Materials

A new nanocomposite material made of carbon fiber-reinforced polymers and piezoelectric materials can use vibrations to self-detect tiny cracks. This material could be used in the aerospace, automative, and construction industries to monitor structural health without the need of an external power source.

Iternational researchers have improved an ultrasonic phased array system, making it possible to see hidden defects in aging concrete infrastructure and potentially strengthening the efficiency of infrastructural maintenance.

Two-dimensional topological materials are widely studied because they can be efficient and cost-effective catalysts. Their unique electronic properties give rise to robust topological surface states. However, this assumption is often made under the premise that their surfaces remain clean and unchanged during reactions, which is rarely the case. Using quantum computing, a research team has recreated a 2D material’s true working surface under reaction conditions.

Sticky life beginnings. Precarious pitcher plant, Breaking the cobalt "cage", Toxic algae killer & “Pure-bred” stem cell medium. Read all in the latest Editor's Choice. Plus Asia Research News 2026 is out now and SciCom Coffee talk by Rachael Smith at Wellcome Sanger Institute.

National Taiwan University researchers have developed an ultrahigh-solid-loading (83 vol%) yet highly flowable suspension for 3D printing that produces ceramic parts with extremely low shrinkage and 100% density, overcoming a major barrier in precision ceramic manufacturing.

A recent review article explores how software-based AI systems are changing the design process of solid electrolytes, enabling faster development of solid-state batteries.

By utilizing the GaAs substrate miscut, we can modulate the superconducting critical temperature, current, and magnetic field of wafer-scale Al nanofilms grown by molecular beam epitaxy by approximately 10%, 100%, and 1000%, respectively. Our approach points to a simple method of tailoring grain architecture and superconductivity in Al, which is a critical requirement for advancements in quantum computation and engineering.

Initially stacked benzene layers increase fluorescent color change drastically when exposed to pressure, suggesting new ways to design the pressure sensors used in machinery and medical devices

When aluminum alloys get exposed to sodium chloride solutions, it causes a process known as pitting corrosion. Since aluminum alloys are widely used in transportation equipment, scientists are constantly looking for ways to improve the means of monitoring corrosion. Now, researchers from Tohoku University have developed a new technique to do so.

A simple tablet could change the way deadly breathing disorders are treated, with no need for electricity, machines, or gas tanks.

The largest ever reported database of dielectric material properties could speed up development of electronics like smartphones and energy storage systems.

A glowing test strip offers real-time protection against formaldehyde exposure in homes, workplaces, and labs.

Understanding the interaction between hydrogen, metal, and the environment can help avoid metal fatigue cracks.

Researchers have developed a machine learning approach to predict the mechanical behaviour of new alloys, offering potential savings in both costs and experiment time.

Understanding how tree-like structures that form in thin films could be the key to next-generation materials for beyond-5G communications technologies.

Scientists from City University of Hong Kong and collaborators from more than 20 countries are taking FIRST steps towards safeguarding communities most affected by climate change.

By identifying the ideal manufacturing conditions, machine learning reduces the need for expensive and time-consuming experimentation.

Prof Li Liangliang, Associate Professor of the Wu Jieh Yee School of Interdisciplinary Studies (WJYSIS) at Lingnan University, has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC) in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the research and development of new materials chemistry. This honour highlights WJYSIS’s academic influence and value in promoting sustainable development through interdisciplinary innovation and real-world impact.

A fast and efficient tool could change the way researchers collect tiny therapeutic packages from cell cultures, offering a low-cost approach that avoids lengthy processing and complex procedures.

Innovative approaches in cancer screening, drug development, and radioactive hazard protection are accelerating healthcare solutions.

Researchers use high-brilliance synchrotron radiation to identify the most optimum composition with the highest half-metallic nature.

Mixing two or three liquids can achieve the right combination of functions for soft electronics.

A new material provides high-performance conversion of heat into electricity, offering a way to make electronic devices more efficient.

Quantum effects in Kondo lattices can determine whether a system behaves magnetically or non-magnetically, opening new avenues for designing future quantum materials and technologies

New molecular architecture enables the natural formation of built-in p/n junctions essential for efficient light-to-electricity conversion

CO2 reduction to storable fuels or valuable chemical products provides a carbon-neutral cycle that can mitigate the rapid consumption of fossil fuels and increasing CO2 emissions. Although solar-driven CO2 reduction holds great promise for sustainable energy, the role and control of atomic-level active sites in governing intermediate formation and conversion pathways remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate a capped VLS growth method employed to grow continuous ultrathin alloy films of molybdenum vanadium sulfide with sulfur vacancies, i.e., Svac-Mo1-xVxS2. The findings indicate a correlation between the density of Svac and the vanadium concentration, leading to the formation of V–Svac pairs, which serve as the active sites for CO2 reduction under solar light with water.

From nomadic looms to global collectors, Afghan war rugs chart the region’s turbulent history through an age-old weaving tradition. Incorporating weapons, maps, and political imagery into familiar motifs, these rugs reflect shifting political realities, the ingenuity of Baloch weavers, and the influence of a rapidly commercialised market.

Researchers at NIMS have created Research Data Express (RDE) to automate data processing and create AI-ready datasets for materials research.

Researchers have developed technology to convert naturally derived monomers into polymers capsules

A joint research team from National Taiwan University, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, and National Tsing Hua University has discovered a precise molecular engineering strategy. By adjusting the side chains of organic materials, they have achieved a power conversion efficiency of 18.13 percent.