Photonic‑crystal light sail demonstrates 90% reflectivity for laser propulsion
Researchers have built a photonic‑crystal light sail (PCLS) using a three‑dielectric nanostructure of germanium pillars, air holes, and a polymer matrix. Simulations and electron‑beam fabricated prototypes show about 90 % reflectivity at a 1.2 µm wavelength and the ability to generate continuous thrust when illuminated by a 100‑kW laser.
Recent research highlights nickel-based materials as promising electrodes for supercapacitors, combining high conductivity, reactivity, and specific capacity. The review details synthesis routes, multimorphological nanostructures, and synergistic material‑modification strategies supported by theoretical calculations. It also identifies persistent challenges such as complex fabrication and limited thermal stability, while outlining optimization pathways for next‑generation devices. Overall, the paper provides a roadmap for designing high‑performance nickel‑based supercapacitor electrodes.
Researchers used a continuous‑wave CO₂ laser to synthesize a RuO₂–FeCo₂O₄ heterointerface in just two minutes, creating a bifunctional catalyst for both hydrogen evolution and hydrazine oxidation. The composite delivers an HER overpotential of 50 mV and a HzOR potential of –21 mV...
The review highlights rapid progress in rare‑earth‑based electrocatalysts—single‑atom catalysts, alloys, and oxides—for electrochemical CO₂ reduction. By exploiting the 4f orbital flexibility and strong oxophilicity of rare‑earth elements, researchers have achieved higher activity, improved product selectivity, and longer catalyst lifetimes compared...
Researchers developed a two‑step synthesis of ZnO@C core‑shell nanoparticles that dramatically improve visible‑light photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes. The ultrathin carbon shell enhances light absorption, charge separation, and generates superoxide radicals as the primary reactive species. Compared with bare ZnO,...
Hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) is a promising host for solid‑state quantum emitters, but scalable defect creation in large‑area CVD films has been elusive. Researchers demonstrated that ion, neutron, and electron irradiation can selectively generate negative boron‑vacancy (V_B⁻) defects, with defect...
Biomass‑derived carbon (BDC) is emerging as a sustainable electron‑acceptor material for high‑performance photocatalysts. The review categorizes BDC synthesis into bottom‑up hydrothermal carbonization of soluble carbohydrates and top‑down conversion of natural biomass into biochar, detailing how feedstock diversity shapes morphology and...
A new photonic‑assisted technique combines ultraviolet (UV) exposure and intense pulsed light (IPL) to produce highly conductive silver films on flexible substrates in seconds. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) act as photocatalysts under UV, accelerating Ag⁺ reduction and improving thermal...
Researchers introduced Nano‑Cell Vesicle Technology (nCVTs), a hybrid system that merges cationic lipids with tumor‑derived cell membranes to ferry antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) into cancer cells. The platform achieved superior cytoplasmic and nuclear delivery compared with conventional liposomes and free ASOs,...
The integration of quantum materials with smart electrolytes is reshaping supercapacitor technology, delivering flexible, wearable devices with markedly higher energy density. Quantum dots, MXenes, MOFs, COFs, and TMDs provide quantum‑level charge storage, while stimulus‑responsive electrolytes add self‑healing and shape‑memory functions....
The review consolidates recent progress in cobalt‑based catalysts for mitigating a broad spectrum of gaseous pollutants, including NOx, VOCs, SO2, H2S, CO2 and O3. It establishes design principles that connect catalyst structure, defect chemistry, and redox behavior to pollutant‑specific performance....
Researchers have created a multidimensional hybrid electrode (mPFC) by integrating 2D Fe‑BTC metal‑organic framework nanosheets with a polyaniline‑poly(styrenesulfonate) (PANI:PSS) conducting polymer on flexible carbon cloth. The hierarchical architecture provides strong interfacial coupling and continuous ion/electron pathways, yielding a reversible capacity...
Researchers demonstrated that platinum nanoparticle size on rutile TiO₂ dictates the strength of strong metal‑support interactions (SMSI) during CO₂ hydrogenation. Larger ~7 nm Pt particles develop a mild electronic metal‑support interaction with discontinuous TiO₂₋ₓ encapsulation, preserving Pt–O–Ti interfacial sites, while smaller...
Researchers led by Evgeny Smirnov have demonstrated printable potentiometric ion‑selective electrodes (ISEs) that combine carbon fiber substrates with Ti3C2Tx MXene nanoflakes. The MXene coating eliminates the need for multi‑step surface chemistries traditionally required for ISE fabrication. Comparative tests show MXene‑modified...
Researchers introduced a cascading oxidation technique that produces low‑oxidation graphene oxide (LoxGO) using an oxidant‑to‑graphite ratio of just 0.5. The resulting material contains 41.8% graphitic regions and enlarged graphitic domains (~8.3 nm²) with virtually no holes. These structural advantages translate into...
Researchers have engineered PEGylated PLGA nanoparticles encapsulating oxytocin for intranasal administration, aiming to improve nose‑to‑brain delivery for autism and related neuropsychiatric conditions. Using a design‑of‑experiments approach, the optimized formulation achieved ~93–116 nm particle size, low polydispersity, and drug loading of 2.8–3.5 %...
The review details how strong metal‑support interactions (SMSI) are being engineered to create more stable and active catalysts for dry reforming of methane (DRM). It covers both non‑noble (Ni, Co, Fe) and noble (Rh, Ru, Pt) systems, highlighting oxide encapsulation,...
The review systematically surveys organic electrode materials for non‑metal ion storage in aqueous zinc batteries, categorizing small molecules, conjugated polymers, and covalent organic frameworks. It details how H⁺, NH₄⁺, and anionic carriers such as Cl⁻, CF₃SO₃⁻, and ClO₄⁻ interact with...
Researchers have engineered a hierarchically assembled supramolecular nanomicelle with a gallium(III) core that integrates a metal–organic dye (Cy71‑Ga) and a camptothecin‑hyaluronate conjugate (CPT‑HA). The nanomicelle delivers targeted chemotherapy, photothermal/photodynamic therapy, and induces ferroptosis by downregulating xCT and CD98, while also...
Mechanical threshold‑guided harvesting enables controlled production of designer nanovesicles from microalgae while preserving native carotenoid profiles and boosting antioxidant capacity. The study links vesiculation efficiency to cellular elasticity, identifying critical thresholds of roughly 100 kPa (local) and 390 kPa (global) membrane rigidity....
The review surveys carbon‑nanotube (CNT) artificial muscles, detailing their structural designs—from flat sheets to coiled yarns and core‑sheath hybrids—and the range of multistimuli actuation mechanisms they support. It contrasts voltage‑driven electrochemical actuation with thermal, photothermal, and solvent‑induced pathways, highlighting performance...
Researchers incorporated polyethyleneimine (PEI) into tin oxide (SnO2) electron transport layers to simultaneously improve surface wettability and lower the work function. The dual-function modification suppresses oxygen‑vacancy defects, creates interfacial dipoles, and aligns energy levels for better carrier extraction and uniform...
The review surveys recent catalytic breakthroughs for chemical hydrogen storage, focusing on liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs) and ammonia (NH3). It details advances in noble‑metal, transition‑metal, bimetallic and single‑atom catalysts that improve hydrogenation and dehydrogenation kinetics. The authors highlight persistent...
Researchers led by Ivan V. Vlassiouk have demonstrated controlled creation of optically active defects in large‑scale chemical vapor deposition (CVD) grown hexagonal boron nitride (hBN). By using suspended hBN films and tuning the energy and type of bombarding particles, they...
Two isomorphic supramolecular crystals, M(18-crown-6)3Al(ox)3·9H2O with M = K⁺ or NH₄⁺, display a room‑temperature ice‑water‑like phase transition within sub‑nanochannels. The transition is driven by rotational motion of crown‑ether rings and disordering of lattice water molecules, mimicking the hexagonal‑ice to liquid‑water transformation. Between...
Researchers at Wageningen University have created a new class of plastic, dubbed a compleximer, that defies conventional materials theory. The polymer is held together by physical ionic attractions rather than chemical cross‑links, giving it glass‑like reshaping ability while retaining plastic‑like...
Researchers have demonstrated a quantum phase transition in double‑layer graphene where an excitonic superfluid abruptly becomes an insulator by tuning layer imbalance and exciton density. In the quantum Hall regime, interlayer magnetoexcitons form a coherent condensate that shows near‑perfect Coulomb...

Researchers have identified a specific arginine‑tyrosine interaction that acts as a molecular “sticker” during spider silk formation, explaining how the fiber achieves its legendary strength and elasticity. Using AlphaFold3 modeling, molecular dynamics and NMR spectroscopy, the team showed these interactions...

Researchers at CUNY’s Advanced Science Research Center have created an ultra‑thin metasurface chip that converts infrared light into visible light while steering the output beam. The device shifts 1530 nm infrared to 510 nm green via third‑harmonic generation and directs the beam...
Researchers at Scripps Research and MIT engineered a DNA origami scaffold that carries HIV envelope proteins while remaining immunologically silent, eliminating antibodies against the carrier. In mouse models the DNA‑based particles displayed 60 copies of the antigen and generated ten...
Researchers at Kaunas University of Technology have demonstrated that metal‑organic frameworks (MOFs) can be manufactured at industrial scale with a financially viable techno‑economic profile. By adapting laboratory synthesis to existing industrial equipment, the study shows production lines capable of several...
Researchers at Pohang University unveiled a solar‑powered electrokinetic water filter that eliminates nanoplastics and bacteria without nanoporous membranes. The hierarchical membrane uses a charge‑based depletion zone to repel particles smaller than 10 nm, achieving over 99.9% removal at fluxes above 400 L m⁻² h⁻¹...

Scientists have assembled a two‑dimensional iron‑dicyanoanthracene metal‑organic framework directly on a bismuth selenide topological‑insulator surface at room temperature, revealing two distinct structural phases. Phase A conforms to a known close‑packed Fe₁DCA₃ lattice, while Phase B displays a larger, previously unreported unit cell...
Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism has expanded a nanotechnology‑based conservation program to protect the colossal limestone and sandstone statues on Mount Nemrut, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The project, which began with pilot work in 2022, now uses nano‑lime...
A team at the Helmholtz Centre Berlin (HZB) used the in‑situ scanning transmission X‑ray microscope MYSTIIC at BESSY II to map titanium oxidation states on individual Ti₃C₂Tₓ MXene flakes during ion intercalation. The study revealed two opposite redox reactions: protons reduce...
Researchers at the University of Stuttgart experimentally created and directly detected skyrmions in a twisted four‑layer chromium iodide (CrI₃) structure. By rotating two bilayers relative to each other, a novel magnetic state emerged that is robust against environmental disturbances. Detection...
The study introduces a charred Trachyparcus‑derived carbon dot (CT‑CD) linked glycyrrhizic acid (GA) hydrogel, termed CT@GA‑gel, that forms at GA concentrations below 0.5 %. The negative surface charge of CT‑CDs enables low‑dose crosslinking, yielding an injectable, self‑healing, and adhesive dressing. Enhanced...
Researchers unveiled PSSe‑Se, a diradical‑featured conjugated polymer that absorbs across the solar spectrum and converts 32.04% of sunlight into heat. Leveraging this material, they fabricated a laser‑induced 3D arch‑bridged evaporator (LIBA‑Se) that reaches evaporation rates of up to 2.67 kg m⁻² h⁻¹ under...
Researchers have synthesized large, nearly self‑absorption‑free Bmpip2PbBr4 single crystals using solution‑cooling crystallization. The crystals exhibit 98.9% optical transparency, a photoluminescence quantum yield of 48.14% and a rapid 63.5 ns decay lifetime. Scintillation testing shows a light yield of 21,000 ± 800 photons MeV⁻¹ for...
Researchers introduced lead vacancies into the p‑type high‑entropy semiconductor AgMnGePbSbTe5, creating a nanostructured material that delivers a peak figure‑of‑merit (ZT) of 2.23 at 723 K and an average ZT of 1.31 from 303 K to 813 K. The vacancy‑induced rise in hole concentration...
Researchers introduced a halide‑mediated, stepwise growth technique that produces isotropic ZnSe shells on indium phosphide quantum dots, yielding uniform, near‑spherical InP/ZnSe/ZnS nanocrystals. The method enables precise control of shell thickness from 1.75 nm to 5.5 nm, delivering particles up to 14 nm with...
Researchers have introduced a solvent‑free, three‑step method to produce ethanol‑soluble polyamide nanofiber membranes embedded with activated carbon, polydopamine and layered double hydroxides. The resulting hierarchical membrane merges adsorption with visible‑light‑driven photocatalysis, delivering rapid removal of both cationic and anionic dyes....
Researchers have demonstrated that Mn‑doped Cs3Cu2I5 functions as a high‑performance scintillator for X‑ray imaging, delivering a light output 1.35 × that of CsI:Tl and a detection limit of 33.1 nGy s⁻¹. The material shows negligible afterglow and a fast decay time of 46.4 µs,...
INBRAIN Neuroelectronics announced a new rice-sized graphene BCI chip as part of its ongoing partnership with Merck. The bidirectional chip can record and stimulate neural activity, using AI-driven algorithms to decode speech signals and deliver closed-loop stimulation. Merck is shifting...
Researchers at the University of Tokyo used 3D‑printing to add a pillar‑backed layer to microneedle array patches (MAPs), preserving more live virus during fabrication. The pillar‑guided MAPs showed higher viral titers and induced protective immunity against SARS‑CoV‑2 in mice. This...
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology have unveiled a fingertip‑sized hydrogen sensor that uses platinum nanoparticles to catalyze a reaction that evaporates a surface water film, producing a color shift that triggers an alarm. The device performs better as humidity...
Researchers at Tohoku University have shown that magnetic properties control the thermodynamic stability of AB3‑type hydrogen‑storage alloys. By suppressing magnetism—particularly by substituting cobalt with nickel—they identified compositions that combine high gravimetric hydrogen capacity (up to ~3.4 wt %) with stable structures. Advanced...
Researchers at Flinders University have created a nanoscale coating derived from peppermint essential oil using atmospheric‑pressure plasma polymerization. The ultra‑thin film adheres to catheter surfaces, killing E. coli and P. aeruginosa on contact while eliminating up to 90 % of reactive oxygen species...
Researchers discovered that the conventional 1400°C sintering step in solid oxide cell (SOC) manufacturing drives nickel atoms to migrate and accumulate at yttria‑stabilized zirconia (YSZ) grain boundaries. This Ni segregation, reaching up to 7 at.%, creates thick space‑charge layers that block...
Researchers have created binary single‑walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) films modified with imidazolium‑based ionic liquids that autonomously switch their thermoelectric polarity from p‑type to n‑type as temperature rises. The switching temperature aligns with the anion’s molecular mass, occurring around 130 °C for...
The paper presents a microfluidic droplet mechanoporation platform that delivers macromolecules into primary human T cells with unprecedented efficiency and viability. It achieves ~98% delivery of 2000 kDa FITC‑dextran and ~99% mRNA transfection, enabling robust CAR‑T cell generation. CRISPR‑Cas9 ribonucleoproteins are...