Feb 11, 2026 A new topology-based method predicts atomic charges in metal-organic frameworks from bond connectivity alone, making large-scale computational screening practical. (Nanowerk Spotlight) Capturing carbon dioxide from industrial exhaust, storing hydrogen fuel at room temperature, delivering drugs to targeted tissues, separating water isotopes at the molecular level: these are...
New AI sensor ‘sniffs’ out spectral targets
Feb 11, 2026 AI-powered spectral sensor performs machine learning during light capture, identifying materials and chemicals in real time while cutting data load and power use. (Nanowerk News) Meet the sniffer dog of spectroscopy tools: an AI-enhanced sensor that can “sniff and seek” target objects in real-time. Spectral imaging tools...
Twist angle in 2D materials creates giant skyrmion textures
Feb 11, 2026 In the rapidly evolving world of two-dimensional materials, a small twist can have outsized consequences. (Nanowerk News) In the rapidly evolving world of two-dimensional materials, a small twist can have outsized consequences. Since the discovery that rotational misalignment between atomically thin crystals can reshape their electronic behaviour,...
Engineered nanodiamonds harvest visible light to produce solvated electrons for CO2 reduction
Feb 11, 2026 Ruthenium-functionalized nanodiamonds generate powerful solvated electrons under visible light, bypassing the deep UV requirement that has limited diamond photocatalysis to laboratory settings. (Nanowerk Spotlight) Of all the materials physicists and chemists have probed for unusual electronic behavior, diamond may be the most surprising. It is one of...
Spherical assemblies of nanocrystals
Feb 11, 2026 A new study reveals how neatly ordered (hemi-) spherical or pancake like structures in nature can emerge from completely disordered salt solutions. Moreover, scientists can now harness these structures to create advanced materials. (Nanowerk News) Take some ordinary table salt and dissolve it in water. The salt...
Nanoplastics are hindering the cognitive abilities of fish
Feb 11, 2026 Nanoplastic exposure can impair the cognitive abilities of fish and could lead to significant impacts on marine species' ability to survive, according to a new international study. (Nanowerk News) The study by Shantou University and the Chinese Academy of Fisheries Sciences in Guangdong, China, and Charles Darwin...