Posts

When Electrons Sing in Harmony: Geometry-Driven Quantum Coherence in Kagome Crystals

Image
Credit: Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter (MPSD) / Nature (2025) In a groundbreaking experiment that blurs the line between physics and art, researchers at the Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter (MPSD) in Hamburg have discovered a mesmerizing form of collective quantum behavior in Kagome crystals — a class of materials named after a traditional Japanese basket-weaving pattern . The study, published in Nature , reveals that electrons within these star-shaped lattices can synchronize like singers in a choir, producing a coherent “quantum song” that depends directly on the crystal’s geometric shape. Quantum Coherence Beyond Superconductivity Quantum coherence — the synchronized motion of particles acting as overlapping waves — is typically restricted to exotic states such as superconductivity , where electrons pair up and flow without resistance. In normal metals, this delicate coherence is quickly destroyed by sca...
Post a Comment
Read more

Fluoride-Based Solid Electrolytes Unlock the Next Generation of High-Voltage Batteries

Image
Credit: Yonsei University / Nature Energy (2025) Researchers at Yonsei University have achieved a milestone in energy storage technology by developing a fluoride-based solid electrolyte that allows all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) to operate safely beyond 5 volts — a feat that has long eluded scientists. Their study, published in Nature Energy , marks a decisive step toward the next generation of high-performance, safe, and sustainable batteries that could transform electric vehicles, portable electronics, and grid-scale energy storage. Breaking the 5-Volt Barrier For decades, battery engineers have faced a major limitation: most solid electrolytes, whether sulfide- or oxide-based, begin to decompose at voltages above 4 volts. This constraint has capped the energy density of solid-state batteries — even as researchers sought safer and more compact energy solutions compared to conventional liquid-based lithium-ion systems. The team led by Professor Yoon Seok Jun...
Post a Comment
Read more

AI Tool Accelerates the Search for Durable and Eco-Friendly Battery Materials

Image
Credit: Advanced Materials / University of Bayreuth (2025) In a landmark step toward the future of sustainable energy storage, scientists at the University of Bayreuth and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) have unveiled a novel AI-driven multi-agent system that can design new battery materials far faster than human researchers. Their innovative approach — described in the journal Advanced Materials — has already produced several new electrolyte formulations for next-generation zinc batteries that outperform current state-of-the-art systems in both durability and charging speed. The Bottleneck in Battery Discovery The performance and safety of a battery depend heavily on its electrolyte — the medium that transports ions between electrodes. Finding new electrolytes with optimal ionic conductivity, stability, and environmental friendliness is one of the biggest challenges in energy materials science. Traditionally, this discovery process ca...
Post a Comment
Read more

Electronic Fibers with Liquid Metal Droplets: The Future of Stretchable Smart Textiles

Image
Credit: EPFL / FIMAP Lab, Nature Electronics (2025) Researchers at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) have developed a revolutionary electronic fiber embedded with liquid metal droplets that remains fully functional even when stretched to over ten times its original length. Published in Nature Electronics , this innovation could redefine the future of wearable electronics, soft robotics, and biomedical sensing technologies . From Mercury Fears to Safe, Stretchable Electronics The term “ liquid metal ” often conjures images of hazardous substances such as mercury , but the EPFL team’s alloy — a mix of gallium and indium — is non-toxic, remains liquid at room temperature, and possesses extraordinary electrical and mechanical properties. This combination allows engineers to create soft, flexible conductors that can stretch, bend, and self-heal, paving the way for resilient and human-compatible wearable devices. Until now, producing such materials ha...
Post a Comment
Read more

Iron-Based Battery Material Reaches New Energy Heights — A Leap Toward Safer, Cheaper, and More Powerful Energy Storage

Image
Credit: Nature Materials (2025) In a landmark study, an international team of scientists led by Stanford University and the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory has unlocked a higher energy state for iron-based materials — a breakthrough that could pave the way for more powerful, sustainable, and affordable batteries. The discovery, published in Nature Materials , shows that common iron can now deliver five electrons per atom instead of three — a leap that may revolutionize lithium-ion battery cathodes , magnetic systems, and even superconducting materials. From Doctoral Dream to Breakthrough Discovery The story began with the doctoral research of William Gent in 2018, who theorized that iron could be pushed into a higher oxidation state, unlocking its full potential for energy storage. However, experimental challenges halted progress — until 2025, when a new generation of Stanford researchers, including Hari Ramachandran, Edward Mu, and Eder Lomeli , built on Gent...
Post a Comment
Read more

A Common Polymer Becomes a Self-Healing, Flexible Conductor for the Next Generation of Wearable Electronics

Image
Credit: Journal of the American Chemical Society (2025) In a groundbreaking development that merges chemistry, materials science, and soft electronics, researchers at the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (Japan) have discovered a way to transform one of the world’s most common polymers— polyolefin —into a self-healing, flexible conductor . This new material could revolutionize the design of wearable devices , soft robotics , and flexible sensors , offering electronic components that can repair themselves and withstand constant bending without losing performance. From Brittle Circuits to Flexible Intelligence Conventional conductors, such as those found in circuit boards or wiring, are rigid and prone to breaking when bent or stretched. This makes them unsuitable for wearable technologies or robotics that require materials capable of flexing repeatedly. To overcome this limitation, researchers have long been searching for materials that combine electrical ...
Post a Comment
Read more

AI Learns to Build Better Batteries from Just 58 Data Points

Image
Credit: University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering / Stephen L. Garrett A team of researchers at the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (PME) has developed an artificial intelligence model capable of identifying high-performance battery electrolytes starting from only 58 data points . Published in Nature Communications , this breakthrough demonstrates how active learning and data-efficient AI can revolutionize the search for new materials — dramatically accelerating the pace of innovation in energy storage. Teaching AI to Innovate with Less Data Most AI models require huge datasets — often millions of examples — to perform accurately. But materials science doesn’t always have that luxury. When working with emerging battery chemistries , gathering such vast datasets could take decades. Each experiment is time-consuming, costly, and often limited by available materials. To overcome this challenge, the team led by As...
Post a Comment
Read more