Materials

A research team led by Professor Denver Li Danfeng of CityUHK has discovered magnetic-field-induced re-entrant superconductivity in infinite-layer nickelates, where superconductivity re-emerges at high fields. The breakthrough challenges conventional understanding and opens new directions for next-generation superconducting materials.

- Principal Researcher at DGIST, Lee Hyun-Joon, receives the Minister of Science and ICT Commendation for his contributions to the localization of semiconductor thermal observation equipment - A decade of commercialization support leads to expansion into AI-based next-generation semiconductor analysis

Sculpted from a granite rock face in Sri Lanka’s North Central Province, the Avukana Buddha is an early example of colossal Buddha imagery in Sri Lanka. Its form and detailing suggest connections with sculptural traditions from Amaravati and the Gupta period, while its execution reflects regional adaptation. Discover how the sculpture and its associated finds have been linked to the doctrine of Lokottara or transcendence, later adopted by Mahayana Buddhism.

Photocatalytic systems use sunlight to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. Such an environmentally friendly approach to hydrogen production has long been touted by scientists. However, these systems often require multiple cocatalysts to drive the reactions necessary to split water, thereby throttling efficiency. However, a research group has recently unveiled a new all-in-one photocatalytic cocatalyst.

Magnesium hydride stores lots of hydrogen but the problem comes with the high temperatures needed to release it. Now, researchers have found a new catalyst that helps solve this common bottleneck, focusing on a phenomenon called the burst effect.

Biodegradable plastics are great. They provide the ductility of plastics whilst reducing the materials environmental downsides. However, in the quest for greater degradability, improving durability has received scant attention. A research group recently rectified this with the development of a new bamboo composite that emphasised both biodegradability and strength. The group also developed a means to predict how the material breaks down in water.

For 70 years, we have assumed that “attempt time” in nanomagnets is one nanosecond. For the first time ever, this value was measured experimentally by researchers at Tohoku University. Spoiler alert: it’s more than one nanosecond!

Engineers at NIMS develop a system that captures all the elements of trial and error in material design, enabling reliable reproduction of the reasoning processes and results

Floatable beads made from chitosan and cellulose acetate and enhanced with bentonite were engineered to effectively clean oil from water. The beads showed good oil adsorption capacity while remaining easy to collect from the water surface.

- Prof. Kim Bong-hoon’s team implements a smart fabric-based sensor that can collect sweat automatically and analyze multiple biosignals simultaneously. - It measures electrolytes, metabolites, and movement all at once using minute amounts of sweat: Customized healthcare is expected. - The paper was selected as a cover article in “Small Structures,” a prestigious international journal in the field of nanotechnology and materials science.

This study uses an IO-MFA model to reveal that recycled polyester is currently concentrated in low-value industries, identifying high-value invisible pathways in indirect supply chains to foster strategic industrial matchmaking. It provides a data-driven framework for policymakers to design "pull" mechanisms, such as mandatory recycled content, to redirect materials toward higher-margin economic streams.

Researchers have created a new database that employs AI to filter jargon and eliminate the need for users to have specialist programming skills. Called StableOx-Cat, the database identifies stable metal oxide electrocatalysts, making it easier to discover better materials for clean energy technologies.

What if AI could discover breakthrough materials before we even test them? A new physics-informed AI model makes discovery faster and more reliable. This approach could reshape the future of electronics.

Researchers from National Taiwan University break traditional frameworks by unveiling a new symmetry-transition mechanism in ZrO2 thin films, achieving ultra-stable antiferroelectric behavior for up to one hundred million cycles.

A once-theoretical structure is now shaping the future of computing. Researchers have uncovered key properties of magnetic skyrmions, ultra-stable, 2 nm vortex-like structures that could enable next-gen memory with extremely low power consumption. Even more surprising? They can form in materials once thought impossible.

Researchers are investigating how 3D printers could achieve unprecedented levels of precision when creating batteries, opening the door for new innovations.

Matcha surprise, Smart sea urchin spines, Breaking biomass bonds, Hybrid air-conditioning, Alga in gloom & A touch of tech. Read all in the latest Editor's Choice. Plus Early Bird submissions for Asia Research News 2027

This deep dive explains the ins and outs of a catalyst called graphitic carbon nitride that speeds up the production of hydrogen peroxide – a highly useful oxidizing agent used widely in both industrial and household settings.

- Prof. Sangwon Seo’s team successfully achieved enantioselective synthesis, selectively producing only the desired mirror-image molecule using nickel—a common metal—instead of expensive noble metals - Expected to make a breakthrough contribution to drug development that fundamentally blocks side effects and to the high-value precision chemical industry - Published in the top-tier international chemistry journal Angewandte Chemie – International Edition

Butterfly wings were the inspiration behind this new, lightweight lattice structure that doesn’t compromise on sturdiness.

What’s the point of methane reforming to make environmentally friendly fuels if the process itself is environmentally unfriendly? To make the process greener, researchers at Tohoku University used oxygen carriers to improve efficiency.

Professor Yutaka Amao’s review gives a comprehensive overview of natural photosynthesis, the principles and history of artificial photosynthesis research, and carbon dioxide capture, utilization, and storage technologies.

Single monomer containing thiolactone and pyridyl disulfide molecules allows for variable polymer functionalities

In response to the global demand for clean energy transition, tandem solar cells are recognised as a crucial next-generation technology that will significantly improve solar power efficiency. Scholars from Lingnan University’s Wu Jieh Yee School of Interdisciplinary Studies (WJYSIS) and their collaborators have innovatively developed a novel interfacial structure, which substantially reduces energy loss and successfully overcomes the current limitations of perovskite solar cells in voltage, further improving the efficiency of converting sunlight into electricity. Their findings, published in the top-tier international journal Nature Communications, affirm Lingnan University’s research capabilities in the fields of renewable energy materials and photovoltaic technology.

Opening new possibilities for fluorescence-based imaging in extreme environments, from bioimaging to advanced materials

Concrete harbors distinct microbial zones whose signatures survive the heat of routine core sampling, a discovery researchers say could one day put structural health diagnostics within reach of general maintenance staff and even residents.

- Professor Jiwoong Yang’s team has developed a quantum-dot-based “circularly polarized light” sensor covering ultraviolet to infrared spectrum. - Breakthrough design introduces chiral structures into charge transport pathways, overcoming material and wavelength limitations of conventional optical sensors. - Published in Advanced Materials, a top-tier international journal in the field of materials science.

Researchers at The University of Osaka have developed a polymer material that combines high mechanical durability with controllable enzymatic degradation. The material contains movable cross-links formed by cyclodextrin rings that slide along polymer chains. By using light to control the position of these rings, enzymatic degradation can be switched on or off and even spatially patterned.

Lingnan University has achieved outstanding results in the international higher education organisation Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings by Subject 2026. Nine broad and individual subjects were designated, and more than half moved up. Philosophy came in the top three in Hong Kong, and Computer Science and Information Systems is included in the list for the first time, showing Lingnan’s considerable recent progress in developing interdisciplinary research in artificial intelligence and data science, which has gained widespread recognition from the international academic community. QS stated that only three Hong Kong universities have achieved a net improvement, with Lingnan University among the most improved.

Metal oxide semiconductor gas sensors can detect harmful pollutants in the air, but they only operate at extremely high temperatures. A new material design guideline using vanadium oxide may help us overcome this challenge.