'Magic angle graphene's next trick: superconducting devices
(Source: ScienceNOW)
Source: ScienceNOW - November 19, 2020 Category: Science Authors: Wood, C. Tags: Physics, Applied, Materials Science In Depth Source Type: news
Constrained minimal-interface structures in polycrystalline copper with extremely fine grains
Metals usually exist in the form of polycrystalline solids, which are thermodynamically unstable because of the presence of disordered grain boundaries. Grain boundaries tend to be eliminated through coarsening when heated or by transforming into metastable amorphous states when the grains are small enough. Through experiments and molecular dynamics simulations, we discovered a different type of metastable state for extremely fine-grained polycrystalline pure copper. After we reduced grain sizes to a few nanometers with straining, the grain boundaries in the polycrystals evolved into three-dimensional minimal-interface str...
Source: ScienceNOW - November 12, 2020 Category: Science Authors: Li, X. Y., Jin, Z. H., Zhou, X., Lu, K. Tags: Materials Science, Physics reports Source Type: news
Locking in nanoscale strength
(Source: ScienceNOW)
Source: ScienceNOW - November 12, 2020 Category: Science Authors: Grocholski, B. Tags: Materials Science, Physics twis Source Type: news
Rational design of layered oxide materials for sodium-ion batteries
Sodium-ion batteries have captured widespread attention for grid-scale energy storage owing to the natural abundance of sodium. The performance of such batteries is limited by available electrode materials, especially for sodium-ion layered oxides, motivating the exploration of high compositional diversity. How the composition determines the structural chemistry is decisive for the electrochemical performance but very challenging to predict, especially for complex compositions. We introduce the "cationic potential" that captures the key interactions of layered materials and makes it possible to predict the stacking structu...
Source: ScienceNOW - November 5, 2020 Category: Science Authors: Zhao, C., Wang, Q., Yao, Z., Wang, J., Sanchez-Lengeling, B., Ding, F., Qi, X., Lu, Y., Bai, X., Li, B., Li, H., Aspuru-Guzik, A., Huang, X., Delmas, C., Wagemaker, M., Chen, L., Hu, Y.-S. Tags: Chemistry, Materials Science reports Source Type: news
Layering the charge
(Source: ScienceNOW)
Source: ScienceNOW - November 5, 2020 Category: Science Authors: Lavine, M. S. Tags: Chemistry, Materials Science twis Source Type: news
Atomic-scale microstructure of metal halide perovskite
Hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites have high potential as materials for solar energy applications, but their microscopic properties are still not well understood. Atomic-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy has provided invaluable insights for many crystalline solar cell materials, and we used this method to successfully image formamidinium lead triiodide [CH(NH2)2PbI3] thin films with a low dose of electron irradiation. Such images reveal a highly ordered atomic arrangement of sharp grain boundaries and coherent perovskite/PbI2 interfaces, with a striking absence of long-range disorder in the crystal. We...
Source: ScienceNOW - October 29, 2020 Category: Science Authors: Rothmann, M. U., Kim, J. S., Borchert, J., Lohmann, K. B., OLeary, C. M., Sheader, A. A., Clark, L., Snaith, H. J., Johnston, M. B., Nellist, P. D., Herz, L. M. Tags: Materials Science, Online Only, Physics r-articles Source Type: news
CdPS3 nanosheets-based membrane with high proton conductivity enabled by Cd vacancies
We report a class of membranes assembled with two-dimensional transition-metal phosphorus trichalcogenide nanosheets, in which the transition-metal vacancies enable exceptionally high ion conductivity. A Cd0.85PS3Li0.15H0.15 membrane exhibits a proton conduction dominant conductivity of ~0.95 siemens per centimeter at 90° Celsius and 98% relative humidity. This performance mainly originates from the abundant proton donor centers, easy proton desorption, and excellent hydration of the membranes induced by cadmium vacancies. We also observed superhigh lithium ion conductivity in Cd0.85PS3Li0.3 and Mn0.77PS3Li0.46 membran...
Source: ScienceNOW - October 29, 2020 Category: Science Authors: Qian, X., Chen, L., Yin, L., Liu, Z., Pei, S., Li, F., Hou, G., Chen, S., Song, L., Thebo, K. H., Cheng, H.-M., Ren, W. Tags: Materials Science, Physics reports Source Type: news
Metal-organic magnets with large coercivity and ordering temperatures up to 242{degrees}C
Magnets derived from inorganic materials (e.g., oxides, rare-earth–based, and intermetallic compounds) are key components of modern technological applications. Despite considerable success in a broad range of applications, these inorganic magnets suffer several drawbacks, including energetically expensive fabrication, limited availability of certain constituent elements, high density, and poor scope for chemical tunability. A promising design strategy for next-generation magnets relies on the versatile coordination chemistry of abundant metal ions and inexpensive organic ligands. Following this approach, we report th...
Source: ScienceNOW - October 29, 2020 Category: Science Authors: Perlepe, P., Oyarzabal, I., Mailman, A., Yquel, M., Platunov, M., Dovgaliuk, I., Rouzieres, M., Negrier, P., Mondieig, D., Suturina, E. A., Dourges, M.-A., Bonhommeau, S., Musgrave, R. A., Pedersen, K. S., Chernyshov, D., Wilhelm, F., Rogalev, A., Mathoni Tags: Chemistry, Materials Science reports Source Type: news
Vacancies enhance proton conductivity
(Source: ScienceNOW)
Source: ScienceNOW - October 29, 2020 Category: Science Authors: Lavine, M. S. Tags: Materials Science, Physics twis Source Type: news
Structural secrets of hybrid perovskites
(Source: ScienceNOW)
Source: ScienceNOW - October 29, 2020 Category: Science Authors: Szuromi, P. Tags: Materials Science, Physics twis Source Type: news
Lightening the load
(Source: ScienceNOW)
Source: ScienceNOW - October 29, 2020 Category: Science Authors: Yeston, J. Tags: Chemistry, Materials Science twis Source Type: news
Speeding protons with metal vacancies
(Source: ScienceNOW)
Source: ScienceNOW - October 29, 2020 Category: Science Authors: Wang, F., He, J. Tags: Materials Science perspective Source Type: news
Higher-valency ligands for COFs
(Source: ScienceNOW)
Source: ScienceNOW - October 22, 2020 Category: Science Authors: Szuromi, P. Tags: Chemistry, Materials Science twis Source Type: news
Using curves to make twists
(Source: ScienceNOW)
Source: ScienceNOW - October 22, 2020 Category: Science Authors: Lavine, M. S. Tags: Chemistry, Materials Science twis Source Type: news
Supertwisted spirals of layered materials enabled by growth on non-Euclidean surfaces
We present a general model describing the growth of layered materials with screw-dislocation spirals on non-Euclidean surfaces and show that it leads to continuously twisted multilayer superstructures. This model is experimentally demonstrated by growing supertwisted spirals of tungsten disulfide (WS2) and tungsten diselenide (WSe2) draped over nanoparticles near the centers of spirals. Microscopic structural analysis shows that the crystal lattice twist is consistent with the geometric twist of the layers, leading to moiré superlattices between the atomic layers. (Source: ScienceNOW)
Source: ScienceNOW - October 22, 2020 Category: Science Authors: Zhao, Y., Zhang, C., Kohler, D. D., Scheeler, J. M., Wright, J. C., Voyles, P. M., Jin, S. Tags: Chemistry, Materials Science reports Source Type: news
