[Image above] Credit: ACerS
NANOMATERIALS
Van der Waals forces can play unexpected role in thin film properties
Researchers at North Carolina State University demonstrated the ability to use van der Waals forces to tune the thickness, strain state, and domain architecture of ferroelectric thin films.
ENERGY
Fresh strategy to boost tandem solar cell performance
A team of Chinese researchers developed a new passivation strategy that significantly improves both the efficiency and operational stability of perovskite–silicon tandem solar cells. The strategy uses polystyrene nanospheres as a template to precisely deposit a thin insulating layer of aluminum oxide onto the pyramid peaks, thereby blocking leakage pathways.
Quantum effect could power the next generation of battery-free devices
Researchers at Queensland University of Technology and Nanyang Technological University showed how tiny imperfections and vibrations inside bismuth telluride could be used to control the nonlinear Hall effect, opening new possibilities for smaller, faster, and more efficient energy-harvesting devices.
Small experimental choices undermine flow battery comparisons
An international study spanning eight research groups revealed that seemingly minor differences in experimental practice can lead to major variations in flow battery performance, exposing replicability problems in the field.
ENVIRONMENT
Carbon ratios in concrete can improve carbon accounting
Researchers led by the University of Tokyo found out how to determine how much carbon dioxide from either natural or anthropogenic sources can be absorbed by special concrete production methods. This ability can be useful for economic tools such as carbon trading and carbon accounting.
OTHER STORIES
Scientists find an elusive vibration changing a crystal’s symmetry
Argonne National Laboratory researchers exposed a 2D perovskite crystal to ultrafast laser pulses and discovered the emergence of a complex and elusive type of vibration called the Higgs mode across its structure. This observation demonstrated the ability of light to directly drive and control symmetry changes in quantum materials.
Strange crystal shows one of the strongest light-bending effects seen in a natural material
Researchers led by the company Xpanceo Research on Natural Science created the first detailed experimental map of molybdenum oxychloride’s optical properties, revealing the strongest light-bending effect ever measured in a natural material. The crystal can act either like a reflective metal or transparent glass, allowing it to manipulate light with great efficiency.
Cobalt exhibits surprising quantum properties
An international research team led by Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin discovered that cobalt contains a rich network of topological electronic states that remain stable even at room temperature. These states enable extremely fast electron behavior and can be switched or controlled using magnetism.
Researchers craft new, simple recipe for highly entangled quantum states
Researchers at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering found a surprisingly simple method to create and control a broad variety of entangled quantum states. They arranged the system so that each atom is paired with another whose energy offset is equal and opposite. This setup gives the particles distinct identities while allowing enough structure for the system to behave predictably.