Quantum Server Newsletter on the latest news in Materials Science research

In a stunning twist on a material long believed to be electrically inert, researchers at the University of Michigan have uncovered a variant of silicone that behaves as a semiconductor . Their discovery may open the door to a new generation of flexible electronics , from bendable displays to wearable sensors—and even color-changing smart fabrics. This surprising new property, detailed in Technology Networks and published in Macromolecular Rapid Communications , marks a radical departure from silicone’s traditional role as an electrical insulator used in sealants, coatings, and biomedical devices. From Insulator to Semiconductor: Rethinking Silicone Chemistry Silicones—technically polysiloxanes and silsesquioxanes—are made up of repeating units of Si–O–Si bonds with organic side groups. Their insulating properties stem from their lack of conductive pathways for electrons. But this new variant, a copolymer of cage-like and linear silicones , challenges that assumption. At...

Diamond—famed for its unmatched hardness and optical brilliance—is also emerging as a critical material in the world of advanced electronics and quantum technologies. However, working with this ultra-tough material has traditionally been a double-edged sword. Engineers need thin, smooth, high-purity diamond layers for devices, but conventional processing often damages the material. Now, a team at Rice University has developed a simpler and more energy-efficient technique to fabricate ultrapure diamond films . Their method, published in Phys.org and Advanced Functional Materials , bypasses high-temperature annealing and enables the production of electronic-grade diamond films with greater purity and minimal substrate damage. Why Diamond Matters in Quantum and Power Electronics Diamond’s extraordinary physical properties—extreme hardness, high thermal conductivity, and quantum-friendly defect hosting—make it ideal for next-generation sensors, quantum computers, and high-perfor...

In a breakthrough that pushes the frontiers of nanomaterials science, an international team led by the University of Vienna has uncovered how exotic vibrational states between carbyne chains and carbon nanotubes defy classical expectations—revealing a powerful new role for carbyne as a universal nanoscale sensor. Published in Phys.org and Nature Communications , the findings combine advanced Raman spectroscopy , machine learning techniques, and quantum modeling to explore how one of the rarest and strongest forms of carbon—carbyne—interacts inside double-walled carbon nanotubes in surprising ways. What Is Carbyne? Carbyne is a one-dimensional linear chain of carbon atoms—a material theorized to have unmatched tensile strength and electronic tunability . While extremely unstable in free form, carbyne can be stabilized when confined inside carbon nanotubes. This discovery was first achieved by Thomas Pichler's group at the University of Vienna nearly a decade ago. Now...

In a remarkable fusion of chemistry and artificial intelligence, scientists have developed a new AI model capable of discovering molecular structures that have remained invisible to human researchers—until now. The model, called DreaMS , is a product of collaboration between IOCB Prague and the Czech Institute of Informatics, Robotics and Cybernetics (CIIRC CTU) , and it has already revealed previously unknown compounds hiding in plain sight within mass spectrometry data. This achievement, reported by Phys.org and published in Nature Biotechnology , represents a transformative leap for drug discovery, environmental science, and even the search for extraterrestrial life. The Chemical Mystery of the Natural World It’s estimated that the vast majority of naturally occurring molecules remain undescribed. Each of these molecules carries the potential to become a new drug, pesticide, or biochemical tool. However, the main bottleneck has been interpreting the massive datasets produ...

Researchers from the University of Malaga and the Complutense University of Madrid have introduced a groundbreaking molecular model of bilayer graphene that brings us one step closer to designing next-generation semiconductors and energy devices. Their work, published in Nature Chemistry , paves the way for customized nanographene molecules with controllable electronic properties—potentially revolutionizing computing and solar energy conversion technologies. This new model—developed over six years in collaboration with scientists from Japan and Singapore—simulates the elusive “magic angle” between graphene layers, a phenomenon known to induce exotic electronic states like superconductivity and enhanced semiconductivity. But unlike previous studies that manipulated large graphene sheets, this approach leverages molecular-level control over rotation and charge behavior through precise chemical design. Why Graphene Still Amazes Scientists Graphene has long captivated research...

In a landmark breakthrough for the electric vehicle (EV) battery industry, researchers at the Ulsan Advanced Energy Technology R&D Center , part of the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER), have addressed a long-standing issue undermining the stability and performance of high-nickel (high-Ni) cathode materials. Their findings could significantly accelerate the development of next-generation lithium-ion batteries with higher energy density and longer lifespan. This critical advancement, published on Newswise , reveals that residual lithium (Li) compounds—long blamed for battery degradation—are not just a surface-level problem. Instead, they lurk deep within the internal particle structures of cathodes, disrupting electrode uniformity and leading to performance issues. Why High-Nickel Cathodes Matter High-Ni cathode materials, with nickel content as high as 80%, are at the forefront of EV battery innovation. Their high energy density allows for longer driving ranges wit...

A team of researchers has taken a bold step toward a new computing paradigm— probabilistic computing —by crafting flexible, organic materials that behave in entirely novel ways. Their breakthrough could pave the way for smarter, energy-efficient machines that harness randomness as a core feature, rather than a flaw. Published in Advanced Science News , the study presents a polymer-based device that can act as a probabilistic bit or p-bit —a binary unit that switches randomly between 0 and 1 based on controllable classical effects such as thermal noise. Unlike traditional binary bits or the exotic qubits used in quantum computing, these p-bits operate at room temperature using entirely classical physics. What Are P-Bits, and Why Do They Matter? P-bits are not quantum bits, although they share a probabilistic nature. While qubits rely on quantum superposition and require cryogenic environments, p-bits function through classical physical phenomena and can be implemented using ev...