atoms in perovskite materials provide insight into how solar cells work
A new study is a step forward in understanding why perovskite materials work so well in energy devices and potentially leads the way toward a theorized “hot” technology that would significantly improve the efficiency of today’s solar cells.
Neutron scattering
November 1, 2018
News Feature
In materials hit with light, individual atoms and vibrations take disorderly paths
Revealed for the first time by a new X-ray laser technique, their surprisingly unruly response has profound implications for designing and controlling materials.
Illustration of laser light setting off vibrations in material
October 31, 2018
News Feature
Scientists make first detailed measurements of key factors related to high-temperature superconductivity
Two studies led by SLAC and Stanford capture electron 'sound waves' and identify a positive feedback loop that may boost superconducting temperatures.
Illustration of study that reveals how coordinated motions of atoms boost superconductivity
October 19, 2018
News Feature
Researchers switch material from one state to another with a single flash of light
Switches like this one, discovered with SLAC’s ultrafast ‘electron camera’, could offer a new, simple path to storing data in next-generation devices.
Single Pulse Material Switch
September 17, 2018
Press Release
X-rays uncover a hidden property that leads to failure in a lithium-ion battery material
Experiments at SLAC and Berkeley Lab uproot long-held assumptions and will inform future battery design.
Lithium ion infographic
August 27, 2018
News Feature
Q&A: Shining X-ray light on perovskites for better solar cells
Four scientists discuss X-ray experiments at SLAC’s synchrotron that reveal new insights into how a promising solar cell material forms.
Photo: Aryeh Gold-Parker, Chris Tassone, Kevin Stone and Mike Toney
August 2, 2018
News Feature
In a first, scientists precisely measure how synthetic diamonds grow
A SLAC-Stanford study reveals exactly what it takes for diamond to crystallize around a “seed” cluster of atoms. The results apply to industrial processes and to what happens in clouds overhead.
Illustration of diamondoid and diamond crystals
July 30, 2018
News Feature
Ming Yi wins Spicer Award for superconductor research at SLAC’s X-ray synchrotron
Former Stanford and UC-Berkeley physicist is honored for foundational research that peers into unconventional phenomena within exotic materials.
Photo: Ming Yi

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