Materials Science – News and Features

Scientists have engineered a new type of sensor to monitor substances in the body over long stretches – measuring reactions for up to a week after being implanted in living rats.

Researchers have developed a new membrane that is capable of separating components in crude oil by molecular size, potentially reducing the energy required for crude oil fractionation.

Researchers have discovered a new variant of silicone that has semiconducting properties – shattering previous assumptions that silicones are exclusively insulating materials. The new silicone could have applications in flexible displays and sensors.

A new process retains the long polymer chains present in natural rubber, creating rubber materials that are 10x tougher than regular commercial materials. This new extra-tough rubber could have applications in flexible electronics and robotics.

Scientists demonstrated a new cryogenic mass spectrometry approach for depth profiling frozen tiny lipid nanoparticles to reveal the layers and orientation of the constituent molecules. This method could be used to help improve drug delivery.

Researchers have discovered a new class of materials – called intercrystals – with unique electronic properties that could lead to more efficient electronic components, better quantum computing and more environmentally friendly materials.

Researchers have developed a new, easily manufacturable solid-state thermoelectric refrigeration technology made with nano-engineered materials that is twice as efficient as current devices.

Warzones, microplastics and light pollution pose serious new risks to bees and other pollinators over the next decade, according to a landmark report on World Bee Day.

Researchers have demonstrated the effective use of an alternative, low-cost catalyst in lithium-CO₂ batteries which allows the battery to store significantly more energy, charge with far less power and run for over 100 cycles.

In a new series of papers, researchers from Cornell University have demonstrated how alternative approaches to AI-powered science could result in faster materials discovery.