Quantum Server Newsletter on the latest news in Materials Science research - Edition of 24/03/2025
A recent study published in Advanced Materials Interfaces presents a sustainable nanocomposite coating designed to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs).
A recent study published in Advanced Materials Interfaces presents a sustainable nanocomposite coating designed to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs). This coating, made from a biodegradable chitosan matrix infused with citronellal-loaded nanoparticles (CLG_NPs), was applied to silicone catheters using an ultrasound-assisted technique. The formulation combines antibacterial, antibiofilm, and antioxidant properties. In laboratory simulations of bladder conditions, the coated catheters significantly reduced bacterial growth and biofilm formation over seven days without harming human cells. The release of citronellal was found to be pH-sensitive, allowing adaptive antimicrobial action. These promising results suggest the coating could improve the safety and performance of urinary catheters, although further in vivo testing is necessary before clinical use.
This article explores the potential of hemp-based plastics as an eco-friendly alternative to conventional petroleum-derived plastics.
This article explores the potential of hemp-based plastics as an eco-friendly alternative to conventional petroleum-derived plastics. Traditional plastics, which are widely used but non-biodegradable, contribute significantly to environmental pollution and climate change. In contrast, hemp plastics, made from the high-cellulose stalks of the hemp plant, are biodegradable, mechanically strong, and derived from a crop that absorbs significant amounts of carbon dioxide. These materials can be manufactured using existing processes like injection molding and extrusion, and have shown improved mechanical properties when combined with other bio-based or recycled polymers. Hemp plastics are already used in industries such as automotive, packaging, and 3D printing, with companies like BMW and Mercedes incorporating them into vehicle components. However, challenges remain, including higher costs, limited raw material supply, and the need for industrial composting facilities to ensure proper degradation. Despite these hurdles, ongoing research and industrial interest suggest that hemp plastics could become a scalable, sustainable solution for reducing plastic pollution.
The A' Material Science and Advanced Materials Design Award has announced its 2024–2025 competition, highlighting a broad prize package for innovators in advanced materials.
The A' Material Science and Advanced Materials Design Award has announced its 2024–2025 competition, highlighting a broad prize package for innovators in advanced materials. This prestigious award, part of the international A' Design Award program founded in 2008, honors breakthroughs in materials science, including smart, sustainable, nano, and composite materials. Open to global researchers, developers, and companies, entries are evaluated through a blind peer-review process based on innovation, technical quality, sustainability, and impact. Winners receive recognition through trophies, certificates, and exclusive industry resources, while maintaining confidentiality for sensitive innovations. The award aims to promote advancements that address global challenges in sectors like sustainability, energy, healthcare, and technology, ultimately fostering design excellence for societal benefit.
This review article examines how natural language processing (NLP) and large language models (LLMs) are transforming materials science by enabling faster and more efficient data extraction, knowledge discovery, and autonomous research.
This review article examines how natural language processing (NLP) and large language models (LLMs) are transforming materials science by enabling faster and more efficient data extraction, knowledge discovery, and autonomous research. Traditional research methods, reliant on manual data collection from literature, are being replaced with AI-driven techniques that extract key information such as material properties, synthesis routes, and compositions directly from scientific texts. Advanced NLP pipelines and tools like ChemDataExtractor have helped build structured databases from vast bodies of literature. The article highlights how word embeddings and pre-trained models like BERT, SciBERT, and GPT variants enable contextual understanding and predictive modeling in materials discovery. Specialized models like MatSciBERT, BatteryBERT, and SteelBERT are trained on domain-specific corpora to improve performance on tasks like property prediction and synthesis planning. The use of LLMs extends into autonomous materials design through AI agents that can plan, experiment, and reason independently. Despite promising progress, the article notes challenges such as limited numerical reasoning, the need for domain-specific fine-tuning, and computational resource demands. Future developments, including reinforcement learning and model distillation, are expected to enhance the scientific reasoning and efficiency of LLMs, making them powerful tools for accelerating innovation in materials science.
Researchers at UNIST have developed a novel, fast, and simple method for creating thin films using only water and oil, completing the process in just one minute.
Researchers at UNIST have developed a novel, fast, and simple method for creating thin films using only water and oil, completing the process in just one minute. The technique involves dispersing oil droplets carrying nanomaterial precursors in water. These precursors float to the water's surface, where they assemble into a film, aided by the addition of hydrogen peroxide, which generates gas bubbles that help lift and arrange the materials. This approach allows for precise thickness control and large-area film formation. The resulting films are porous, strong, flexible, and easily transferable to various surfaces, including complex micro-patterned ones. Using platinum-coated carbon nanomaterials, the team demonstrated the creation of flexible electrodes capable of powering a light bulb, even when bent. The method leverages Pickering emulsions—typically used in cosmetics—to reduce interfacial energy using solid nanoparticles instead of surfactants. It offers a cost-effective, versatile platform for applications in flexible electronics, catalysts, and energy storage devices.
Researchers from Princeton University and the University of São Paulo have developed a more sustainable method for producing concrete by recycling waste concrete from demolished structures.
Researchers from Princeton University and the University of São Paulo have developed a more sustainable method for producing concrete by recycling waste concrete from demolished structures. Traditional cement production generates significant carbon emissions due to the high temperatures and fossil fuels needed to create clinker, a key ingredient in cement. The new approach involves grinding the old concrete into a powder and then heating it to a much lower temperature of 500°C, a process known as thermoactivation. Although this recycled material initially lacked sufficient strength due to its porosity, the addition of around 20% fresh Portland cement or limestone effectively filled the gaps, resulting in a final product that matches current strength standards. This innovation offers a promising path toward reducing the environmental impact of concrete production while maintaining structural performance.
Researchers led by Professor Sun Qing-Feng and Professor He Lin from Beijing Normal University have successfully demonstrated orbital hybridization in graphene-based quantum dots, often referred to as artificial atoms.
Researchers led by Professor Sun Qing-Feng and Professor He Lin from Beijing Normal University have successfully demonstrated orbital hybridization in graphene-based quantum dots, often referred to as artificial atoms. This achievement, published in Nature, represents a significant step in quantum physics and materials science by replicating a fundamental behavior seen in natural atoms. While artificial atoms have previously shown bonding and antibonding states, they had not simulated the mixing of atomic orbitals—known as hybridization—until now. The team developed both a theoretical model and experimental setup showing that applying anisotropic (directionally dependent) potentials to the quantum dots can cause different orbital states, like s and d orbitals, to combine. By altering the shape of the graphene quantum dots from circular to elliptical, they were able to induce and observe new hybridized quantum states, which were confirmed through experiments involving atomic collapse states and whispering gallery modes. This breakthrough helps bridge the gap between real and artificial atomic systems.
Researchers from Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf and TU Dresden have pioneered a new approach in nanotechnology by using cation exchange to precisely manipulate the atomic structure of cadmium-based nanomaterials.
Researchers from Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf and TU Dresden have pioneered a new approach in nanotechnology by using cation exchange to precisely manipulate the atomic structure of cadmium-based nanomaterials. This method allows the replacement of specific atoms within nanoparticles, giving rise to unique optical and electronic properties, particularly in the near-infrared range. These materials are promising for applications in medical imaging, telecommunications, and solar energy. The study highlights the importance of active corners and defects in the nanoplatelets, which play a vital role in charge transport and light interaction. By linking these reactive points, scientists can create organized, self-assembling nanostructures with enhanced functionality. Combining advanced synthesis, microscopy, and simulations, the research not only provides practical innovations but also deeper insights into the behavior of materials at the atomic level, opening the door to future advances in sensors, electronics, and catalysis.
Chinese scientists have developed a new battery material, niobium tungsten oxide (NbWO), that could revolutionize electric vehicle technology by enabling charging in seconds.
Chinese scientists have developed a new battery material, niobium tungsten oxide (NbWO), that could revolutionize electric vehicle technology by enabling charging in seconds. The material allows lithium-ion batteries to charge rapidly without significantly degrading capacity or lifespan, maintaining 77% efficiency after 500 fast charge cycles. The key lies in how lithium ions behave under different charging speeds—at high rates, the ions distribute randomly, reducing structural stress and enabling faster intercalation. Researchers also engineered a version of the material, rGO/Nb₁₆W₅O₅₅, that reached 68.5% of its theoretical capacity in just 45 seconds. With energy densities up to 406 watt-hours per kilogram at low power and 186 at high power, this breakthrough could significantly enhance performance across consumer electronics, EVs, and other high-demand energy applications, though further development is needed before commercialization.
Researchers have discovered that the unusual, direction-dependent flow of electric current—known as nonreciprocal electronic transport—in the helimagnetic semimetal α-EuP₃ arises from asymmetries in its electronic band structure caused by its chiral magnetic configuration.
Researchers have discovered that the unusual, direction-dependent flow of electric current—known as nonreciprocal electronic transport—in the helimagnetic semimetal α-EuP₃ arises from asymmetries in its electronic band structure caused by its chiral magnetic configuration. Using experiments and first-principles calculations, the team showed that when a magnetic field is applied, α-EuP₃ transitions through various magnetic phases, including a conical phase that breaks spatial symmetry in a unique way. This induces a measurable asymmetry in how electrons move through the material, which disappears once the structure becomes achiral again. The study connects the emergence of nonreciprocal current to momentum-space band deformation rather than real-space dynamics, offering a clearer understanding of how magnetic chirality can control electronic behavior. These findings pave the way for new types of spintronic devices that use magnetic structures to encode and manipulate information.
India’s electric vehicle (EV) industry is increasingly recognizing the urgent need to develop alternatives to permanent magnets made with rare earth elements (REEs), which are currently essential for high-performance motors.
India’s electric vehicle (EV) industry is increasingly recognizing the urgent need to develop alternatives to permanent magnets made with rare earth elements (REEs), which are currently essential for high-performance motors. While REE magnets are lightweight and efficient, they are costly, vulnerable to demagnetization under heat, and largely sourced from environmentally harmful and geopolitically sensitive mining operations—mainly controlled by China. Ferrite magnets, though more abundant and cheaper, perform poorly in comparison. To reduce dependency on REEs, Indian research centers are investigating substitutes like high-silicon steel and advanced copper alloys, which could enable the creation of REE-free motors. However, these alternatives require further research and investment to meet EV performance standards. The article calls for increased focus on domestic innovation, material science, and strategic policy planning to secure a more self-reliant and sustainable EV future for India.
Researchers at the Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research (DIFFER) are developing a self-repairing material to protect fusion reactors from the intense heat and particle bombardment generated by superheated plasma.
Researchers at the Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research (DIFFER) are developing a self-repairing material to protect fusion reactors from the intense heat and particle bombardment generated by superheated plasma. Using their advanced facility Magnum-PSI, which simulates the extreme conditions inside reactors like ITER, scientists are testing a novel solution: a flowing liquid metal layer over a mesh support. This layer can dynamically heal itself when damaged, potentially extending reactor life and improving performance. Unlike solid materials such as tungsten, which degrade over time under fusion conditions, the liquid metal can instantly fill in damage from plasma exposure. While challenges remain—like selecting the right metal and engineering stable support structures—this research could significantly advance the durability and efficiency of future fusion energy systems.
Researchers at Columbia Engineering have developed a groundbreaking 3D photonic-electronic chip platform that significantly improves energy efficiency and data bandwidth for artificial intelligence systems.
Researchers at Columbia Engineering have developed a groundbreaking 3D photonic-electronic chip platform that significantly improves energy efficiency and data bandwidth for artificial intelligence systems. By integrating photonic components with advanced CMOS electronics, the new chip enables ultra-fast data transfers—up to 800 gigabits per second—while using just 120 femtojoules per bit, far surpassing current technologies. With a bandwidth density of 5.3 terabits per second per square millimeter, the innovation addresses long-standing limitations in AI hardware related to power consumption and data movement. Designed with scalable, cost-effective manufacturing in mind, this platform could revolutionize not only AI computing but also high-performance computing, telecommunications, and memory systems by making distributed, energy-efficient architectures more feasible.
Scientists in the United States have discovered unusual behavior in a class of materials known as "strange metals," challenging a foundational theory of electrical conductivity known as Fermi liquid theory.
Scientists in the United States have discovered unusual behavior in a class of materials known as "strange metals," challenging a foundational theory of electrical conductivity known as Fermi liquid theory. Traditionally, this theory explains how electrons in metals behave as quasiparticles that carry discrete charges. However, using a sensitive technique called shot noise measurement, researchers found that in the strange metal YbRh₂Si₂, electric current does not behave as a stream of individual electrons but rather as a continuous, featureless flow—suggesting that electrons lose their individuality and form a kind of "quantum soup." This contradicts the established understanding of how electricity flows and may open the door to a new theory of electrical transport. The findings also have implications for understanding high-temperature superconductors, which display similar behavior in their normal state.
Researchers at the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI) have developed a breakthrough method for producing hard carbon anodes for sodium-ion batteries using microwave induction heating, drastically reducing production time to just 30 seconds.
Researchers at the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI) have developed a breakthrough method for producing hard carbon anodes for sodium-ion batteries using microwave induction heating, drastically reducing production time to just 30 seconds. This advancement significantly lowers manufacturing costs and makes sodium-ion batteries a more practical and sustainable alternative to lithium-ion batteries. The new process involves heating films of polymers and carbon nanotubes to over 1,400°C using a microwave magnetic field, enabling rapid and uniform material treatment. Sodium-ion batteries offer advantages such as improved safety and better performance in cold environments, making them suitable for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage. The team also used multiphysics simulation to optimize material behavior and is pursuing commercialization through patents and industry partnerships. Beyond batteries, this technology could benefit other sectors like semiconductor manufacturing. The innovation marks a major step forward in scalable, efficient, and eco-friendly energy storage solutions.
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