Quantum Server Newsletter on the latest news in Materials Science research

Hydrogen is often called the fuel of the future , capable of powering vehicles, industries, and even entire cities without carbon emissions. But despite its promise, one of the greatest barriers to a hydrogen economy is how to safely and efficiently store and release hydrogen at scale. Traditionally, this process has relied on precious metal catalysts like platinum, which are both expensive and resource-limited. Now, researchers from the Layered Nanochemistry Group at the Research Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA) , led by Dr. Yusuke Ide, have discovered an unexpected ally: green rust , a once-overlooked mixed-valent iron hydroxide mineral. By modifying green rust particles with nanoscale copper oxide clusters, they have created a low-cost, highly efficient catalyst for hydrogen release from sodium borohydride (SBH), an emerging hydrogen storage material. Why Sodium Borohydride Matters ...

Polymer glasses — best known through familiar applications like plexiglass in windows, aquariums, and protective enclosures — have long faced a fundamental engineering dilemma. Scientists could make them stronger, or tougher, or easier to process — but rarely all three at once. This trilemma has limited the versatility of polymer glasses in advanced engineering and technology applications. Now, researchers in China have reported a breakthrough approach using single-chain nanoparticles (SCNPs) . Their study, published in Physical Review Letters , demonstrates how introducing these nanoscale reinforcements into polymer matrices can overcome the longstanding strength–toughness–processability trade-off. The result is a new class of polymer glasses that are simultaneously stronger, tougher, and easier to process — a remarkable step forward for materials science. The Strength–Toughness Trade-Off The engineeri...

From the Stone Age to the Silicon Age, materials have defined human progress. Among them, metals and alloys have been at the core of technological revolutions — enabling stronger tools, more efficient machines, and advanced scientific instruments. But not all metals are created equal: some stand out for their exceptional hardness, toughness, and resistance under extreme conditions. How Do We Measure Strength? Strength is not a one-dimensional property. Tensile strength describes how much pulling force a material can take before breaking, while compressive strength captures how well it resists crushing. Yield strength marks the transition from elastic behavior to permanent deformation, and impact strength measures resilience under sudden shocks. Hardness, often measured on the Mohs scale , is another benchmark, but true toughness depends on the balance between these properties. The Hardest a...

In a breakthrough that could revolutionize high-speed communications, encryption, and holographic displays, researchers from the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology and the City University of Hong Kong have developed an electrically tunable metasurface capable of real-time manipulation of terahertz (THz) waves. Their innovative “microladder” design overcomes long-standing limitations in THz holography and encryption, opening doors to practical applications in data security, medical imaging, and next-generation wireless technologies . Why Terahertz Waves Matter The terahertz region of the electromagnetic spectrum (between microwave and infrared) has long been recognized for its potential. THz waves can carry vast amounts of data, penetrate certain materials without harmful ionization, and provide highly sensitive imaging capabilities. This makes them attractive for non-invasive medical diagnostics, ul...

Rare earth elements (REEs) are the backbone of modern technology, powering everything from smartphones and electric vehicles to wind turbines and advanced defense systems. Yet their extraction and recycling remain challenging, expensive, and environmentally damaging. A new breakthrough from Rice University researchers led by James Tour and Shichen Xu offers a game-changing solution: an ultrafast, one-step recycling method using flash Joule heating (FJH) under chlorine gas. Their study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , demonstrates a clean, low-cost way to recover REEs from discarded magnets. The Recycling Challenge Traditional recycling methods for rare earths are energy-intensive and generate significant toxic waste, often relying on large quantities of acids and water. This makes large-scale deployment both costly and environmentally unsustainable. Given the growin...

As the global demand for sustainable energy solutions accelerates, breakthroughs in energy storage materials are becoming increasingly vital. One of the most promising recent developments is the creation of a CC/NiFeP–CuCo-LDH hybrid composite , a material designed to significantly enhance the performance of capacitive energy storage devices. This pioneering work brings together advanced chemistry, nanostructured materials, and innovative synthesis methods to address one of the most pressing technological challenges of our time: efficient, reliable, and scalable energy storage . The Science Behind the Composite At the heart of this innovation is the synergy between CC (carbon-based composite) and NiFeP (nickel iron phosphide) , which together provide mechanical stability and conductive pathways for improved charge transport. The addition of CuCo-layered double hydroxides (LDH) further enhances both capa...

The ongoing search for two-dimensional superconductors has taken an exciting turn with the theoretical prediction of superconductivity in a novel Janus MXene , known as Ti 2 CSH . A collaborative team led by Jakkapat Seeyangnok and Udomsilp Pinsook from Chulalongkorn University has presented a detailed computational investigation demonstrating that this material combines structural stability with electron–phonon interactions strong enough to yield superconductivity. Their work predicts a critical temperature (T c ) of around 22.6 Kelvin , positioning Ti 2 CSH as one of the most promising candidates for low-dimensional superconducting applications. What Makes Janus MXenes Special? MXenes are a family of two-dimensional transition metal carbides and nitrides, already renowned for their versatility in energy storage, catalysis, and sensing. Janus MXenes introduce an additional layer of asymmetry: diffe...

The pursuit of exotic quantum states of matter has long fascinated scientists seeking breakthroughs in condensed matter physics and materials science. A new study led by Zhongdong Han , Yiyu Xia , and collaborators at Cornell University, together with Kenji Watanabe and Takashi Taniguchi of Japan’s National Institute for Materials Science, reports a striking advance: the ability to oscillate between two distinct insulating phases — quantum spin Hall insulators and excitonic insulators — within twisted bilayer tungsten diselenide (WSe₂). Tuning Between Quantum States At the heart of this discovery lies the capacity to control Landau levels — quantized electronic states that emerge under magnetic fields. Fully filled Landau levels generate quantum spin Hall phases with spin-polarized edge currents protected by topology. Half-filled levels, however, favor excitonic insulator states, where electron–hole p...

The design of advanced laser materials has always stood at the cutting edge of optics and photonics research. Recently, a research team from the South China University of Technology has introduced a groundbreaking strategy for streamlining the development of rare-earth-doped laser glasses — materials with enormous potential in telecommunications, solid-state lasers, and optical amplifiers. Their work, recently published in Materials Futures , centers on the neighboring glassy compounds (NGCs) model , a statistical framework capable of predicting the luminescent and structural properties of complex glasses. This breakthrough promises to reduce the reliance on traditional trial-and-error experimentation, accelerating the path to new discoveries in materials science. Why Rare-Earth-Doped Laser Glasses Matter Rare-earth (RE) ions, such as erbium (Er³⁺), are the cornerstone of many optical technologies. Their ab...

In a major breakthrough for the future of quantum information science and spintronics, an international team of researchers has achieved the first nanoscale visualization of how chiral perovskites manipulate electron spin. Using a customized Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy (KPFM) technique, the team successfully mapped the elusive chiral-induced spin selectivity (CISS) effect within thin films of chiral halide perovskites — revealing spin behavior with unprecedented clarity and precision. Why Spin Matters: The Promise of Spintronics Unlike traditional electronics, which rely on the movement of charge, spintronics harnesses the quantum property of electron spin. By encoding information in spin orientation (up or down), spin-based devices can process and store data more efficiently, offering the potential for low-power, high-speed computing . Applications range from neuromorphic circuits to quantum computing , where controlling spin states is a corn...

Published on Quantum Server Networks What if something as ordinary as a burning candle could inspire a breakthrough in advanced materials? That’s exactly what a team of graduate students at Syracuse University achieved by turning simple wax candle soot into a superhydrophobic surface — a coating so slippery that water droplets roll off at an angle of just 2 degrees. Their work not only demonstrates the ingenuity of nanoscale engineering but also opens doors to sustainable, low-cost methods of producing durable water- and stain-resistant coatings. The Science of Superhydrophobic Surfaces A superhydrophobic surface is designed to repel water with extreme efficiency, mimicking natural inspirations such as lotus leaves or duck feathers. Beyond water, these coatings can repel viscous materials like honey or chocolate syrup, and they even exhibit self-cleaning properties , shedding dirt and dust without effort. ...

Published on Quantum Server Networks The rapid rise of two-dimensional (2D) materials such as molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂), tungsten diselenide (WSe₂), and bismuth-based compounds has opened promising opportunities for the future of electronics. These materials promise ultra-thin, high-performance transistors, memory devices, and sensors. Yet, a persistent obstacle has slowed their path toward commercialization: hysteresis . What Is Hysteresis and Why Does It Matter? Hysteresis refers to the lag in a device’s electrical response when conditions such as gate voltage are cycled. In 2D transistors, hysteresis can distort performance, reduce stability, and complicate scaling to ultra-thin devices. While researchers have long observed hysteresis in 2D-MOSFETs, inconsistent testing protocols made it nearly impossible to compare results across different studies. Toward a Standardized Measurement Scheme A recen...

Published on Quantum Server Networks Designing advanced alloys is one of the cornerstones of modern engineering, underpinning innovations in aerospace, automotive, energy, and manufacturing industries. Yet, the enormous complexity of alloy design—with countless possible combinations of elements and structures—makes discovery a daunting task. Now, researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have introduced AlloyGPT , a novel AI-driven tool that uses the principles of large language models (LLMs) to accelerate alloy discovery and design for additive manufacturing. From Natural Language to Alloy Physics Large language models like ChatGPT have revolutionized how machines understand and generate human language. The Carnegie Mellon team, led by Assistant Professor Mohadeseh Taheri-Mousavi , took this concept further: they developed a “language” for the physics of alloys, allowing a generative AI model to process alloy compositi...

Published on Quantum Server Networks From smartphones to electric vehicles, modern life relies heavily on rechargeable batteries. While lithium-ion batteries dominate today’s energy storage market, their limited energy density poses a challenge for powering the next generation of high-performance devices and vehicles. Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have now demonstrated a promising new approach: using amorphous materials as electrodes for magnesium batteries , guided by powerful machine learning models . Why Look Beyond Lithium? Lithium-ion technology has been incredibly successful, but its energy capacity is reaching practical limits. In contrast, magnesium batteries offer a tantalizing alternative: each magnesium atom can exchange two electrons , compared to just one for lithium. This means that, in theory, magnesium batteries can deliver nearly twice the energy density per atom . ...

Published on Quantum Server Networks Freshwater scarcity is rapidly becoming one of the most pressing global challenges, with billions of people at risk of water shortages and industries under pressure to adopt sustainable water use. A groundbreaking study from the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) demonstrates how next-generation nanomaterials could provide integrated solutions for water treatment, simultaneously removing pollutants and recovering valuable resources. The Global Water Crisis As climate change, urbanization, and population growth intensify, the demand for clean water is rising. Conventional wastewater treatment plants focus primarily on removing contaminants, yet often overlook opportunities to recycle critical resources such as phosphorus. Excess phosphorus, commonly originating from detergents, fertilizers, and animal waste, fuels harmful algal blooms that degrade ecosystems...