[Image above] Credit: ACerS
NANOMATERIALS
Researchers ‘reprogram’ materials by quickly rearranging their atoms
Researchers led by Massachusetts Institute of Technology created a way to precisely move tens of thousands of individual atoms within a material in minutes at room temperature. The approach uses a set of algorithms to carefully position an electron beam at specific locations of a material, then scan the beam to drive atomic motions.
ENERGY
Better batteries begin with optimized slurry processing
Tokyo University of Science researchers showed that an intermediate shear rate during slurry processing evenly dispersed particles while preserving conductive pathways, producing electrodes with lower resistance and better cycle stability.
Identifying the minimum effective coating thickness for longer-lasting solid-state batteries
Hanyang University researchers showed that a 2.5 nm lithium niobium oxide coating is the minimum thickness needed to suppress harmful side reactions while still allowing efficient ion movement in sulfide-based solid-state batteries.
Lithium-ion batteries retain 93% capacity after 500 cycles with new heating method
By adjusting the heating process when making nickel-rich layered-oxide cathodes, researchers from SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Stanford University created lithium-ion batteries that retained nearly 93% of their energy after 500 cycles. They plan to scale the technique to industrial-sized furnaces and extend the approach to other cathode chemistries.
Scientists uncover new ‘in-between’ materials for solar fuels and batteries
University of Warwick researchers carefully controlled and tracked how molecular precursors break down during heating. They discovered a previously unknown, kinetically stabilized form of bismuth vanadate with a significantly larger band gap that could offer new opportunities for tuning the performance of materials used in solar fuel generation, catalysis, and electronics.
ENVIRONMENT
In Puerto Rico, an innovative water treatment system fortifies a community
Rural communities in Puerto Rico are often not connected to the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority, so they rely on locally operated systems for potable water. Sustainability nonprofit Plenitud P.R. is working to bring in a new water treatment system developed by Cornell University nonprofit AguaClara Reach to improve access to clean drinking water.
Light-triggered structure could help alleviate global water scarcity
Chemists at the University of Iowa created a millimeter-scale metal–organic framework that captures water from the air and stores it. When exposed to ultraviolet light, the material undergoes a chemical reaction that creates cavities throughout the lattice, which attract and store water molecules.
MANUFACTURING
AI-assisted scans aim to catch ceramic defects earlier in production
At Sandia National Laboratories, a new inspection workflow is taking shape that could help catch tiny defects earlier in the manufacturing process for ceramic components. The workflow makes use of new optical and acoustic imaging systems as well as an AI-assisted review tool.
Method for creating 3D photonic devices with nanoscale features
Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers developed a photopatterning technique that can create vacancies at any site across a material and then shrink it to about 1/2,000 of its original volume. This technology could be used for optical computing and other applications involving the manipulation of visible light.
Researchers refine use of graphene oxide for stronger, more durable concrete
Researchers led by the University of California, Los Angeles showed how graphene oxide can be incorporated into cementitious mixtures to produce higher-performance concrete. They found that effectiveness depends more on how evenly graphene oxide is distributed rather than how much is added.
OTHER STORIES
Strange crystals found inside wreckage from the first nuclear bomb test
Researchers identified a new kind of clathrate crystal within trinitite, the glassy substance that formed after the Trinity nuclear weapon test.
Gender Equality Monitoring 2026: Early-career talent is there, responsibility must follow
Women pursue doctorates and conduct research in materials science and materials engineering. But their share drops noticeably as soon as it comes to professional visibility, project leadership, and professorships. The German Research Foundation’s new Gender Equality Monitoring shows where the field stands and where it needs to work purposefully on its structures.