Quantum Server Newsletter on the latest news in Materials Science research

Author: Quantum Server Networks Original article: AZoNano News From Flexible Synapses to Artificial Senses: 2D Materials Transform AI Hardware In a sweeping review published in npj 2D Materials and Applications , researchers explore the pivotal role of two-dimensional (2D) materials in shaping the future of neuromorphic computing and artificial sensory platforms. Combining high-performance electronics with bio-inspired functionality, 2D materials such as graphene, MoS 2 , and WSe 2 are now emerging as the foundation for next-generation artificial intelligence hardware. Why 2D Materials Are Ideal for Neuromorphic Systems Neuromorphic computing seeks to replicate the information-processing style of the human brain, and memristive devices are at the heart of this movement. What makes 2D materials so well-suited for these systems is their atomic thickness, high carrier mobility, and tunable properties, which enable ultra-low energy operation, rapid signal processing, and exc...

Author: Quantum Server Networks Original article: AZoNano News Revolutionizing Memristive Devices with Real-Time Optical Diagnostics The next generation of neuromorphic computing and memory storage may depend on materials as thin as a single atomic layer. A new study published in Small highlights the use of a fully optical, operando approach to investigate resistive switching in monolayer hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) memristors—showcasing how photonic and electronic techniques can merge to unveil nanoscale phenomena in real time. Resistive Switching and the Role of Defects Memristive switching involves transitioning between high-resistance and low-resistance states, typically via the formation and rupture of conductive filaments (CFs). In conventional dielectrics, these filaments result from metal ion migration or defect cluster formations. In atomically thin 2D materials like hBN, however, the dynamics shift—defects such as boron vacancies or grain boundaries become cr...

Author: Quantum Server Networks Original article: AZoNano News Next-Generation Gas Sensors from MOFs: Precision Meets Performance Formaldehyde (HCHO) is a common but hazardous volatile organic compound (VOC) with significant health implications. From indoor air pollution to industrial emissions, reliable and sensitive detection of HCHO is vital for environmental monitoring and public health. Now, a breakthrough study published in the Journal of Advanced Ceramics introduces a cutting-edge material for selective HCHO detection—leveraging the power of 2D metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), heterojunction engineering, and platinum (Pt) nanoparticle enhancement. The Innovation: Pt/CoFe 2 O 4 /Co 3 O 4 Nanosheets A research team from Jiangsu University, led by Guiwu Liu and Professor Guanjun Qiao, synthesized a novel composite: Pt-decorated CoFe 2 O 4 /Co 3 O 4 nanosheets derived from a two-dimensional Fe–Co MOF. This structure achieved high selectivity, reproducibility, and se...

Author: Quantum Server Networks Original article: AZoM Article Introduction: The Challenge of Renewable Integration As the global push for carbon neutrality accelerates, integrating intermittent renewable energy sources like wind and solar into power grids remains a technical challenge. Enter Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries (VRFBs) —a promising technology poised to revolutionize grid-scale energy storage by offering long-duration, flexible, and safe storage solutions. How Do VRFBs Work? Unlike conventional batteries, VRFBs store energy in liquid electrolytes housed in external tanks. Each tank contains vanadium ions in different oxidation states—V 2+ , V 3+ , VO 2+ , and VO 2 + —which participate in redox reactions during charging and discharging. The electrolytes circulate through two half-cells separated by a membrane that permits ion exchange while keeping the solutions apart. The core electrochemical reaction involves VO 2 + and V 2+ ions converting into VO 2+ and ...

Author: Quantum Server Networks Original article: AZoM News Capturing Chemistry in Motion: A Leap Forward in Catalyst Research In a groundbreaking study published in Nature Communications , scientists from SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Stanford University have used ultrafast X-ray lasers to observe atomic movements in real time during a catalytic reaction. The result: an unprecedented glimpse into how molecules morph and react within femtoseconds—the time scale of atomic motion. The experiment focused on iron pentacarbonyl, a light-activated catalyst where a central iron atom is bonded to five carbon monoxide (CO) groups. Upon exposure to light, the iron sheds its CO groups, creating active sites for catalytic activity. While this process has long been studied using spectroscopy, the true structural dynamics remained elusive—until now. The Tool: SLAC’s Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) To visualize this fast-paced atomic ballet, researchers employed SLAC’s L...

Author: Quantum Server Networks Original article: AZoM News Natural Phase Change Materials: A New Era for Thermoregulated Textiles Smart fabrics are becoming increasingly important in a world where comfort, performance, and sustainability intersect. A recent study published in Scientific Reports has spotlighted an exciting development: the use of bio-organic phase change materials (PCMs) to improve the thermal properties of cotton fabrics. These natural materials—like coconut oil and gelatin—offer a greener alternative to synthetic additives in functional textiles. This breakthrough not only improves the thermal comfort of garments but also introduces a sustainable solution for regulating body temperature across climates and seasons. Understanding PCMs: What They Do and Why They Matter Phase change materials work by absorbing and releasing thermal energy during phase transitions, typically from solid to liquid and vice versa. In textiles, PCMs act like built-in climate...

Author: Quantum Server Networks Original article: AZoM News Revolutionizing Battery Design Through Interface Engineering As the world pivots toward electrification, solid-state batteries (SSBs) have emerged as a leading candidate to replace conventional lithium-ion batteries. Their promise lies in replacing flammable liquid electrolytes with stable, solid ones—unlocking pathways to safer, more energy-dense power sources for electric vehicles, portable electronics, and grid storage. Yet, a major technical hurdle remains: achieving uniform lithium (Li) deposition. In a recent study published in Advanced Materials , researchers delve into how the mechanical adhesion between battery components influences Li plating behavior in anode-free solid-state batteries with carbon interlayers. Their findings could redefine how SSBs are manufactured for optimal performance. The Power—and Challenge—of Anode-Free Batteries Unlike traditional batteries, anode-free SSBs begin without lit...

Author: Quantum Server Networks Source article: AZoM News Unlocking the Power of MXenes for Sustainable Energy As the global push toward carbon neutrality accelerates, the need for innovative materials to support clean energy technologies becomes ever more pressing. One such material—MXene—is now attracting significant attention for its potential in catalysis, particularly for green hydrogen production. In a recent breakthrough published in Advanced Functional Materials , an international research team led by Michelle Browne at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) has demonstrated how MXene-based composites, embedded with cobalt and iron, outperform conventional catalysts in the oxygen evolution reaction (OER)—a crucial step in water electrolysis for hydrogen generation. MXenes: A Material with Unparalleled Versatility MXenes are two-dimensional (2D) materials composed of transition metals and carbon or nitrogen. First discovered in 2011, MXenes possess remarkable electrical...

Source article: Phys.org Original research: Nature Nanotechnology (2025) The world of renewable energy just got a powerful new ally: piracetam . Originally synthesized as a nootropic (a cognitive-enhancing drug), piracetam has now found a surprising second life—not in neurology, but in materials science. Researchers at Wuhan University and partner institutions in China have demonstrated that piracetam can serve as a crystal-modifying agent to significantly boost the performance and scalability of all-perovskite tandem solar cells (TSCs). 🔬 The Perovskite Promise—and the Problem Perovskites are a class of crystalline materials known for their exceptional light absorption and low manufacturing costs. All-perovskite TSCs—devices combining two or more perovskite layers that absorb different wavelengths—have long been heralded as the future of photovoltaics. Yet, a key obstacle has persisted: they work well in small lab samples but perform poorly when scaled up . This effici...

Source article: The Conversation The future of construction is being shaped not just by cranes and concrete, but by chemistry, AI, and advanced material science. With the building industry responsible for around 37% of global CO₂ emissions —and cement alone accounting for a significant portion—rethinking what we build with has become critical. Fortunately, researchers across Europe and beyond are pioneering a wave of smart construction materials : bacteria-based self-healing concrete, solar-generating walls, and nanotech-enhanced coatings, to name a few. These once sci-fi-sounding ideas are now tangible, testable, and—thanks to EU support—potentially market-ready. 🏗️ From Concept to Construction Transforming a scientific breakthrough into a building material isn’t as simple as pouring it into a mold. It involves a rigorous process of technical validation, environmental compliance, and industry integration . Researchers start by identifying a performance challenge—say, poor...

Original article: Phys.org Published research: Nature Materials (2025) In a remarkable fusion of natural insight and modern nanotechnology, scientists have uncovered a new mechanism for ultra-small, high-speed memory storage—by studying a naturally occurring mineral known as brownmillerite . This mineral is now at the center of a discovery that could revolutionize how we design future memory devices, unlocking the door to subatomic ferroelectric memory. 🧠 From Nature to Nanotech The breakthrough comes from a collaboration between researchers at POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology), Pusan National University, and Sungkyunkwan University. Led by Professor Si-Young Choi and colleagues, the team took cues from the layered atomic structure of brownmillerite, a mineral composed of alternating tetrahedral (FeO 4 ) and octahedral (FeO 6 ) layers. When subjected to an electric field, these layers respond in an astonishingly selective way. The tetrahedral layers—h...

Published in: Nature Communications (2025) Imagine squeezing a stack of molecular paper—layer by atomic layer—and watching it whisper back secrets of its internal structure. This is no longer just the stuff of science fiction. In an exciting new study, researchers from several leading Chinese institutions have leveraged ultralow-frequency (ULF) Raman spectroscopy to probe the internal mechanics of layered nanomaterials like molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2 )—a flagship material in the realm of two-dimensional (2D) materials science. The Pressure Paradigm in 2D Nanomaterials Two-dimensional materials like MoS 2 , graphene, and their van der Waals cousins are stacked with weak interlayer forces that play a crucial role in their electronic, mechanical, and optical behaviors. But until now, accurately quantifying these interlayer forces under pressure—and understanding their implications for device performance—has proven elusive. This new study fills that gap. By carefully applying ...

Date: May 29, 2025 Source: Quantum Server Networks – Materials Science and Quantum Research News Graphene—the celebrated “wonder material” composed of a single layer of carbon atoms—has long promised to revolutionize electronics. But scientists have now taken this material into an entirely new realm. In a recent study published in Nature Chemistry , researchers from the University of Malaga and Complutense University of Madrid have unveiled a molecular model of bilayer graphene with controllable rotation and significantly enhanced semiconducting properties . This discovery could pave the way for custom-built quantum devices , high-efficiency solar technologies, and even artificial photosynthesis systems. Access the original article here: https://phys.org/news/2025-05-molecular-bilayer-graphene-higher-semiconducting.html The Innovation: Covalent Nanographene with Tunable Twist Led by Prof. Juan Casado Cordón at the University of Malaga and Prof. Nazario Martín a...

Date: May 29, 2025 Source: Quantum Server Networks – Photovoltaic Research & Energy Frontiers One of the most anticipated updates in the field of solar technology has just been released. The new Solar Cell Efficiency Tables (Version 66) , authored by Martin A. Green and colleagues, have been officially published in Progress in Photovoltaics . This living document is the global gold standard for reporting the highest independently verified solar cell and module efficiencies —across silicon, perovskite, chalcogenide, organic, and multi-junction categories. 📘 Read the full source article here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pip.3919 Why These Tables Matter Since 1993, the efficiency tables have been published every six months to track verified record efficiencies of photovoltaic (PV) devices. But more than a scoreboard, they play a vital role in: Standardizing performance evaluation across global research labs Encouraging independent certifi...

Date: May 29, 2025 Source: Quantum Server Networks – Advanced Materials and Quantum Frontiers In a major leap forward for quantum electronics and nanomaterials science, an international team of researchers has synthesized a brand new material: Glaphene . This innovative two-dimensional (2D) hybrid combines the structural strength and conductivity of graphene with the insulating and chemically stable properties of silica glass , resulting in a groundbreaking platform for custom-designed materials with novel quantum behavior. This research, led by scientists at Rice University and published in Advanced Materials , is more than just a materials discovery—it’s a bold demonstration of a method for chemically bonding 2D layers in a way that fundamentally changes their properties. You can read the full article here: https://phys.org/news/2025-05-glaphene-2d-hybrid-material-graphene.html What Is Glaphene? Glaphene is the result of a successful chemical integration betwe...

Date: May 29, 2025 Source: Quantum Server Networks – Materials Science & Quantum Frontier Blog For nearly two decades, the chemical element bismuth has been a source of both fascination and confusion within the quantum physics and materials science communities. Is it a topological material—or has it merely been pretending to be one? A recent study led by physicists in Japan, as reported by Physics World , suggests that bismuth's apparent dual nature might not be due to error or uncertainty but rather to a phenomenon known as surface relaxation , which could be “blocking” its true topological identity. What Makes a Material Topological? In solid-state physics, topology refers to the global properties of a material’s electronic wavefunctions that remain unchanged under continuous deformations. Just as a doughnut and a coffee mug are topologically equivalent due to their single hole, two electronic systems can be topologically similar even if their microscopi...

Date: May 29, 2025 Source: Quantum Server Networks – Materials Science Innovation Blog A new breakthrough described in a recent study published in Nature has opened the door to revolutionary developments in quantum technology. For the first time, researchers have both theoretically and experimentally demonstrated how superfluorescence —an exotic quantum state typically only seen at cryogenic temperatures—can be achieved at room temperature , thanks to the formation of so-called solitons in hybrid perovskite materials. This advance could enable the development of quantum computers, sensors, and communication systems that do not require elaborate and expensive cooling systems. The research represents a major step toward realizing practical, scalable quantum technologies. What Is Superfluorescence? Superfluorescence is a type of macroscopic quantum coherence , a phenomenon in which particles act as a single giant quantum state. It's similar to how a school of fi...

As wireless networks grow denser and digital devices saturate our daily environments, the challenge of electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radiation pollution becomes critical. The solution? Not a multi-million dollar chip redesign—but perhaps a humble strip of enhanced denim. A team of Brazilian researchers has just introduced a low-cost, flexible, textile-based electromagnetic absorber that shows exceptional performance in the 4G and 5G frequency bands. Published in Scientific Reports by Nature, this innovation could redefine how we manage EMI in smart cities, wearable tech, and beyond. The Problem with Invisible Pollution EMI can disrupt electronic systems, harm human health, and compromise the reliability of devices in medicine, aviation, and autonomous transportation. Traditional commercial absorbers like the polyurethane-ferrite-based LF-75 are thick, rigid, and expensive. They also interact primarily with magnetic fields, limiting their adaptability. This study—...

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) , part of the broader PFAS family of "forever chemicals," is a stubborn pollutant contaminating water systems across the globe. Used in everything from non-stick cookware to firefighting foams, PFOS resists degradation and is now known to cause liver disease, developmental issues, immune dysfunction, and even cancer. But a recent study by researchers at Stevens Institute of Technology presents a surprising and affordable solution: iron powder . Even when it rusts, this humble material proves dramatically more effective than the industry-standard activated carbon at removing PFOS from water sources. Turning Rust into Remedy: A New Role for Iron Water treatment systems typically use activated carbon, which adsorbs PFOS molecules on its porous surface. However, this method has limitations in efficiency and cost. To test a better option, doctoral student Meng Ji and professors Xiaoguang Meng and Christos Christodoulatos conducted sid...

In the fast-evolving world of materials science and chemical engineering , breakthroughs that streamline synthesis processes while slashing costs are rare gems. Enter AshPhos —a novel ligand developed by Dr. Sachin Handa and his team at the University of Missouri, in collaboration with Biohaven Pharmaceuticals. This innovation has the potential to revolutionize the production of medicines, clean energy materials, and even environmental cleanup methods. Why AshPhos is a Big Deal Carbon–nitrogen (C–N) bonds are fundamental building blocks of modern pharmaceuticals. A staggering two-thirds of all medicines rely on these bonds for their molecular architecture. Traditional methods of forming these bonds often require expensive ligands, harsh conditions, and precious metal catalysts prone to deactivation. That’s where AshPhos comes in. This new ligand is derived from inexpensive, easily sourced materials and offers enhanced efficiency and stability in catalyzing key reactions. I...