Quantum Server Newsletter on the latest news in Materials Science research

In the fast-evolving field of nanoelectronics, researchers at Nanyang Technological University have introduced a game-changing technique that could finally make wafer-scale fabrication of 2D semiconductors both scalable and residue-free. As published in Nature Electronics , their novel metal-stamp imprinting method enables direct patterning of delicate 2D materials—such as MoS₂—without the chemical residues and structural damage often introduced by traditional etching or masking techniques. The Challenge of Patterning 2D Materials Two-dimensional semiconductors like molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) are ultra-thin crystalline materials with promising applications in future electronics, especially as silicon nears its physical scaling limits. However, realizing the full potential of these atomically thin layers has been hindered by a lack of scalable, clean patterning techniques. Traditional patterning strategies, such as reactive ion etching (RIE) or polymer-based lithogra...

In a significant advancement for nanoelectronics, an international team of researchers from National Chung Hsing University, Kansai University, and National Cheng Kung University has developed a new strategy to integrate freestanding hafnium zirconium oxide (HZO) membranes into 2D field-effect transistors (FETs). This innovation, published in Nature Electronics , promises to overcome one of the main bottlenecks in the adoption of 2D semiconductors: the lack of scalable, high-κ dielectric integration. Why 2D Semiconductors Need Better Gate Dielectrics Two-dimensional semiconductors like molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) have long been heralded as successors to silicon, offering exceptional electrical properties at atomically thin dimensions. However, their commercialization in logic devices has stalled due to a critical integration challenge: embedding a gate dielectric that both insulates and enables effective gate control. A gate dielectric with a high dielectric constant ...

In a stunning advance that could redefine the future of computing, researchers at the International Center for Quantum Materials at Peking University and Renmin University of China have developed high-performance wafer-scale two-dimensional indium selenide (InSe) semiconductors. Published in the journal Science , this innovation marks a major leap toward post-silicon electronics, boasting record-breaking electron mobility and ultra-efficient transistor performance. InSe: A Golden Opportunity Nicknamed the "golden semiconductor" , indium selenide (InSe) offers a tantalizing mix of low effective mass, high thermal velocity, and a direct bandgap—ideal for next-generation logic devices. However, previous efforts to scale InSe films to wafer-level dimensions were hampered by unstable phase formations and imprecise atomic ratios during synthesis. Until now, most results yielded only microscopic flakes. Solid–Liquid–Solid Innovation To overcome this, Professor L...

In a remarkable leap for green chemistry, scientists at the University of Pennsylvania have discovered that a subtle disorder at the interface between water and metal can supercharge the transformation of carbon waste into high-value fuels like ethylene. Published in Nature Chemistry , the study reveals how tweaking water’s structure at the nanoscale unlocks unprecedented efficiency in electrochemical carbon conversion. A New Role for Water: Not Just a Solvent, but a Catalyst Co-Designer Led by materials scientist Shoji Hall, the research team focused on a persistent challenge: how to convert carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO₂)—both notorious greenhouse gases—into useful multi-carbon products such as ethylene (C₂H₄) . Ethylene is prized not only as a fuel but also as a building block for plastics, textiles, and even pharmaceuticals. Traditional copper-based catalysts often produce inefficient side reactions. But the Hall Lab discovered that introducing salt—spe...

In the heart of urban noise, a revolution is brewing from Switzerland. Engineers at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA) have developed a new kind of sound-absorbing material—one that is remarkably thin, robust, and adaptable, yet powerful enough to quiet the persistent roar of the city. A Thinner Way to Silence Traditional acoustic materials like rock wool and fiberglass require significant thickness to be effective—often taking up precious real estate in buildings. EMPA’s new innovation is a mineral-based foam that is up to 75% thinner than conventional solutions, yet delivers similar sound attenuation performance. Its secret lies in its multilayer structure, which can be fine-tuned to target specific frequency ranges by altering the size of its internal pores. How It Works According to EMPA researcher Bart Van Damme, the foam’s effectiveness stems from the way it manipulates sound waves. “The varying pore structure of the mine...

The durability of ancient Roman concrete, standing resilient for over two millennia, has long intrigued researchers. A new peer-reviewed study published in iScience ( Martinez et al., 2025 ) takes a rigorous and quantitative approach to assess just how sustainable this ancient material really was—and whether it can guide today's green transition in the construction sector. Why Roman Concrete Matters Concrete is the most widely used man-made material on Earth, accounting for nearly 8% of total anthropogenic CO₂ emissions . The sheer scale of its use means that even small improvements can yield significant climate benefits. Roman concrete, made by mixing lime with volcanic ash (pozzolana), offers a historical low-carbon blueprint that could inspire modern alternatives. Study Highlights Ancient Roman concrete formulations typically included a binder (hydrated lime or quicklime) and volcanic pozzolans, often mixed in 1:2 to 1:4 ratios. Despite the use of biomass...

Could the future of aviation be grown in a bioreactor? In a remarkable step toward sustainable aerospace manufacturing, scientists at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have developed a new method to convert microalgae into high-performance carbon fiber . The innovation, part of the GreenCarbon project , eliminates fossil fuel dependency from the production of acrylonitrile—the precursor to carbon fiber—using photosynthetically active algae as the raw feedstock. This process not only reduces the carbon footprint of advanced composite materials , but also introduces a potential carbon-negative pathway by absorbing CO₂ through algae cultivation. The material has already been successfully flight-tested by Airbus, marking a milestone in green engineering. Photosynthesis Meets Performance Engineering Traditionally, acrylonitrile —the key molecule used in carbon fiber production—is derived from petroleum-based propylene. In contrast, the TUM-led team used photosynthetic alga...