Apr 20, 2026 New three-step method opens a systematic path to next-generation catalyst discovery. (Nanowerk News) Composed of five or more elements in nearly equal amounts, high-entropy alloys (HEAs) have emerged as promising catalysts due to their compositionally complex surfaces that can accelerate chemical reactions. Until now, scientists have not...
Twist-angle engineering boosts perovskite optoelectronic performance
Apr 20, 2026 Twisting atomically thin hybrid perovskite crystals against other 2D materials at controlled angles tunes interlayer coupling and device performance, extending twist-angle engineering to soft optoelectronics. (Nanowerk Spotlight) Rotating one atomically thin crystal against another by just a few degrees can transform the electronic properties of the stack....
Nanostructuring plastic kills viruses on contact
Apr 20, 2026 Researchers have developed a thin plastic film that tears apart viruses on contact, offering a promising new way to keep high?touch surfaces such as smartphones and hospital equipment from spreading disease. (Nanowerk News) Researchers have developed a thin plastic film that tears apart viruses on contact, offering...
Water simulation of famous quantum effect reveals unexpected wave patterns
Apr 20, 2026 A new study reveals how a spinning vortex causes system-wide, counter-rotating wave patterns, mimicking effects that occur, but cannot be seen, in the quantum realm. (Nanowerk News) In the quirky, quantum world, particles can be affected by forces that they never directly encounter. A classic example is...
Self-assembling luminophores form nanotubes with multidirectional exciton transport transport
Apr 20, 2026 Folding-mediated self-assembly of luminescent molecules reveals a new design principle for efficient light-energy transport (Nanowerk News) In biological systems, especially for protein molecules, the formation of nanotubular structures is often guided by molecular folding. The folding process organizes interaction sites and enables the formation of complex architectures...
Ultra-thin thermal memory switches heat flow on and off with voltage
Apr 20, 2026 A device based on ultra-thin ferroelectric films can switch on and off thermal conduction, offering a stable and innovative way to manage heat in real time. (Nanowerk News) Heat is a ubiquitous form of energy that, unlike others, is notoriously difficult to store due to its natural...
Perovskite solar cell research surges as tandem designs beat silicon limits
Apr 20, 2026 A joint report tracks the rapid growth of perovskite solar cell research since 2012 and highlights tandem architectures that exceed silicon efficiency ceilings. (Nanowerk News) A joint report (A New Roadmap to Future Solar Innovation – How University Research and Data‑Driven Analysis Are Shaping the Future of...
A new way to detect life beyond Earth without knowing what life looks like
Apr 20, 2026 Researchers propose a population-scale biosignature based on how life may spread between planets. (Nanowerk News) A research team of Specially Appointed Associate Professor Harrison B. Smith of Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI) at Institute of Science Tokyo and Specially Appointed Associate Professor Lana Sinapayen of National Institute for...