Researchers develop a method to design and control the path of electron flow in a polycrystalline material. Metal-organic frameworks (MOF) are crystalline porous organic-inorganic hybrid materials that, by filling its pores with guest molecules, can create functionalities through interactions between the organic-inorganic based frameworks of MOF (host) and its guest molecules. This host-guest chemistry has…

A team of physicists and chemists has developed a highly sensitive sensor, which was made possible by a new heterostructure consisting of atomically precise graphene nanoribbons. The heterojunctions of graphene nanoribbons are just one nanometre — one millionth of a millimetre — wide. Graphene consists of only a single layer of carbon atoms and is…

In spintronics, the magnetic moment of electrons is used to transfer and manipulate information. An ultra-compact 2D spin-logic circuitry could be built from 2D materials that can transport the spin information over long distances and provide strong spin-polarization of charge current. Experiments by physicists suggest that magnetic graphene can be the ultimate choice for these…

The incorporation of boron into polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon systems leads to interesting chromophoric and fluorescing materials for optoelectronics, including organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDS) and field-effect transistors, as well as polymer-based sensors. A research team has now introduced a new anionic organoborane compound. Synthesis of the borafluorene succeeded through the use of carbenes. Borafluorene is a…

Multi-layered graphene is a promising carbon-based nanomaterial for a variety of next-generation technologies, but the relationships between its surface structures and properties are not entirely clear. Now, in a recent study, scientists analyze how surface structures like wrinkles and folded networks affect nanoscale friction in multi-layered graphene. Their findings could pave the way for graphene-based…

Researchers have developed a new glucose sensor that is cheaper and more robust than current systems. Diabetes affects around 4.9 million people in the UK and is a chronic condition where the patient cannot naturally regulate their blood sugar levels. Therefore, patient must measure their blood sugar levels several times a day as part of…

Building more homes and buildings with wood has been on the radar for years as a way to offset carbon emissions, though construction companies have been hesitant to take the material in broader use. A study is now the first to show that building with wood can be a sound investment. The findings show that…

Ceramics are resilient to heat and extreme environments but they are fragile and crack easily. Researchers have discovered a self-healing mechanism within a type of ceramics, called MAX phases. They have shown that these engineered ceramics form natural faults or kink-bands during loading that can not only effectively stop cracks from growing, but can also…

Scientists have obtained the first high-resolution 3D image of nebulin, a giant actin-binding protein that is an essential component of skeletal muscle. This discovery has brought to light the chance to better understand the role of nebulin, as its functions have remained largely nebulous due to its large size and the difficulty in extracting nebulin…

As the world lessens its dependence on fossil fuels, industries and manufacturers are turning to lithium-ion batteries to power the machines that make modern life possible. These batteries power electric vehicles, mobile phones, drones, vacuum cleaning robots and other machines and will be an essential component to the energy transition. But there’s a problem with…